How long is too long?

[SussexShooter]

I’ve found lots of info on the tanning process for deer skins but one thing I can’t find much of an answer on is how long after a deer is hung can the skin still be used?

I know the best answer is to skin the deer immediately however if this isn’t possible would a skin still be good if the deer is skinned say 2-3 days after being shot (providing it had been promptly put into a chiller to cool properly)?

I have four deer in the chiller currently- two from three days ago, 1 from two days ago and 1 from yesterday evening. I’d potentially like to tan all four however considering it’s quite an intensive process I’d rather not start if the skins have already been left too long on some.

If all four are considered still good to use my plan would be to skin and immediately salt at least two before freezing for a later date. The others I would start on immediately.

Thanks!

 

[VSS]

I hang my deer for a week in-skin, at around 2.5°C, and most skins are OK for tanning after that, provided they are either salted or frozen immediately after coming off. (ie, don't leave the skin lying about while you butcher the carcass).
Bear in mind that time of year (moult) will affect it too.
I generally now only bother tanning August and September fallow hides, and sometimes a winter menil.

 

[SussexShooter]

Thanks that’s great to know. My wife has done a couple from a few weeks ago but these were skinned immediately. First few are a learning process and whilst there’s a couple of bits to change I don’t think she did a bad job!

 

[WalkedUp]

They look great

 

[VSS]

Thanks that’s great to know. My wife has done a couple from a few weeks ago but these were skinned immediately. First few are a learning process and whilst there’s a couple of bits to change I don’t think she did a bad job! View attachment 439109

Nothing wrong with them! They look fantastic!
Obviously there is less risk of hair slippage during tanning if the skin is really fresh, but you've got to balance that against better quality venison as a result of hanging carcasses in-skin.
What tanning method did your wife use for those two?

They look great

Agreed. They look really good.

This is the skin off one of those bucks you shot. As you will remember, conditions were far from ideal, it wasn't until the next day that the carcasses made it to the chiller (which subsequently broke down), and they got very warm (hottest day of 2024). It was at least 24hrs after shooting that the temperature of the carcasses was brought down to anywhere near what it should be.
Even so, hair slippage during tanning has been minimal. Which surprised me!

 

[WalkedUp]

Very impressive

 

[SussexShooter]

Thanks! We used the K-tan kit as I’d used it previously and found it to be very informative step by step. I agree they look great the only issue with these we didn’t account for was not cutting the rear end so it would lay flat meaning currently as you can sort of see in the picture, there is a ridge near the tail end. In future we will just need to cut it to lay flat before pinning it to dry.

 

[VSS]

Thanks! We used the K-tan kit as I’d used it previously and found it to be very informative step by step. I agree they look great the only issue with these we didn’t account for was not cutting the rear end so it would lay flat meaning currently as you can sort of see in the picture, there is a ridge near the tail end. In future we will just need to cut it to lay flat before pinning it to dry.

It can take a long time for a hide to go flat, particularly off a thick-skinned buck. If you damp down the tanned hide by laying it leather side up and covering with a damp blanket for a while, then turn it the other way and put some weights on the humpy bits, it will go down in the end.
I use K-tan as well. It's very good.

 

[Quixote]

I generally now only bother tanning August and September fallow hides, and sometimes a winter menil.

What d'you use them for, if you don't mind my asking?

 

[VSS]

What d'you use them for, if you don't mind my asking?

Mostly sell them (£130 each).
But the trouble is I like the nicest ones too much to sell so our bedroom floor is near enough carpeted with them by this stage

 

[Quixote]

Mostly sell them (£130 each).
But the trouble is I like the nicest ones too much to sell so our bedroom floor is near enough carpeted with them by this stage

That's a useful wee earner! I would love to have a few skins on the floor, but this idiot would just destroy them

 

[SussexShooter]

It can take a long time for a hide to go flat, particularly off a thick-skinned buck. If you damp down the tanned hide by laying it leather side up and covering with a damp blanket for a while, then turn it the other way and put some weights on the humpy bits, it will go down in the end.
I use K-tan as well. It's very good.

Thanks, I’ll try the ‘damp and flatten’ technique for sure as for the other four hanging, I’ll get them skinned, salted and frozen ready for future attempts! Thanks for the advice

 

[SussexShooter]

That's a useful wee earner! I would love to have a few skins on the floor, but this idiot would just destroy them

View attachment 439165

Funnily enough the first skin I ever tried got munched by our huntaway mid process! lesson learned now…

 

[VSS]

That's a useful wee earner! I would love to have a few skins on the floor, but this idiot would just destroy them

View attachment 439165

All my "idiots" live oudoors.

Thanks, I’ll try the ‘damp and flatten’ technique for sure as for the other four hanging, I’ll get them skinned, salted and frozen ready for future attempts! Thanks for the advice

No need to salt before freezing, but you will need to salt defrosted hides as the first stage of curing.
Alternatively, no need to freeze: Just salt properly, twice, then fold and store until ready to tan.
You will need a lot of salt. I buy it in 25kg sacks.

 

[SussexShooter]

All ours are outdoors too- got enough kids running around indoors- don’t need the dogs running around too!

Sorry to potentially be stupid but what do you mean by salt twice? We just give a good covering once then sit for a few days before fleshing etc.

 

[VSS]

Sorry to potentially be stupid but what do you mean by salt twice? We just give a good covering once then sit for a few days before fleshing etc.

If you're salting skins in order to "cure" them and store them prior to tanning, you need to dump a good load of salt on them, so they're really well covered (maybe 5kg of salt per skin?), rub it in, leave it for a few days, then shake it all off, apply fresh salt (maybe only around 2kg this time), rub in well then fold the skin flesh sides together, roll up, put it in a paper sack, and store in a cool place until you're ready to tan it. It'll keep for months like that.

 

[SussexShooter]

Ah I see thanks. On a slight tangent- once you’ve finished the process, what do you find the best method to get them really flexible rather than stiff?

 

[VSS]

Ah I see thanks. On a slight tangent- once you’ve finished the process, what do you find the best method to get them really flexible rather than stiff?

Very coarse sandpaper.

 

[Sol]

I know someone on Facebook mentioned recently about using some sort of sander disk, I'd guess without remembering a soft wire wheel attachment?

 

[VSS]

I know someone on Facebook mentioned recently about using some sort of sander disk, I'd guess without remembering a soft wire wheel attachment?

If you're going to use a powered sander it has to be a flexible rubber disk, otherwise the edges will dig in and ruin the hide. Use a really coarse grit paper on it.
Just as easy - if your arms are up to it - to use a sanding block, and work your way over the hide in circular movements.