New hobby (Curing hides)

[Jordan]

I have taken on another hobby (like I need another one). I have started curing different animal pelts. Shot this raccoon last year . She weighed in at 21 lbs and used it as my "test" skin. Came out great. Tried the same thing on a few cat and red squirrels and some came out good some came out ok and some, well, I just had to throw away. I shot my first black squirrel a few weeks ago and tried the process on him and finished him up last night. I only have pics of the coon hide, but will get pics of the black squirrel as soon as I can. If anyone wants to learn this, let me know and I'll walk you through it.

Its a very fun and rewarding hobby in my eyes.

[CajunSteelsetter]

That looks very nice jordan. I used to fur trap a bit for fun, and might be running a little trap line here pretty soon. Mostly coon, otter, maybe coyote. I never really got into tanning my own hides, just usually sold em green to fur buyers. I might be interested in seeing how you do it.

[CajunSteelsetter]

Also, I'm from DeRidder, and my parents live up there still, so I'm up that way fairly regularly.

[AceArcher]

That's nice! are they hides both tanned and softened?

[Jordan]

They are "cured", meaning they can basically only be displayed... They are soft fur wise.... Tanned is basically only to use as a hat, blanket, etc. Does not stink, etc. Very easy to do.

[Jordan]

Here is a pic of the front (top) and back (Bottom) of the black squirrel I finished last night

[Jordan]

Originally Posted by CajunSteelsetter

Also, I'm from DeRidder, and my parents live up there still, so I'm up that way fairly regularly.

Let me know when you want to learn. Im all about teaching. You can cure any hide.... rabbit, squirrel, deer, etc.

[duckman1911]

Do you use a chemical tanner or natural? I used to do the salt and scrape method now I smoke tan them. I have never tried a chemical tanner though.

[Jordan]

No chemicals here. I take the brains of the animal and put them in a plastic bag for 5 days. I skin out the animal. Rub it down with a mix of rock salt and regular table salt and "grind" it in the skin every day and hang it vertical. On the 5th day, I get all the salt off. Get the brains out and "work" them into the hide by flattening out the brain matter and using an old spoon or my thumb and forcing it in the skin. Then re-salt it and keep forcing the salt in the skin for 7 more days. On the 8th day, its time to scrape and thats what you get in the pictures. They are hangable, not wearable because they arent tanned.