- Before you bring it in
Getting Your Skin Ready for the Tannery
What you do in the first few hours after a hunt matters more than almost anything else. The moment an animal is skinned, bacteria begins working against you. Here’s how to give your skin the best possible start.
- Step by step
Why curing matters
Curing removes moisture from the skin and slows bacterial activity long enough for it to survive the trip to us. Skip this step, or do it badly, and no tannery can fully undo the damage.
01
Cool it down fast. Get the skin off the animal and cool it as soon as possible, preferably with cold water. Heat is what bacteria thrive on.
02
Flesh it properly. Remove as much fat and flesh from the skin as you can. Left on, it traps heat and moisture against the hide, and prevents salt penetration.
03
Salt it generously. Cover the flesh side completely with fine salt, working it into every fold, especially around the ears, lips, and legs.
04
Let it drain. Lay the skin flesh side up somewhere cool and shaded so the salt can draw moisture out. Avoid direct sun.
05
Re-salt if needed. For larger or thicker skins, a second salting after 24 hours gives extra protection on a longer trip.
06
Store and Transport Cold. Keep the skin cool and dry until it reaches us. If you can’t deliver it within a few days, freezing is a safe option.
- If you're not sure
Bring It In Anyway
Not every hunter has done this before, and that’s fine. If your skin isn’t perfectly cured, bring it in and talk to us. We’d rather advise you upfront than have you lose a skin over a step you didn’t know about.