Preserving bird skins AND my skin!

[flyfishingpastor]

I was just wondering about keeping bird skins without critters? I already know that most skins you buy and hopefully all you get yourself will be dry and cured by some method to preserve the skin/feathers. I got that. My question is how do you store them to keep future critters out of them? Do they leave them alone once they are cured with borax or whatever? Or, after you buy them already cured, do you have to put moth balls or cedar shavings or ? in the drawer to keep future critters out of them?

I'd like to know this BEFORE my wife opens a drawer in my tying area and REAL bugs begin to 'hatch' outta there! This one could have pretty severe mental/physical ramifications for me after she recovers from the stroke she would have on the spot should she ever see such a thing! At the very least I'd be banished to the non-heated/air-conditioned garage. I'd like to avoid this!

Pat

[rstaight]

Pat,

There are several methods.

When I was taking tying classes, Bill Murray said that about every six months he puts every thing in the freezer for about 24 hours.

In the same class, Jay Armstrong said he uses moth balls in all of his containers. But that does tend to leave a "scent" on the materials.

I use aromatic cedar in each drawer and I haven't had a problem.

For those of you who don't know Bill and Jay, they worked at Wildcat Creek Outfitters when the shop was downtown.

[krebsie]

I have had pieces and parts of dead and dried critters in drawers and containers some for 20+ years now and I have never had any problem with bugs. Now, if you preserve stuff for yourself you'll want to take a look at it once in a while and make sure there isn't anything using it as it's own personal diner. If there is the freezer is the best way to rid your stuff of bugs. Biggest thing is make sure it's dry/cured and stays that way!!!! Wouldn't recommend moth balls, who knows what kind of chemical reaction those things give off besides the horrible taste it might leave in a fishes mouth. Biggest thing is "Make Sure Its Cured", then don't worry about it!! One other thing, if you can't stop worrying, is store your self cured parts in a ziplock bag.
Later Krebsie