Rehydrating a dry tanned hide is fairly simple, since we use both "wet tans" (when received from the tannery this type of tanning is wet and supple to the touch) and "dry tans" (this type of tanning results from the tannery completing the tanning process resulting in a dried skin) but either way the results remain the same. .
When rehydrating a dried tanned skin....mix one cup of salt with one gallon of room temperature water (mix up about three gallons in a bucket), immerse the cape in the water solution for about 45 minutes. Remove soaked skin and drain for about an hour or so. After draining well roll the skin up and place in a plastic bag overnight and "sweat" (it will absorb the water solution and soften the entire hide). The next day you can shave and repair the skin, use your method of choice on the ears and mount like you usually do.
Hope this helps
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