What gicts is doing will help preserve it, but is not a tan. It will last a long time, salted if taken care of. I've used protan from minnesota trapline products. It is user friendly and a chrome tan, so the chemicals won't leech out if it gets wet. Brain tanning can be effective and smoking the hide will help it to stay soft if it gets wet after brain tanning. Rittles EZ tan has an excellant reputation. Go to taxidermynet.com and look in the tanning forum.