The other morning I shot a coyote while deer hunting. It was the first coyote I’ve taken so I got the great idea to tan the hide. I researched a bit online on what to do and it seemed relatively simple. First I skinned the coyote, second I salted it over night and third I placed it in a solution of white vinegar, salt and water for 3 days. When I removed the hide it smelled and wherever I touched it the fur fell out. It was rotting in a bucket in my garage! Gross. I discarded the hide but am curious has anyone ever tried this themselves? It seemed like way too much work and hassle for a hide once I actually did it. I think my next one will go to cordrays, I’ve had great experiences with them.
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
Not sure if they are still around, but there used to be a store in North Charleston called Tandy Leather. The stroe closed years ago, but I think they are still online. They sell tanning creams and supplies that make it a lot easier.
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Thanks Pit. After my recent experience I think I’ll just drop the hide off and pay someone else to do it. I was just curious if anyone else on here attempted it themselves and what the final result was like. I’ve had cordrays tan several deer hides for me and they did a really good job.
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
You can buy Lutan online- It’s apparently not that difficult if you use modern chemicals.
quote:
Originally posted by Edistodaniel
You can buy Lutan online- It’s apparently not that difficult if you use modern chemicals.
Thats what I am reading about the process. Using Salt and vinegar is the old school way of doing it and there is a lot of room for error. But I can understand you not wanting to mess with it, it is much easier to have someone else do it.
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I did a gator hide myself, but I followed some online instructions and used Lutan-F. It was REALLY simple. The hardest part was getting all of the flesh of the hide. I used a pressure washer and it worked great! Think it was $100 after it was all said and done.
Do you want a tanned hide or a fur? I believe the tanning you tried just leaves the skin and the fur is supposed to fall off. When I was a kid i killed a bobcat and meticulously skinned it. Nailed it to a piece of plywood fur side down stretching it out a bit and salted the skin. Kept it out the rain and every weekend I would rub the hide with a dull knife and resalt it. While rubbing it down any little pieces of meat or more often fat would be ground off. After 6-8 weeks the fur was complete. I think I used about 3 boxes of salt. Never really smelled that bad either. I think I only had to remove a few square inches of skin that rotted because it didn’t get enough salt around the toes.
I dont shoot bobcat anymore but I have a great fur now. If I shoot a coon or coyote with a good coat this year ill do the same. Seems hard to find one with a healthy coat lately.
First, Most, Biggest
I read the instructions on a predator hunting site. I’m guessing the acidic vinegar is what made the hair fall out. I think just a ton of salt and scraping would work well next time.
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
I used to tan a lot of beaver,fox and bobcat.I used alum and salt,takes about a week and gives you “white” leather.Don’t remember exactly how much alum/salt you mix but an online search would tell you.Using this method leaves the fur on the hide.
used just salt on a squirrel just like GW’s bobcat. Still has his fur, whiskers, ears, etc. but he’s just not his old self.
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