old bobcat hide

[cnkadams]

I bought an old bobcat hide at an auction and it's stiff, smelly, and the fur is very dry and rough.  Any pointers on how to soften and freshen the fur up?  I'd like to use it for a quiver project.

[MadDog]

That's a tough call, if its been salted and holding the hair good then you can most likely wash it in some dawn dish soap and dry it, then if you can find some cow or pig brains rebrain it and then stretch it and work it until it is dry, smoke the bugger and it will be just as it was when it came off the cat. Sounds like a lot of work but it is well worth it. If you need any more info let me know, I'm no expert but, I've done a couple of hides.  

[Bowjunkie]

I'm assuming it's already tanned?

If it's tanned, here's what I'd do.... I'd soak it, and once completely rehydrated, I'd wash it really well in a bucket of warm water and Murphy's oil soap. It would bring a nice sheen back to the fur and make it smell better too. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.

If the quiver I wanted to make needed a soft hide, I'd squeeze out the excess water, wait until it was just barely damp, then rub tanning oil into the skin and work it ocassionially as it finished drying. If the quiver needed a stiff hide, I'd stretch it and redry it into the shape I needed.

[cnkadams]

Thank y'all for the help.