How to keep a deer hide?

[madness522]

What is the best way to save a deer hide to tan later? I do have a big freezer in the shop so storing it won't be a problem.  The hair will be coming off, should that be done now or does it matter?

Thanks....Barry

[Don Batten]

I would think it would be fine in the freezer for a while. I'd put in in a couple of trash bags. I know alot of taxidermist keep their heads in a freezer till they get ready to do them. good luck DB

[smiley]

I have deer hides in a freezer for a couple of years with hair on.I still tan them with no problem

[John Scifres]

If you can flesh it before freezing, it will take up a whole lot less room and keep better.

[two4hooking]

If you plan on fleshing it later, I have found it a whole lot easier to do if you do not salt it prior to freezing.... Just been my experiences.

[Scott Teaschner]

I would not salt it if you are going to freeze it. If you do it will not totaly freeze. But if you salt it good enough and all major chunks of fat and meat are off just let it dry out as it dries fold it up and ship it to the tannery. If you leave it out of the freezer unsalted you will run the risk of loosing the whole hide. Even though you will be doing hair off you will comprimise the hide. If it decays past a certain point you will not get your leather out of it. It will just fall apart at the tanner. It should last for months just frozen. Scott

[lablover]

Fold it freeze it and wait till your ready. you can flesh it first if room is a consideration, but they flesh easier while thawing.They will keep along time in a freezer. Trash baggs are a good idea to seperate it from everything else.

[gringol]

Scott is right.  Do not salt it if you are going to freeze it, just put it straight in the freezer.

[Skipmaster1]

I wet salt mine. I just lay mine out and salt them, let them drain for an hour or so, roll them up and stick them in a trash can with water softener salt in the bottom, so they continue to drain, after a week or so I move them to another can and store them there. They will store for a very very long time this way and don't take up space in a freezer meant for meat! Just don't salt them until they are stiff and hard, you will have a VERY tough time re-hydrating and fleshing/tanning//softening them

[madness522]

Thanks guys!