Youngbowyer,I run a trapline an here is how all my fur is handled, Skin furs a soon after death as you can, warm hides come off better than cold, flesh then put on proper stretcher or board an let dry, I like to dry my stuff in about 50 to 60 degrees with a fan moving air not necessary to blow directly on fur. After dry store in a cool dry area. This is how fur is put up for the fur market an to be sold. If you are going to use for yourself you now need to get it tanned or tan yourself. Dry furs don't keep over the summers, some kind of bug eats hair off at roots an all you have left is a kinda rawhide. I don't know if you just have dry hide smell which isn't to loud or if you hit the glands on the mink an have that strong gland smell or your hides are to close to heat and are starting to actually rot
The only time that i add anything differnt is in warm fall I put a little borax powder in the ears of fox an coyotes to help dry these out. Do not use salt, it will asborb moisture from the air an stay moist. Hope this helps, if ya have any questions feel free to get a hold of me. Later Bob ps.check out pics of my beavers in the How to Build alongs.
