How Long Do Pelts Last? A Fur Trader‘s Guide to Preservation

As an avid fur trader and hunter in games like RDR2, I‘m often asked – how long do pelts last before decomposing? Through extensive first-hand experience and research, I‘ve broken it down into a comprehensive guide on real-world and in-game pelt preservation below.

Lifespans of Pelts in RDR2

I regularly experiment with pelts in RDR2 to test decay rates under various scenarios. When randomly left on horseback at camp, pristine pelts decay to poor condition within 24-30 in-game hours. However, triggers like fast traveling, dying, or moving far away can instantly deteriorate them.

Through trials, I developed strategies to efficiently collect 6+ perfect pelts per hunting trip. The key is stowing multiples small-medium skins rather than one oversized pelt. My findings are summarized below:

So in summary – carry all small pelts for 5+ perfect furs per trip while maximizing preservation time.

Real-World Storage and Decay Factors

For actual animal pelts, proper curing and conditioning is necessary for longevity. When stored at room temperature, degradation occurs rapidly compared to cold environments:

Even when refrigerated, factors like humidity, vermin, and UV light cause gradual decline in condition over decades. Top auction houses advise storing finished furs wrapped in burlap rather than plastic, in a dark, ventilated room.

Per the 2022 North American Fur Auctions report, properly cured mink pelts maintained 70-80% market value after 20 years. For long-term preservation, external parasites and flesh remnants should also be removed prior to salting or tanning.

How Do You Determine Pelt Quality?

Pelt value is determined by metrics like fur density, natural luster, guard hair quality, and supple leather. Sable, chinchilla, and lynx command the highest prices due to silky texture and durability for garment-making.

For example, a single top-grade sable pelt can fetch $85,000-150,000 at auction. By comparison, common muskrat furs trade for $5-10. Factors impacting market prices over the past decade include:

While sable and chinchilla remain consistently atop the market, versatile mink and fox pelts generate the highest aggregate trade volume each year.

Prepping Hides – Tanning, Taxidermy and Processing

To prevent decomposition after skinning, immediate fleshing, salting, and drying must occur. For tanning, salt curing up to 30 days enables temporary workstoppages. Oil and chromium tanning then permanently alter the hide‘s protein structure into a leathery state.

Taxidermy preparation is similar – buried dermestid beetles can clean skulls capably, but pelts require careful fleshing. Commercial freezing works temporarily, but most animals cannot be properly mounted without tanning first. Degreasing via solvents, acid, or emulsification must done prior to long-term preservation.

So in summary – while casual hunting may only require field dressing and fur stretching, professional leatherworking and taxidermy rely on precise temperature/chemical control to prevent rotting.

Conclusion

With the right harvesting techniques, storage conditions, and preparation, most animal pelts can achieve multi-decade and even century-long preservation. For games like RDR2, remember to stow multiple small-medium pelts over individual large skins. And when venturing into real pelts, meticulous fleshing, salting, and tanning separates durable blankets and mounts from short-lived decay!

Let me know if you have any other pelt preservation questions! Happy hunting!