As to the tick issue. I used to treat my own hides for fly tying. I have had deer and elk hides that, after washing in soap and insecticide, still had ticks crawling out of the hair 3 days after salting (usually 4-5 days after skinning). I would find them in a 1 foot wide salt ring around the hide and in the salt on the hide. Ticks will stay put until they have to move. A few hoursdoes not seem to matter. But get warm body close by and they will move to the fresh taget quickly.

Rockonafly