I've never tanned a hide before but thought I would give it a shot this season. I've seen many 'recipes' online for the process and materials but wanted to ask you guys what has worked for you. I shot the deer on 11/24 and took it to the processor that morning. He skinned it out and froze the pelt for me; picked it up yesterday with the meat. Is it okay to thaw it out and salt it now since its been frozen for three weeks or will all the hair just end up falling out? I threw it back in the freezer at home so I'm not sure if he boned out and saved the tail or not but if so, I want to do a rug. If not, I'm going to use it on some furniture pieces im making.

thanks

Thaw it out, scrape off all the meat and fat, then salt well. You'll want to either hang it or place it on an incline where all the liquid the salt draws out can drain.

Go to cabelas and buy the Van Dykes tanning kit. It comes in a brown box. I have tried many different ways to tan hides and this works the best. It has all the instructions you need. The only thing that doesn't come with the kit is salt. I have done deer, bobcats, fox hides using this. If you do everything it says to do your hide will turn out great and real soft. The hardest part is fleshing the hide.

5 parts Alum, 2 parts non iodine salt, 20 parts filtered water.


Ive used this a couple of times. The hide is workable. Makes a good rug. I used one hide to cover the middle of a cattle horn mount.