In this manner, how do you prepare a deer hide for tanning?
Scrape every particle of fat and flesh from the hide with a knife. Begin the tanning process or preserve it with a generous layer of non-iodized salt. Salted hides can be air dried until the onset of warm weather, or frozen. Soak the skin in water in a plastic garbage can until it softens, changing the water often.
How do I tan a hide with the hair on?
Salting is what sets the hair and keeps the hide from decaying.
- Lay the hide out flat, flesh side up.
- Rub the salt into the hide.
- If the cape has been tube skinned, turn it over and salt the other side of the cape.
- Applying salt on the hair side is not necessary.
