I have just skinned my first bobcat,I have been watching the Jan Van Hoeson A to Z tape. Everything went fine but, I have decied to tan the hide instead of using DP. She says to salt and put in frige over night, resalt next day. I talked to a McKenzie staff taxidermist, and he said to salt over night to drain then freeze until I get my tanning kit. My question is what do I need to do to it to make it drain? Do I need to resalt next day. Any help here would be great! Thanks Jeff
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Salt it heavily, fold it up, skin touching skin and put it on a slanted surface such as a piece of plywood, (etc.) and leave it for a day the slanted surface will allow for the liquid to run out. You can even build a little V-shaped contraption out of wood, sheet metal, etc. and direct the fluid into a bucket to save on the mess. I don't typically resalt the next day. I simply move on to the tanning process. I think that if you haven't already salted it, just freeze it until you get your tanning kit and then thaw it out flesh it (if you haven't already) and then proceed with salting and tanning.
Thanks for the info. I already put the salt to it so I'll put it on a board and let drain. Do i need to wash it or any thing next day before I freeze it? Thanks Jeff
salt keeps things from freezing, thats why they put it on the roads in the winter time. i would let it dry out and then rehydrate when you are ready to tan. the longer you let it dry the better off you are in my mind, helps to set the hair.
Should i lay it out flat or fold it, should I shake this salt off and resalt it? Thanks,Jeff
lay flat or hang, a properly salt dried hide will last indefinetly. get some kemel-4 from McKenzie and mix a few tablespoons with 2 gallons of water and soak the hide for a couple hours to relax it when you are ready to start tanning it.
Thanks Gary