Re Hydrating Black Bear Skin

I rehydrate salt dried skins using water and McKenzie relaxer degreaser. Put the skin in and agitate it every so often until it is fully rehydrate I then use the same stuff in another bath to wash the skin good and then rinse in clean water and then into the pickle it goes. After a minimum of 72 hours in pickle, drain and shave the skin and then back in the pickle for at least 24 hours. On bears I do a separate degreasing soak after shaving and then back into pickle for a day. Then proceed with neutralizing and tanning.

 

You are welcome

 

Is it ok to use course salt on bear hides? It is a pinkish red in color. Looks to be fine ground. Pickling purposes and salting hides?

 

I am not entirely sure Lorn. I accidentally bought a bag of that once and didn't use it, I put it out for the deer. I was concerned about the amount of other trace elements messing with my PH. Hopefully someone else can and will answer your question.

 

Well that’s my concern with it too. I don’t know if good or bad

 

If that is Himalayan Pink salt I would not use it. You would be better off using containers of non iodized salt. Where did you get the salt? I've seen road salt that was that color too. There is an additive on it that colors it. Seems much too fine for that though.

 

I got it at a feed store. Thinking I need to get salt elsewhere though