Tanning A Hide ? What's Best

[DeerSpotter]

I have a deer hide that is still frozen, and I would like to tan it.  What is the best solution you guys have used,

There is a kit that you can purchase, do they work out ?

What have you guys done in the past with your deer hide to cure them.

Thanks for the help.

Pastor Carl

[macbow]

The first question is what do you want to do with it.
I you want a hair on hide. Then the kits from places like Van Dykes taxidermy supply work very well. There is some work involved fleshing and some mess with the soaking etc. The finished product if using chrome tan is rather stiff.

If you want buckskin (no hair) then brain tanning is the way to go but it is labor intensive. But a nice soft product.

You might want to check out your local taxidermist to see if any do their own hides,
A hair on hide for the wall etc. might run about $75 from a local guy.
Ron

[Otto]

My grandma used to tan my hide with a switch cut off a willow tree.

And I had to cut it myself!!!!

[DeerSpotter]

If it would turn out nice enough, I think a hide on the wall is what I had in mind.  With a nice backing on it.

Thanks a think I will take a look at some of the taxidermist places around here.  I can also get a kit from where I work, it involves no soaking, and attaching the hide to plywood board.  Haven't been able to talk to anyone that has used that though.

Thanks


PC

[Weekend Warrior]

otto  

My grandma used to tan my hide with a switch cut off a willow tree.

And I had to cut it myself!!!!
 

OTTO     That brings back to many memories   :D

[snag]

Yep, those "tannings" must have worked if we still remember them!

[wmcclendon]

I've only tanned a skunk hide, but the Rittel's EZ kit works pretty good.  You do the whole soaking and rinsing stuff, but its not too bad.  The acid is a safety acid so you can dispose of it easily.  The hardest part is fleshing and thinning the hide.  The thinner you get the hide, the softer it will be when done.  I ended up with some holes in the skunk I did, but it turned out pretty good for a first time thing.  

I've got a couple of deer hides and brains in the freezer, but I can't ever get around to getting started on them.

Good luck.

[Eastern fisher]

Tandy Leather if you have one near you has a tanning solution that is meant for hides with hair on it.  It sells for $15-20 and the container will tan 2 deer hides.  Hope this helps   Dave from Nova Scotia