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HomeSurvivalHides

Hide Helpers

by Joe McDonald

  
You may have gotten a hold of a deer hide or two but don't have the time to complete them yet. How does one store them? There are several ways that I know to temporarily preserve hides.

The quickest and easiest is simply placing the hide in a plastic bag and freezing it. I've stored hides that way for a year. The last one that I had pulled out was frozen for six months, but the plastic bag was ripped. A seven-inch circular area appeared freezer burned. I noticed no adverse effect in the working of the hide.. The biggest setback to this method is the available space in a freezer. When things get tight in there, hides tend to be the first thing removed.

The method I've seen more than any other is salting. The cooled hide is placed flesh side up and covered evenly with salt. After a day or so it helps to place the salted hide on a slight angle to drain off fluids. Use as much salt as is necessary to cure the hide - about one-half the weight of the hide in salt should do. Keep the hide in a cool dry place out of the sun. One of the disadvantages of this method is a possible fungal growth. on the salted surface that will discolor the hide. Also, dogs and insects aren't deterred by salt.

Some Native Americans air-dried their hides by tying them around a tree with the hair side out. The air drying method is best accomplished on a clean hide. After soaking, the fat and flesh are readily removed. Then tack it up to a shed or barn wall that will be cool, dry, and out of the sun. For the first two days hang hair side out, then turn it over. I've been told that air drying for approximately two months is beneficial. Tack it up high enough that dogs can't reach it and keep an eye out for the insects.

Another method is to use Borax. Taxidermists use it a great deal. Borax is a soap so it helps break down fat and will guard against grease burn. Just spread it on dry and rub it in. Insects and most dogs stay away.


From The Tracker magazine, Summer 1983, published by the Tracker School.
For more articles from The Tracker magazine, visit the Tracker Trail website.