Hello, I'am new at taxidermy. My friend gave me a salted dear hide but did not turn the lips or ears can I rehidrate the hide and then turn them and then re-salt the hide again before tanning. If so how should I soak the hide ? And for how long.
Thanks in advance
Bill
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The part about the lips not being turned doesn't bother me so much as the ears aren't turned. You can try and rehydrate the ears by injecting them with Bruce Rittel hide softner and water but becarefull. Chances are good that the ears might slip and there are no guaruntees that this will work. Take your time and give it a try and if you get it to work, then I would rehydrate the hide and then pickle, split the rest, shave and repickle. Then I would proceed with my tanning.
Bill, The way I would do it is: Mix salt and a bit of water, enough to soak the only as much of the cape as is necessary to sink the un-turned areas. You need it very salty about a pound to the gallon. Best if you can keep it cool but at least not real warm. Check a couple of times each day and start turning the ears as much as you can as soon as they start to get soft. Split the lips soon as they are ready. Now, I have never had to do a deer like this but I have done airdried bobcats with no problem. When you have the ears open resalt and dry. If you can avoid rehydrating the whole cape I would but if it's folded up you might have to soak it all. One more thing- there's a bit of risk to all taxidermy procedures- if this is a high dollar cape (I'm guessing not) consider all options. Enjoy, Aaron H.