How to Rehydrate Salt-Dried Deer Capes

Although some hunting is actually done for the purpose of finding food, the majority of it is done for sport. When a hunter shoots a deer that is a particularly good specimen, he may want to preserve the head and neck of the animal and mount it on the wall of his den or garage. First, however, the deer hide must be salt-dried to preserve it. Once the hide is salt-dried, it has to be rehydrated before it can be mounted.

Things You'll Need

  • Tub or large container
  • Salt
  • Water hose
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill a tub or large container with 5 gallons of water that has been warmed to 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 2

      Add 2 1/2 lbs. of regular -- not iodized -- table salt to the water bath. Mix well.

    • 3

      Add the salt-dried deer pelt to the water bath and completely submerge it. Move the cape around periodically to keep sediment from gathering. Submerge for at least 20 minutes.

    • 4

      Remove the deer cape from the rehydration bath and hose it down to remove any dirt and debris that came to the surface. Proceed to the next step in the tanning process -- which is to submerge the cape in a pickle bath.