My daughter helped me skin and butcher this deer, and wants us to tan the hide so she can make something from the leather and I would like the opinions of you more experienced members as to the best way to proceed from where we are at right now.

For starters, the deer has been hanging for almost a week in 45F temps, so we just got the skin off and all the meat made up and in the freezer. The fur does not seem to be slipping, and she has indicated that she'd like the fur left on if it works out.

Anyway, she is 11 and worked right alongside me from start to finish on the butchering and I'd like us to continue doing so with the hide, so the process here is more important than a piece of leather that I could buy for a few dollars already tanned and soft.

Soooo.... What should I do next? I've done a little research and the "Lutan F" kit from Van Dykes seems to get good recommendations, but I'd have to order it and wait for it to be delivered, so would salt and alum be better at this point? The hide has been fleshed but I haven't either salted or frozen it yet, I'll do one or the other this afternoon depending on what is suggested.

Apologies for the disorganization and lack of preparation on my part, I should have guessed that my daughter would have wanted to do this from the beginning and I should have gotten things more prepared to start with but that's life sometimes!

Thanks,

Mark

Freeze it green , no salt or alum. Order your tanning kit from WASCO or Van Dykes and follow the directions.

Great, I'll do that.

Thanks Jerry!