Recommended Care of Deer and Elk Skins in Preparation for Tanning?
Sometimes, in discussing care of skins where no care has taken place before, one takes what one can get. The skins should not be permitted to lay on the floor in a pile for extended periods. Sometimes skins lay till the days kill is completed. The first skins removed are of no value by that time, and all will be effected with some bacteria damage. At the very least, the skins, once removed from the animal, should be placed on a slanted surface so that the fluid can drain from the skins(s). Each skin should be laid hair down, and the flesh side salted generously, making sure all edges are covered. The next skin can be placed on top of the first, salted as before. Etc. Clean skins can be salted and frozen, or simply frozen immediately. Ideally, the skin, when removed, will be kept clean and be placed in a cold salt brine (water with as much salt as can be dissolved). This will cool down the skin, wash any blood and other fluids out of the hair, and prevent bacteria from working on the sk
