Doesn't smell like chicken.

[salt dog]

A couple of days ago I purchased a hare's mask from a local fly shop. After I got home, I opened the clear plastic bag it came in and, whew, man it stunk worse than 5 day old road kill.

In all honesty, this is my first time buying a hare's mask so I don't know if this is right. I have harvested feathers and such from road kill and game waste, so I don't consider myself squeamish, but I would have steered clear and left it alone had they ever stunk like this. Is this something fairly normal? or should I take it back to the shop? Should I treat it somehow?? Should I let my dog roll in it? Help! I'm on olfactory overload!!

[PETI]

Yep, that be right.iagree
Just consider yourself lucky you didn't get a smelly one.

[ibn]

Lots of stuff will stink like that, it's normal.

[salt dog]

I guess I need to look at the bright side: smelling like that, I probably soon won't have to share my fly tying area with my spouse.
Of course, if I'm working in the dog house, my retriever will absolutely love it.
PETI, ibn, thanks.

[Tim Cottage]

Just hang it outside for a week or two under a suitable rain and frost cover.
If the smell is still objectionable after that, fill a sink or suitable large container with warm water and add a healthy squirt of Dawn liquid dish soap. Let it soak for a few hours, rinse thoroughly (2 or 3 times) with clean water in the same container changing the water completely for each rinse. Blot dry with newspaper or paper towels and hang indoors to dry.

TC

[salt dog]

Thanks for the advice Tim.
Makes me think that next year I'll hunt my own hare; easier to do it properly at the outset when its fresh, more enjoyable too.

[papafsh]

Jim,
Try putting it in a zip-loc bag with a good covering of Arm & Hammer baking soda. The reason it stinks so bad is because it did not get dryed properly and some flesh was still moist when it was put in the commercial packaging. Non-iodized salt will also do the trick, but don't keep it in salt more than 3 or 4 days as it could loosen the hair.

LB

[cabezon]

I would return it to the shop. None of the hare's masks that I have ever purchased or handled in flyshops ever had any significant odors. Yours may not have been prepared appropriately and I would be concerned that you may have problems with it down the road.

Steve

[Ron Eagle Elk]

I'm with cabezon on this one. If I pay for material I expect it to be properly prepared. From the description of this hare's mask, it wasn't. By treating it you may be throwing good money after bad. Any reputable shop should replace it if they want to keep you as a customer.

REE