Anyone here ever tanned a deer hide?

[Finalygotabeltfed]

Got a 126lb doe ten minutes before closing time on opening day in Maine this season and kept the hide. I just finished scraping and salting it and trying to get it dry but the weather isn't cooperating much, its damp outside.

I have chemicals on the way and a PDF file on how its done. Wondering if anyone here has done it before and has any tips for a first timer?

Used a WWII K98 Mauser with 150gr softpoint bullet and the shot was a clean through and through lung shot at 35yds. Knocked her off her feet and she got up and ran a small cicle about 20yds and fell. She bled out almost completely inside her chest cavity but did leave a small trail. I had no problem finding her in the dark as her eyes lit up with a small flashlight. Had to drag her about 50yds to a logging trail to get her on the truck. She was well fed and full of corn, acorns and grasses. The hide is flawless and she was a very healthy deer. The tenderloins made a great supper that night back at camp, served with mashed potatoes, green beans, pickled beets, gravy bread and butter. Gave the heart to the camp owner who cooked it up the next night for supper. Left the liver with the gut pile as theres been warnings about heavy metal contamination in the past.....not worth the risk to me.

Anyone else hunt Maine and have any success this past week?

 

[bpm990d]

NICE!

 

[JonJ]

Sorry can't help you with the hide but nice kill!
No pics?

 

[Finalygotabeltfed]

Waiting for hunting partner to email them to me. Will have to send them to another member to post.

 

[Len-2A Training]

Just follow the directions in the Sticky on posting pictures. Use Photobucket or hunt101 as the site to store them on.

 

[Finalygotabeltfed]

Will do.

 

[Patriot]

Got a 126lb doe ten minutes before closing time on opening day in Maine this season and kept the hide. I just finished scraping and salting it and trying to get it dry but the weather isn't cooperating much, its damp outside.

I have chemicals on the way and a PDF file on how its done. Wondering if anyone here has done it before and has any tips for a first timer?

I didn't do it myself but I did have it sent away for tanning. I would suggest
that you don't do it. The damn hide will be a thorn in your side for years to
come as you won't want to throw it out. The wife/gf/partner will piss and moan
about that stupid pelt and the fact that they don't want it on the back of the
sofa so that your friends can see your "great white hunter" kill on display. I
finally took mine to my camp and from there it went out in the trash.

TBP

 

[Finalygotabeltfed]

I didn't do it myself but I did have it sent away for tanning. I would suggest
that you don't do it. The damn hide will be a thorn in your side for years to
come as you won't want to throw it out. The wife/gf/partner will piss and moan
about that stupid pelt and the fact that they don't want it on the back of the
sofa so that your friends can see your "great white hunter" kill on display. I
finally took mine to my camp and from there it went out in the trash.

TBP

Actually, she'll be out there helping me scud it when its almost dry. She's no squeamish little city girl.

 

[Ham Slam]

Raw hide

I'll tell yah I never tanned myxself, by last year I used Eastcoast Tannery, fast turn around, and the hide was super soft, they did a great job for about 60 bucks. It's worth it. All I did was freeze the hide then send it to them. Didn't trim fat or anything.

 

[Finalygotabeltfed]

I'll tell yah I never tanned myxself, by last year I used Eastcoast Tannery, fast turn around, and the hide was super soft, they did a great job for about 60 bucks. It's worth it. All I did was freeze the hide then send it to them. Didn't trim fat or anything.

Thanks for the info. I want to do it myself and already have the necessary chemicals on the way. Theres a first time for everything and it doesn't seem all that involved other than the labor to soften it over a board once its tanned. I'll post my results once its finished.

 

[M1911]

Be careful with the chemicals. I don't know what chemicals are used today, but old tanneries are all major hazardous waste sites. Lots of heavy metals, arsenic, etc. Nasty stuff.

 

[Finalygotabeltfed]

Be careful with the chemicals. I don't know what chemicals are used today, but old tanneries are all major hazardous waste sites. Lots of heavy metals, arsenic, etc. Nasty stuff.

Thanks for the reminder but really the stuff is pretty benign. Its very dilute Ammonium aluminum sulfate(alum) and salt solution which is neutralized afterwards with either sodium carbonate (washing soda) or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). I've dealt with more harsh chemicals in my kitchen and bathrooms than these. Chlorine is one of the most deadly chemicals in the world, yet people sprinkle it around their bathroom and kitchen like is magic dust. Tile cleaner, ammonia, bleach, draino, battery acid, muriatic acid(for cleaning stone work) all are way more hazardous than what I'll be using.

Commercial tanneries usually have many other processes going on than just tanning, including dyeing and various conditioning processes that require other chemicals. The stuff used in home tanning is actually quite safe as long as you don't drink it and take normal precautions against spalshing it all over.

The tanning is done in a plastic barrel or bucket so its pretty well contained and its also done in very small quantitie, about 2-3 gallons tops. The PH can be neutralized with baking soda so its harmless afterwards.