A hunting trophy is rightfully considered not only meat, but also the skin of an animal. A well-dressed deer hide can become a decoration of a home and a testament to the hunting skill of its owner. However, making it at home is not easy.
It is necessary
- - salt;
- - blunt knife;
- - acetic or sulfuric acid;
- - large capacity;
- - glycerin or animal fat;
- - oak bark or chromopotassium alum.
Instructions
Step 1
Freshly skinned skin must be cleaned from the inside of the remaining meat, fat and blood. After that, it must be cooled (for example, on a concrete floor in the shade) and immediately covered with salt. If the inner side of the hide is not salted after skinning, then it will deteriorate, as the process of decomposition begins. Salting occurs for a fairly long time - up to two weeks. The end of the process is evidenced by the absolute dryness of the skin, up to a crunch. A deer skin prepared in this way can be stored for up to two years.
Step 2
The next step is to soak the dry skin in a saline solution (30-50 g of salt per liter of water). To prevent the development of microbes, an antiseptic, such as furacilin, can be added to the solution. The soaking process takes one to two days. If during this time the skin has not become soft, a new solution should be prepared with the same proportions. Hang the softened skin to drain for a couple of hours.
Step 3
With a blunt knife, you need to carefully scrape out the inside of the skin (flesh), but do not get carried away so as not to expose the hair roots. This process is necessary for the final removal of fat and meat residues. Then the skin should be washed, for example, with dishwashing detergent or washing powder.
Step 4
The next step in making reindeer hide is called pickling. This is the treatment of the skin with acids. For pickling, dissolve acetic acid in water (50-60 ml of essence per 1 liter of water), add two tablespoons of salt per liter. Soak the skin in this solution for several hours, until the inner layer of the skin begins to peel off easily. After that, fold the skin in half with the fur out and place it under a small load for 10-14 hours.
Step 5
Next, the skin needs to be dried, and then blown. Tanning is carried out in a solution of chrome-aluminum alum or in a decoction of oak or willow bark. Keep in mind that the bark will also color the fur, so it is better not to soak the skin, but to apply the broth to the flesh with a brush. If you are using alum, then simply add it to the pickling solution at the rate of 6 g per liter and place the skin there for 6-7 hours.
Step 6
Wash the tanned skin, dry it by stretching it with cloves on a wooden board, grease it on the inside with fat. Then you need to knead the skin and comb the fur. Your trophy is completely ready.
