Revisiting an Old Skill

Back in high school I was an avid fan of taxidermy.  In fact for my science project my junior year I mounted a beautiful Cedar Wax wing (it had been hit by a car and I found it freshly killed on the road).  It turned out great, I even made a box with a scene including a tree (cork for the bark) and a branch on which to mount the bird.  I got an A on the project. 

A few years later I began learning to tan hides.  Bob did a lot of hunting back then, and we raised meat rabbits....so it seemed like a waste to just toss the hides.  I did a number of small pelts, but never attempted anything really large.  I really love being able to use every part of the animal, it seems like such a waste to throw away any part of a creature that died to feed the family. 

Knowing that we will probably have some butcher kids this year, I've decided that I want to be able to use every part once again.  A friend of mine had a ram processed this week, and last night she brought me the hide.  This will be my first tanning attempt in 20 years so it should be interesting.  I really do not expect it to come out right, but it gives me a practice run and a learning experience. 

She brought it late last night, so I opened it up, laying it as flat as possible....and salted it with 3# of non-iodized salt.  This will start the drying process as it pulls moisture from the flesh.  Once salted, I folded it up and put it in the middle of the table, hoping that nothing would haul it off in the night.

And it's still here this morning!  Once the sun comes up, I'll open it up and lay it out flat again....and salt it more.  For a few days it will be a matter of salting and scraping to remove all the flesh from the hide.  I'll try to remember to get pictures of the entire process, which will take at least a couple of weeks.  I'll also record my mistakes (I'm sure there will be more than a few) and the finished project when it's done.  I'm hoping for a beautiful wool rug....that's my goal anyway.