fresh Kills

[fflutterffly]

I know I've asked this question before, but I still have little success. This time a friend brought me the head, wings and tail of a pheasant and I want to cure them. Last time I put them in salt, left them there forever, and still no success. I ended up throwing them out. What is another method for curing these dead things?

[JohnP]

I have had success by pinning the skin to a piece of cardboard, skin side out, and scraping as much of the fat and gristle as you can off of the skin, using a dull knife. Then coat the skin in borax (available in the laundry section of your super market) and let it sit for a couple of days, then remove the borax and add fresh borax until the skin is dry. You will also want to take steps to kill any wee beasties that may be living in the skin. I like to freeze it for at least a couple of weeks, then I keep wild skins in a separate plastic bag with some moth balls, just to be on the safe side. Works for me, but, as always, your mileage may vary.

[DUBBN]

Found these on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNjI2d5nE2g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T81tPoCeUwg

When I had roosters I would salt down the capes and saddles with salt then stretch them on a board (nails).

Like JohnP said, "your mileage may vary"

[narcodog]

I use Borax after I scrap all of the fat off of them. I then place the parts between several layers of newspaper. That will help draw out the moisture.
You can also wash the items in Woolite, rinse, then apply the Borax, then place them between the paper.
Harry Darby cured all of his necks between news paper that's how you can tell if someone is trying to sell you a bogus neck. His necks always had remnants of newspaper.

[fflutterffly]

OK so I have a head, two wings and a tail. There is no way I can scrap off any fat or grissle. I will get some borax, watch the youtube and hope fully this will work out cuz this is a nice head!!!!

[DUBBN]

What do you tie with a pheasant head?

[narcodog]

Just rub the wing bones with the Borax, really pack it around the area. The tails, just cut them from the flesh. The head I would just pluck the feathers from the head and put them and the tails in the freezer for about a week. Once the wings are dry put them in the freezer.

[JohnP]

I thought you had a whole skin. I should think before I post. Of course, if I think before I post, I usually end up not posting at all, which is often for the best.

[DUBBN]

I thought you had a whole skin. I should think before I post.

Gosh John!!!!

[JohnP]

What do you tie with a pheasant head?

Good post, Joe.