Ozbow

Just after some advice, let's say that I want to keep some of the skins from animals that have been harvested. What's the best way from field to using them that gets the best results.

Foe instance if I got a rabbit and have skinned it, what would be the process after that?

I have always skinned them so the skin is in a tub, than turn them inside out, stretch them over a wire coat hanger and salt and dry them. They can then be tanned later when you have a heap.
That was how I was shown by my grandfather.
Woodie

Thanks woodie. So I don't need to be walking around with a bag of salt it my pack? I heard iodised salt is no good if you plan to tan? So it's alright to skin them, roll them up (fur facing out?), until you get home and scrap the excess fat off and string them out?

Thanks for your help.

Yes I would do that and I use sea salt.

I was taught similar way with bunnies but we used fencing wire bent to make a "V". Don't ever remember salting the ultra thin rabbit skins just hanging them up to dry.

Definitely want to salt bigger skins as soon as practically possible. The sooner the better to prevent the bacteria setting in and causing hair slip. We take pool salt away with us and salt when back at camp. Usally re-salting the next day.

Muz

Awesome. Thanks guys. I was wondering about a bag of pool salt. Might have to go grab a bag. I will try it out on a couple.

Cheers

I bought a couple of bags of this and always take about 20 kg in the vehicle incase I get a hide worth keeping. Hasn't happened yet but I want to give it the best chance if I do get lucky.

http://www.cheethamsalt.com.au/Category/Hide.aspx

From memory it wasn't much dearer than any other type os salt, however you CANNOT eat it.

Cheers... Rod

Thanks for that. I might get some, you never know one of my bush walks might turn into a real hunt. Ha ha.

I use rock salt and put on plenty, a rough guide is the same amount of salt as the skin weighs.
Try and clean the skin of as much flesh as possible and then apply the salt and then fold the legs in to the centre and roll skin, flesh side in and either put in a hessian bag or an Onion bag or no bag at all. Do not put in a plastic bag as the salt will suck all the fluid from the skin and make a soup in the bag.
Matt

Sounds good. Thanks Matt.

Looks like I missed this thread first time around!

How do you guys attach rabbit skins to your frame? I've been stapling them to a piece of ply (stretched), scraping & salting.

Neil