Tanning Deer hides with Hair on

[Fitzy1994]

Hey guys

So I have a couple deer hides from this past hunting season, and I want to learn how to tan them myself. I want to tan them with the hair still on.

So far I have

fleshed the hide
salted in hide
and now it is soaking in a mixture of water, salt and Alum

Last time I checked on the hide after soaking for 2 days so far, the hair is still firm in the hide and the flesh side is paper white now.

Any kind of tips or cool tricks to help out a greenhorn in the world of tanning?

Cheers everyone!

[HunterDave]

I tanned a deer hide with hair on using this stuff and it turned out excellent. I followed the instructions right on the bottle.

https://www.halfordsmailorder.com/eS...HIDETANFORMULA

[PCP_ECOM]

once you have done that and you take out to start drying out,then comes the work,breaking in the hide is essential for a soft pliable hide,along with application of tanning oil to keep soft,you can string a piece of cable and run hide side over that,or I have seen people use disc harrow blade,or if you have a cement mixer you can put stones and tumble deer hide in it,the stones will do the fiber breaking down for you,i have used same Trapper's TAN IN BOTTLE like HunterDave has with good results,more you break the softer it will get,I'm no expert,but this is what I have learned,IMO Cheers Peter

[Red Bullets]

http://www.deertanning.com/

[fish_e_o]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

I tanned a deer hide with hair on using this stuff and it turned out excellent. I followed the instructions right on the bottle.

https://www.halfordsmailorder.com/eS...HIDETANFORMULA

cabelas apparently also carries it they list it online last i looked but i didn't see it in store

[TippyCanoe]

The product HunterDave suggested works really well and is simple.

[Bigmountainrider]

What are you guys using to take PH measurements during the Tanning process? I've been looking at meters, but they can get quite pricey.

[shakeyleg02]

Originally Posted by Bigmountainrider

What are you guys using to take PH measurements during the Tanning process? I've been looking at meters, but they can get quite pricey.

they used to sell PH strips in a little bottle just dip the strip and check the color on the side of the bottle used to buy mine from taxi supply in calgary AAA supply

[chimpac]

I shot 2 coyotes 2 years ago, skinned them out, nailed hides to a board, rubbed the brains from each animal on its hide, put them in an outside shed and forgot about them until yesterday. The hides felt soft but were dirty and stinky so I gave them each a soak and two rinses of very warm water and hung them out to dry. I will follow this thread for more ideas for treatment.
I need to get 2 more hides so I could make some fur pants like the Eskimos wear. My 243 made big holes so catching them in a snare would be so much better.

[Bigmountainrider]

Originally Posted by shakeyleg02

they used to sell PH strips in a little bottle just dip the strip and check the color on the side of the bottle used to buy mine from taxi supply in calgary AAA supply

Thanks, Shakey

[duck duck goose]

Stretch it over the end of a 4x4, leather side down. As mentioned you have to break the fibers in the hide to get it to be soft like you would expect leather to be. When I did my deer hides I used Neets Foot Oil to help soften it. Good luck, you are almost done.

[shakeyleg02]

Originally Posted by Bigmountainrider

Thanks, Shakey

No prob bud probly any tanning supply has them little strips hope I helped

[Fitzy1994]

it is coming along quite well! just letting the fat liquor oil dry out some more then we are going to break it and get it ready to be made into a gun carpet for the gun show, and lining for some homemade gloves!