Tanning question
 

I have a buckhide I want to have tanned, but nobody around here does that any more. I've found quite a few do-it-yourself kits available online. Anybody here have any experience with those kits? As a youth I used to run a trap-line & I've skinned countless muskrats, coons, foxes etc., so I'm not against putting in some elbow grease to get the job done. I'm just wondering if anybody here has done it & if so, what suggestions do you have. I want to make buckskin - no hair left on it. It came off approx. 180 lb. Whitetail. Thanks in advance for your opinions.

If you have a taxidermist near you, he can order you a kit from McKenzie Supply. But be forwarned, I did ONE beaver for a friend, it was a small beaver. I only ever did one and will never attempt it again. The time it takes to do it right is worth paying someone else to do it.

If you want a good quality tan, send it to a commercial tannery.

If you want to save some time and "elbow grease" just use a pressure washer to get the meat and fat off the hide before using the tanning kit http://www.mckenziesp.com/Tanning-Kits-C1943.aspx

Google something like "pressure washer for deer capes" or something like that to get more info

You could always brain tan. God put enough brains in an animal to tan their own hides.

http://braintanned.com/howto.html

the only problem with doing it yourself is it doesn't usually come out soft and flexible. you have to "break the skin". which takes a lot of time. if you want hair off i would send it out. they can dye the leather many colors. they usually have a cutoff date late in January or early February. i have used Outback Imagery in Pa. i don't have a number but, with the internet you will find them.