tanning a deer hide

[brushbustin]

i was wanting to tan my deer hide this year but i dont have the slightest idea of how.Is there a kit or something that you can buy or do you just have to have some one show you how to do it or can you buy books to show you how to do it.thanks

[tholder85]

brushbustin,

As a taxidermist and from experience, I can tell you that you would be best suited taking your skin to a taxidermist to have it tanned. I have tanned skins and it is a job. The actual tanning is not so hard, but "breaking" the skin once it it tanned so it will be soft and plyable is a lot of work and tanneries have the equipment to do this. I tanned a whitetail skin two years ago for my little boy to put across his bed and I learned then that next time I would send the skin to a tannery for tanning. You can buy the kits through cabelas to tan your own skin, but, like I say, breaking the skin once tanned is the work and there is no substitute or shortcut to it. You might want to try it just for the experience, though. Hope this helps.

[das fisch]

i say give it a shot. there are many kits available. i've used Rittel's products and they work great, have good instructions and are as safe as possible to use. as long as you follow the correct steps, give it the right time and have fun the results are good as well.

[CJW]

As a taxidermist and from experience, I can tell you that you would be best suited taking your skin to a taxidermist to have it tanned. I have tanned skins and it is a job. The actual tanning is not so hard, but "breaking" the skin once it it tanned so it will be soft and plyable is a lot of work and tanneries have the equipment to do this. I tanned a whitetail skin two years ago for my little boy to put across his bed and I learned then that next time I would send the skin to a tannery for tanning. You can buy the kits through cabelas to tan your own skin, but, like I say, breaking the skin once tanned is the work and there is no substitute or shortcut to it. You might want to try it just for the experience, though. Hope this helps.

This is what I'm going to do. I asked a guy yesterday about tanning a hide and he gave me the exact same response. It's not worth messing up the hide as far as I'm concerned.

[okietreedude]

Okay, so you send it off to a tannery.....where is one to send it to?

And what do I have to do to prep it first?

[nctaxi]

Best reply I have heard in a while. I did a beaver a few years ago, never again. Take it to a taxidermist and have them prep and tan it. Maybe $75 to $125 andno head aches. One thing that wasn't mentioned, deer hair is a lousy blanket, they have hollow hair and they break easily. They are great for show but not very durable or functional. Hope it helps

[Dajarn]

There is a tannery here in Oklahoma that accepts retail work as well as wholesale. You can send or drop off your salted hides or for an additionalfee they will flesh and salt your frozen hide. Website is www.dogcreek.net and phone#918-342-3600.