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Post by armando on Mar 21, 2020 15:07:56 GMT -7
looks like I’ll be at home for a spell with all this social distancing. [ Defrosted a deer hide from last season (pretty ripe) to flesh but I had to freeze it again until I get my hair removal going. What do you guys use to salt the hides? Is it all right to just freeze it and then defrost it to start de-hairing? I’ve got two more to go (it’s a lot of work!) ibb.co/TcX5QZW |
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Post by Black Hand on Mar 21, 2020 15:17:28 GMT -7
I don't salt or freeze. I spread the hide flesh side up and allow it to dry - no lost freezer space and no possibility of spoilage if it stays dry. Try to skin as cleanly as possible so a minimum of flesh and fat remains on the hide.
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Post by hawkeyes on Mar 22, 2020 6:02:07 GMT -7
looks like I’ll be at home for a spell with all this social distancing. [ Defrosted a deer hide from last season (pretty ripe) to flesh but I had to freeze it again until I get my hair removal going. What do you guys use to salt the hides? Is it all right to just freeze it and then defrost it to start de-hairing? I’ve got two more to go (it’s a lot of work!) ibb.co/TcX5QZWIf "ripe" it is ruined. Don't mess with it. Unless a hide is IMMEDIATELY salted or frozen for storage you are up the creek without a paddle. I'm speaking from experience. A salted or frozen hide should not be thawed/ washed then frozen again. Only way to preserve a hide once unfrozen and salted is to keep it soaking in fresh woodash water which it will keep if you continue to stir and change out some water every few days. I have a full bison hide salted and rolled that's been stored for two years, no smell. I tan allot of hides and I'm forewarning, if it smells like it's going south it already has and won't be good. However fresh green hides should be salted with mineral salt, every nook and cranny and I can't say that enough. Then when ready to flesh hose off with fresh water till all traces of salt are removed. Then it should smell just like a fresh hide. I've got three salted deer and one bison and about a dozen frozen squirrels awaiting action... Plenty of work, especially the bison which I'll donate if someone is sporty enough to tan it. I absolutely will not ever do another bison hide again. |
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Post by Black Hand on Mar 22, 2020 7:33:59 GMT -7
I agree that salting a hide can help (especially if someone lives in a humid area), but I'm not convinced it is absolutely essential. Bring to mind the thousands & millions of hides/pelts collected by hunters in the 18-19th centuries that don't appear to have been salted. Natives don't appear to have used salt for their hides either. Salt does draw moisture from the hide and also inhibits bacterial growth by removing the water bacteria need for growth. The underlying concept that is harnessed is A w - see foodcrumbles.com/water-activity-food-spoilage-microbial-growth/ for additional information. This phenomenon is harnessed when drying meat, vegetables, fruit and other "wet" foods. |
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Post by hawkeyes on Mar 22, 2020 12:47:34 GMT -7
Stopping that bacteria is key, if she smells ripe... RUN AWAY!
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Post by armando on Mar 22, 2020 13:19:35 GMT -7
Stopping that bacteria is key, if she smells ripe... RUN AWAY! It fleshed out ok. I'm going to de-frost, run the de-hairing on it and see how it goes. But maybe later...I have some coons and a possum still to flesh and put up. I have two other buck skins to do later but I've kept them frozen since the end of the season. |
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Post by Black Hand on Mar 22, 2020 13:47:57 GMT -7
It's a fine line between slipping the hair and rotten hide. If it's rotten, it may very well start to fall apart when you (try to) remove the hair or scrape...
I've added bleach to the water - not as strong as lye, but seems to help the hair slip and keeps the bacteria down somewhat.
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Post by Sicilianhunter on Mar 23, 2020 7:08:40 GMT -7
Hawk,
When you say "mineral salt" do you mean Kosher/coarse salt?
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Post by hawkeyes on Mar 23, 2020 11:20:43 GMT -7
Hawk, When you say "mineral salt" do you mean Kosher/coarse salt? I buy salt in a 50lb bag from tractor supply, around $5.00 for a bag. |
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Post by Sicilianhunter on Mar 23, 2020 12:26:05 GMT -7
Hawk, When you say "mineral salt" do you mean Kosher/coarse salt? I buy salt in a 50lb bag from tractor supply, around $5.00 for a bag. Is it marked mineral salt ? |
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Post by hawkeyes on Mar 24, 2020 7:39:07 GMT -7
I buy salt in a 50lb bag from tractor supply, around $5.00 for a bag. Is it marked mineral salt ? Yes |
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Post by Sicilianhunter on Mar 24, 2020 8:06:50 GMT -7
Is it marked mineral salt ? Yes Thanks, I’ll look for it |
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Post by hawkeyes on Mar 24, 2020 8:58:59 GMT -7
Shouldn't be hard to find, usually it's back with the feed.
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