Everything you need to know about Tanning animal pelts.

This instructable will show you how to properly flesh, salt, and tann a animal pelt and driffernt ways of doing it. If you buy tanning solution follow the instructions that should come with it before you follow mine. sorry about the lack of pictures i will add my own pictures when i shoot more game. 

Step 1: Things needed

Salt about 3 pounds for a squirrel or rabbit and up to 15 pounds for a deer hide from my expernce. 1pound 10oz of salt sells for 44cents at walmart.
Nails or a staple gun to pin the pelt down to a peace of wood
Wood to nail your hide down to.

Comments

[Lorddrake]

very well documented instructable. I am looking forward to seeing future additions when you try different methods.

[Don,t try this at home]

Thanks a guy also messaged me and said he has pics of him brain tanning a hide when he sends them to me ill add brain tanning too. Is there anything i can add to make this Instructable better? Input is veary appreciated.

[Lorddrake]

I have read a few other guides to preserving a hide and one thing that keeps coming up is that they recommend technical grade salt .. or if you can't get that non-iodized salt.

I noticed that you used Iodized salt. Did you notice any problems because you used the iodized salt?

[Don,t try this at home]

Nope i did not have any problems at all. I think i bought non iodized salt at walmart but i dont really see the driffernce to be honest. But non idozed salt works just fine i think buying that technical grade salt is just a waste of money.

[Lorddrake]

a little more research turned this up ..

A quote from a tanning authority.... Posted by Tony Dingess on Jul 10 2004

This is a quote I found on Taxidermy.net from one of the best known experts on tanning in the US (Bruce Rittel):
"Iodized or Non-Iodized? This response submitted by Bruce Rittel on 10/28/1998. ( [e-mail] )

Doug - it really doesn't matter whether you use iodized or non-iodized Salt. For tanning however, the non-iodized type has always been preferred, because in bulk its usually much cheaper. The Iodine simply has no effect on your tanning. In Iodized Salt, because it was intended for human consumption, it was added simply to prevent Goiter problems. There's a new additive out too, call Yellow Prusaite of Soda. Its an anti-clumping agent the manufacturers are adding to their Salt. It wont affect your tanning - but you have to be mindful of your Ph. It slightly raises it, so your solution may be a bit higher. As long as you're aware of it, and can compensate for it, you should be OK. When you buy its always best to ask for 100% Salt. If it says anything less, check it for an additive. Happy Tanning. Bruce "

[Mr. E Meat]

Nice! Favourited! I'm hopefully going hunting for the first time this year! I'll be trying this if I'm successful!!

[Don,t try this at home]

Thanks and good luck hunting... i got my first deer this past year and tanned the hide with some stuff i bought off ebay. its not too soft because i made mestakes but i learned from them... I keep seeing roadkill around my house im thinking about skining one of those up and ill post that too.

[Mr. E Meat]

Haha! I can smell roadkill right now... Deer are like rats where I live... Maybe I'll keep an eye out for a fresher roadkill!

[Don,t try this at home]

Yeah that is a great idea just please always wear gloves when working with roadkill it can get kinda nasty and you never know what they have lol.around me there is alot of roadkill raccoons.