Stop hair slip before it starts—field care, cooling, salting, and storage steps that keep hides clean, tight, and ready for a successful tan
Why
Proper hide and fur skin tanning starts long before any chemicals are used. Your early field care choices determine whether the hide tans successfully One of the most important steps in successful hide tanning begins the moment the animal is taken. Bacteria immediately start breaking down tissue in both the body and the hide, even before the animal fully cools. If that bacteria is allowed to multiply, it will rot the hide and cause hair slippage that destroys the final result. See the blog article “Proper Field Care”
Warm climates accelerate bacteria growth quickly, which is why animals taken in hot conditions like a Texas whitetail putrefy much faster than a Colorado moose harvested in the winter.
How
Acting quickly is essential because these early steps form the foundation of the entire tanning process. Once the hide or skin is removed, use a sharp knife or fleshing tool to clean it right away by scraping excess flesh, fat, and membrane.
The next step is to salt or freeze the hide. Salting draws out moisture, temporarily preserves the hide, until it can be tanned.
If possible and weather permitting, salt your hide or skin in the field.
To salt properly, lay the hide flesh-side up and apply a heavy layer of table salt or canning salt, do not use rock salt, as this is too heavy to break down.. Work the salt into every part of the flesh and let it sit overnight. The next day, if the salt is still moist, shake off the old salt, apply a fresh layer, and let it sit again overnight.
Next, dry the hide in a cool area for 2 to 3 days, avoiding direct sunlight or extreme heat that can harden oils and make rehydration difficult. For larger hides, when it is half-way dry, fold it and allow it to continue drying. This will allow it to fit into the rehydration bath easier.
Proper salting of an elk hide–a critical step to prevent rot and ensure a clean, successful tan.
Key Takeaways
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Bacteria begins growing in the hide immediately after the animal is taken.
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Warm weather dramatically speeds up bacteria growth which can cause rot and hair slippage.
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Flesh the hide right away using a sharp knife or fleshing tool.
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Remove all flesh, fat, and membrane before salting.
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Use table or canning salt only, not rock salt.
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Salt the hide overnight, then if needed, re-salt for a second night.
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Dry the hide in a cool area for 2 to 3 days out of direct sunlight.
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Proper early care determines the overall quality of the final tan.
