Tanning Deer Skin Tutorial

You might have waited for all seasons to finally bag that awesome deer, and here is your trophy. The adrenaline rush of hunting one of the most dangerous predators in the world is simply unique. What about the animal’s hide, though? Resist the waste disposal. You can keep a special memento from your successful hunt by tanning the skin yourself. Small adjustments like these can give a sentence a more natural flow and make it easier for readers to comprehend. This tutorial seeks to armor you with the perfect skills of tanning deer skin in order to give you long-standing attributes.

Nevertheless, as a side note, remember to look up the policies and laws on skinning deer hides of your local and state authorities. Take care of checking local laws and finding out whether you need any permits for tanning before you start the process.

Materials Needed:

A very sharp knife with a heavy, replaceable blade for removing meat and fat from the skin. Brands like Buck or Havalon make knives designed specifically for this task.
A gambrel (metal frame) to stretch the skin taut while you work on it.
Regular table salt with no iodine added.
A tanning solution, either purchased commercially or made from natural ingredients. If doing a natural brain tan, get advice from an expert as it is very complex.
Gloves to protect your hands.

Basic Steps:

Skinning – Use your sharp knife to carefully cut the hide away from the deer’s body, following the natural lines. Take your time to avoid holes or rips.
Fleshing – Remove any remaining fat, meat, and connective tissue stuck to the underside of the hide. Stretch the skin over your gambrel to make this easier.
Salting – Cover the entire fleshy underside of the skin with a thick, even layer of salt. This dries out the hide and stops bacteria from growing.
Tanning – Soak the salted hide in your chosen tanning solution, following the product’s instructions closely. This preserves and softens the deer skin.

Tip: Keep your work area very clean throughout to prevent anything contaminating the hide.

Extra Steps:

Hair removal – Use special fleshing tools or see a taxidermist to remove the hair after tanning for a smooth finish.
Oiling – Rub quality oils like mink oil into the tanned hide. This adds a beautiful sheen and makes the leather very supple.

A few key points to remember:

Safety first – Wear gloves and be very careful with your sharp knife. Treat it with respect.
Patience is essential – Don’t try to rush the tanning process. Follow the recommended timelines so the hide can properly cure.
Ask for expert advice – For specialty techniques like brain tanning or getting an expert final finish, consult a professional taxidermist. They have extensive experience.

With some basic supplies and this simple guide, you can transform your deer hunting trophy into a soft, supple, and long-lasting leather skin to be proud of for years to come. The tanning process takes time and effort, but holding your final tanned hide makes all the work worthwhile. Turn your successful hunt into a true treasure!