My middle daughter killed her first deer this year. A doe.

I saved the skin, in the freezer, to have it hair on tanned for a throw for her room and a memento of her first deer.

The freezer went out for about 3-4 days. Then it refroze.

I also had a 14" x14" inch piece from a friend's son's deer I was going to do the same with.

Should I just have it tanned? Will the hair now slip?

Nobody local wants to do any hair on tanning. Can I salt them and ship them to someone to do the tanning?

Advice,tips, and leads appreciated.

Lots of questions, did the skin completely thaw? Was it rolled up/bagged and placed in the freezer initially? There is a good chance it is spoiled. Give it the smell and tug on hair test after its thawed.

Was there a smell ? If so they are no good-sorry. If there is no smell and you caught it in time then lay them out flat and rub fine salt --about 8 lb-- in to every part of the hide and let it drain and about 4 days , then later remove the salt and fold to fit in a box to ship to who ever. You can have it tan hair-on or you can do leather-lots of colors to pick from- and make garments out of them--as long as they are good. Good luck


www.african-montana-taxidermy.com

they were rolled and bagged in the freezer initially. there was a smell too. Lost a lot of meat.... two deer and a bunch of ducks.

Is it still okay to be tanned for leather?

I can make some pillows instead of a Throw
after it is Tanned.

Most likely not, rotted is rotted. The "leather" may tan but may have large area's with no epidermis layer at best. One thing I tell my clients, if you wouldn't eat the meat the skin is probably bad too. You still might try to send it off to get it tanned. Worst case is it will not tan. Most tanneries will call after it is rehydrated prior to tanning if it is too bad.

Best of Luck