How to Tan a Deer Skin With Salt

Salt the hide. Spread the hide, hair side down, on a flat surface such as the floor or a large piece of wood. Sprinkle salt over the flesh side of the deer pelt. One pound of salt should be used for each pound of hide. Make sure salt is worked into the edges of the pelt. Rub the salt into the flesh. Unsalted spots will be unprotected and eventually will rot.

Repeat the salting process when the salt from the first application becomes full of moisture. This normally happens in two to three days. Re-salting the hide guarantees moisture is removed and that the deer hide will not rot. The moisture should be gone in 10 to 14 days. Hang the deer hide for a day after the salting process has been completed to make sure it is dry.

Start the process of cleaning the hide. This will remove grease and flesh from the hide and involves alternating between soaking the hide and working the hide. Working the hide involves laying the skin flat on a board and pulling back and forth over the edge of the board to break up the tissue and fat. First, soak the hide in water until it starts to soften. Work the hide to break down the tissue and fat. Soak the hide again once the fat becomes difficult to break down. Alternate between soaking and working the hide until the shiny layer of fat that is on the flesh side of the deer skin is gone. The flat side of a hacksaw blade can be used to scrape away the layer of fat.

Degrease the skin by putting it in a bucket of lukewarm water. Add 1 tbsp. of dish soap per gallon of water. Gently stir and rub the hide in the water until the hide becomes soft and you no longer feel grease. Remove the deer hide. Place the skin on the flat board and scrape the flesh portion of the hide with the flat portion of a knife. This is called "scudding," and it removes unnecessary tissue. Rinse the hide.

Prepare a salt-alum tanning solution. In a plastic bucket, dissolve 1 lb. of ammonia alum in 1 gallon of water. In a separate bucket, dissolve 4 oz. of washing soda and 8 oz. of salt in a half gallon of water. Pour the salt solution slowly into the ammonia alum while stirring the mixture rapidly. The mixture will foam, so pour slowly to prevent spillage. Mix more solution if necessary.

Place the deer hide into the solution for five days. The flesh portion of the hide will change colors when the hide is ready to be removed. It is difficult to over-tan a hide, so leave it in the solution for longer if in doubt. Rinse the hide in a bucket of water that contains 1 oz. of borax. Rinse the hide in water. Place the deer hide on a flat surface and press out the moisture by gently pushing on the hide.