I recently bought a salt dried pelt that did not have the ears turned or the eyes and lips split. Is it safe to rehydate the hide, do the necessary fine work, and salt dry the pelt again before sending it to the tannery. I understand that a bacteriostat would be needed in the rehydration solution. The tannery requires the fine work be done before they do their tanning. Thanks, Bill
Return to Lifesize Mammal Taxidermy Category Menu
Shoot up the ears with water and a true bactericide. (NO LYSOL) Use Rittels or one of those from WASCO.
It will be very important to soak the cape as little as possible.
I would shoot up the ear, turn them, then the eyes and lips.
It is safe to rehydrate it and do the necessary splitting and inverting. However, after rehydrating, and before you salt it again and dry it - first, either tumble it in sawdust and blow it off to remove the excess moisture - or if you dont have a tumbler - at least throw some sawdust in a garbage bag - place the skin in it and bounce it around -and then blow it off so its in a damp-dry state for salting and drying. You dont want it dripping wet and in the salt.