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a-kettle-of-vultures · 7 years

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VC TIPS MASTERLIST

@ The anon

Well, for collecting, I cant really help you in finding dead things, they kinda just find YOU. Although water sources in the woods and along main roads is always a good bet if you want to pick up your own deads. If you’re ok with buying from trappers and hunters there is an array of sites to order from. Heres a useful link for buying furs Alternatively, you can go hunt the things yourself - but that seems to be…an unpopular opinion. Its really just up to you.

Collecting Things you will need with you in the car at all times (if possible)

Trash bags\plastic bags\or even a plastic bin, whatever floats your boat. Be aware that corpses left in plastic bags in anything over 70F or 21c (I think) for more than a couple hours will begin to literally melt. I cannot tell you how long an individual corpse will last in a plastic bag in your car trunk, but if its hot, probably not more than two or three hours before it is ruined. Its gonna be gross, man. Do not be alarmed if the pelt gets damp, you only need to worry if the fur starts coming out in huge clumps when gently tugged on.

Gardening or latex gloves I don’t personally believe in using gloves, because there are very few things you can catch from the dead. BUT there ARE things you can catch - especially from raccoons, so, if you want 100 percent safety, and also maybe to feel less grossed out, bring these.

Knife\scalpel Vulture or not, I think its wise to keep a knife on you at all times regardless, but you will definitely want one in the car in case you find something pancaked into the road but with bits you want. (IE: the top half might be gone but the tail is good, or the back half is gone but the head is good.). The knife should be sharp….derp.

Hedge clippers In case the knife doesn’t cut it or you find deer or coyote you cant fit in your car. Pro tip - try to find the joints to make chopping less of a hassle

Air fresheners\febreeze\ anything you want to keep the car fresh Even if you keep it in a bin or bag - the smell WILL linger. I didn’t notice it, but other people sure as shit did - and they didn’t like it.

Theres probably more things Im missing, but this is just my personal list.

Processing

If you want the skin - I recommend watching some skinning videos , not only will it prep you for the gore, but in general they are very helpful.

Key words for vids you WILL need at some point - Fleshing. Fleshing is very important. This will probably take up a lot of your time tbh. It does mine anyway…

Once skinned and fleshed you need to put a generous amount of salt on the skin…like..an entire layer. Make it look like Christmas morning. The salt will get all mushy and eventually hrden as it dries the skin out. Replace the salt daily. When the skin is dry and kinda stiff - and the salt isnt getting mushy anymore. You’re done with salting phase.

Tumblr Skinning links

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/162449711340/want-to-get-into-tanning-but-dont-have-the-time

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/159724525615/what-would-you-suggest-for-materials-for-a-first

Skinning out a coyote foot

Tumblr Taxidermy tips

Prepping a face for taxidermy

Reshaping face

Mounting a face

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/136429479200/knuxtiger4-new-years-started-off-well-when-it

Tumblr Tanning links

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/162774696970/i-have-a-squirrel-hide-that-was-tanned-using-the

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/155639675180/excuse-me-but-would-you-happen-to-have-any

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/143505520810/hide-tanning-methods-pros-and-cons

Brain tanning

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/137298183735/hello-i-recently-skinned-a-mouse-and-ive-kept

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/136238239250/hey-sorry-for-this-question-but-i-havent-been

Processing for bones

Maceration: When you put the corpse in a plastic bag in the sun - or in a bucket or bin of warm water to melt down for bones. In either case you will want t make sure it is somewhere dogs will not get it. If you use a bucket, make sure to put a lid on top of it. This is the most effective way, but also the most smelly…Like…its bad. Its terrible. Chew some gum or a mint or just dont breathe around it, because its the worst thing ever.

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/162182840065/tips-i-havent-seen-mentioned-maceration-edition

Burial - You can just wrap it in a sheet or whatever and bury it outside, or in a pot. May take a while, but its the least smelly, most discreet and you can care for flowers while the corpse rots down =3 If you want articulate the bones - or put them back together to form a complete skeleton later. Cut the corpse into sections and wrap them individually (again a sheet is best, but certain wire works too)

Open pit - This was my preferred method - Some bones get stolen but, eh. You just dig a hole and pile your body in there on top of a sheet or trash bag. Make sure to secure it by putting wire on top and weighing it down with dirt on the edges, or rocks. You can put leaves over top of this if you want to help the smell.

simmering or boiling - NOT RECOMMENDED. You put the parts in a pan or crock pot of water you will never be using outside of gross stuff ever again.I hear this is easier with a crock pot. Supposedly this is by far the fastest way - but youre very likely to ruin the bones. You just…set the crock pot to simmer or boil the bones

Dermestids - You can get yourself an aquarium and fill it with corpse eating beetles! They require some basic tips and care sheets, but they dont seem difficult. The most worrisome thing is - that if they escape they may eat your collection…This is the most effective and safe way imo, but it can take time - and also you have to care for beetles.

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/163741647780/do-you-know-of-any-pets-insects-that-live-longer

If you have bones but they're a little dirty (dirt, grease, stains) and you ant them pearly white, you will want to soak them in a tin can, glass jar, or plastic tub with peroxide. Skulls will float, find a way to weigh them down (stuff em with beads, rocks, whatever. Tie a string to a rock then to the skull and let it sink. Arrange ther bones in a teepee or wedge to make them hold the skull down.

DO NOT USE BLEACH. UNLESS YOU WANT BONE DUST, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL BE GETTING IN THE END. IT MIGHT TAKES WEEKS, IT MIGHT TAKE YEARS, BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A BAD TIME.

If you mess up, its ok, this might help.

I advise cleaning the skull separate from other bones. ANd I recommend cleaning the teeth separate so you risk losing them less.

Dying bones

You can dye bones by boiling various plant leaves and berries with salt. Pokeberries make a deep purple-red, rose petals vary - the red makes a sort of maroon....ect - just experiment.

How to tell if the plant\berry can be boiled of its color - take a petal or part and rub it between your thumb and fore-finger, if it bleeds on you - it can make a dye. (at least in my experience.)

Crystalizing bones

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/155195761070/hey-i-saw-that-you-specialize-in-crystallization

http://a-kettle-of-vultures.tumblr.com/post/155154295705/diy-crystallization-with-borax

Dry preserving

Much like wet preservation, but you drop the body part \ small animal into formalin or alcohol for a month or two and then take it out and let it mummify. Idk a terrible bunch about this - I just stuck things in a box and forgot abut them for months on end...probably not the best idea...I have some regrets.

Example and some tips:

Uuuuuh, I feel like im missing stuff, but, I did my best. Here have some ref links.

Misc Ref so you can see how traps work in case thats something you worry about

Making rawhide

Reshaping a face

The MBTA in case you live in the US

All birds UNPROTECTED by the MBTA in the US

How to tell if a skull is bleached

How to pack frozen deads to ship to others

Sorry this got kind of lenghty, and linked to a lot of other posts rather than TLDR giving my own takes, but all of these links have been insanely helpful to me at some point or other and they do a great job of walking through the processes imo =3. I hope this helps.

Feel free to IM me if you have a link you want added to this post

#a kettle posts #ask a-kettle-of-vultures #VC master list #I guess #idk #I tried man #havent slept in three days and im RECKT

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