tanning deer hide to use as leather.....

[bob1961]

where do i get and what is the best stuff to get to use myself for tanning deer hide to use for muzzleloading gear and stuff like that....since i want to use what ever deer hide i get this year and maybe the feet for gun hooks....so whats the best way to preserve the feet or do i have to send them to a taxidermist....even though i did taxidermy back in the 70's my mainstay was birds....also whats a good size can to use and all that good stuff....also does it have to be indoors and in a warm climate or can it be done outdoors this time of year here in pa...................bob

 

[Huntinfool]

Hi Bob,

Here are a couple of sites I have bookmarked.

http://www.braintan.com/index.html

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Shores/1372/Braintanning.html

Good Luck :redthumb:
Chuck Goodall
The Original Huntin' Fool
&
Kanawha Ranger Scribe

 

[Maynerd62411]

I did a search about a year ago and came across a site that describes several methods. It's from the College of Agriculture & Home Economics at the New Mexico State University. It's 9 pages to print off.
www.cahe.nmsu.edu click on search and put in "tanning hides" then click on "tanning deer hides and small fur skins"

 

[waksupi]

Braintan.com is definitely the best online place for info. Get Matt's book, Deerskins into Buckskins. I had struggled with different so called instruction manuals for over twenty years, until I found this book. The last ten years have been a breeze, making it possible to finish half dozen hides a day when I am set up and things are running well. It tells you how, and why. The only thing left out was, on thicker hides, brain them more times. I generally brain a large buck hide five or six times before breaking them down. Antelope and fawns will usually be ok with one time, but two is easy insurance. Mule deer doe hides are my favorite. Brain them four times, and they come out absolutely perfect, with very little effort. Whitetail bucks in rut are the hardest to get a good tan. Those are the ones to brain five or six times. Follow his instructions, and you will be a happy tanner. I've tried Belitz, Heinbucks, historical societies, museums, farmers almanacs, Foxfire, every source imaginable over the years. Nothing comes close to the above mentioned book. I just finished smoking the last of fourty hides I've tanned this summer, today. Makes the cabin rather aromatic!