Washing blood from a dear hide

[Lily]

I was given a MASSIVE deer hide yesterday but the hair is matted and covered with blood.  I salted and rolled it up but wondered if there is some way I can wash it before I put it in the pickle, either before or after I salt it a second time and allow it to dry?  If so, how?  I'm thinking simply hose it down?

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

You will need to re-hydrate the salted skin before the pickle anyway, so you will have a clean pickle instead of a brown dirty soup. The skin will have shrunk from the salting, and need re-hydrated back before the pickle. Rinse in cold water three times, first rinse to remove salt and blood, change water and let the skin set for a half hour to re-hydrate, then a third and final rinse and drain before the pickle. This will give you a clean pickle and a clean skin, and the acid will not have to fight so hard as if you just threw the dirty salted skin straight into the pickle. pH will be more stable too when the pickle is clean.

There is no need to let the skin dry after the two days of salting. Just rinse and go to the pickle. You only let it dry if you want to store it, or ship it long distances to a tannery.

[Lily]

Thank you!!  That's really clear instructions that even a blonde (like me!!) can follow! Thanks again!

[Doug Bridges]

Got to give a different angle.
Yes the rehydrate will wash the blood from the cape. After two days of salt mix 1/4 pound of salt per gallon of water with 1/2 ounce of a good surfactant in th water too. I use trubond's lipasolve 55. I would think you could substitute dawn too. I use 8 to ten gallons of water. Just soaked the skin until the skin is completely limp and rehydrated. Rinse in cool water and then in the pickle.

Outdoor Hub mobile, the outdoor information engine

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

I would caution on using any dish soap at all on raw skins. Soaps have enzymes that do the very same job that bacteria does.

[Lily]

Well I ended up rinsing it in salt water till the water was clear this moning!!  It took about 6 lots of salt water, but then I was satisfied it was clean!!  I left it to soak in some salt water then for 30 mins and now it's in a plckle!!  Thanks people!!

[lmooney]

After I salt my skins and before they go iinto the pickle, I rinse the salt off, if there is stubbern blood. ill place a little dawn on it and rub it in. After getting all the soap rinsed out I will place it in the pickle, and continue as usuall,