How To Tan an Elk - DIY Hide Fleshing and Tanning 

I guess I won’t complain so much about the bill from the taxidermist next time 😅

Great job! Thanks for teaching us how to tanning animal skin.

That was a brilliant video, I've learnt a lot, thankyou for making and posting it, much respect.

Ah you make it look so easy well done Sir.

Thank you for this detailed tutorial…👍👍👍

Great job!

Great video! I’m definitely interested in the predator hide preparation. Thanks again for the great easy to following directions.

Solid content. Looks like you might have done this a few times and it shows in the teaching points you make throughout the video. Years ago I tanned a lot of furbearer hides and did pretty well but would like to bring an elk hide back from my annual elk hunt and give it a try. Best video on the topic I have found. Thanks!

This has been the most informative and helpful video - thank you! I watched this countless times thinking I might dodgey my first effort at a chital deer hide - but really thanks to this I didn't and it was a success! THANK YOU!

Tkzz for sharing.,,.,peace

Like...a moo cow. I love it. Thank you for your thorough tutorial.

So thorough and helpful!!!!

Great video great info. Thank you but really hard to take seriously with a 2/4 thru both eyebrows.

Man that was solid! Great job man. Now I feel so much better about what I'm doing. Question what kind of stool or bench was it that you used to place your hide on when fleshing. Again great job.

This is the best video on this topic. But what is the thing acros your eyes?

Nice. I want too tan a hide but also, to stretch / bind it in a circular ring of willow bows. When during or after the tanning process should I tie it with leather strapping to the willow bows?

Thank you!!! I’m so glad I finally found your channel! I’m doing my first cowhide ever! First hide is a cowhide of course! I couldn’t find the process from start to finish!

Hi great video I have learnt a lot, however i just purchased the one gallon bottle of the NuTan salution I want to do hair off can you do a video on that it would be greatly appreciated

Great video! If unable to complete the entire process when the hides are fresh, can they be thoroughly salted, then hung up and kept that way until ready to begin the rehydration/detergent bath?

Awesome instructional! I was sold on your product immediately and received my order. My question is how long does it usually take for the tanning solution to absorb into a bear hide. A little background. I defleshed it as good as I could get it. Pickled it following your directions. Due to weather and unable to do it undercover I’ve been waiting for a nice sunny week so it’s been soaking for about a month. PH was a little above 3. Last night I soaked it in baking soda water to bring the PH levels up to neutralize. Did this for an hour and a half. Then I dried it out best I could but due to it being cold here in Oregon (around 55 degrees) I pat dried best I could and let it sit for 2 hours to dry out but it was still a little moist. Applied the tanning solution last night around 10 pm. Just checked it, 9pm now, and it’s still moist. My question how long should I expect the tanning solution to absorb and take hold???? I’m worried I did something wrong. Can it usually take 48 hrs do to it being cold out??? When do I accept that something went wrong??? This is my first hide I’ve ever done. I taught myself how to shoot a firearm, went out hunting for spring bear solo putting in over a 100 miles during season and took my bear at 20 yds. So it would really mean a lot that I complete the process on this bear and tan it myself. I know it sounds silly but to me it means a lot. Thanks in advance

Great video, very informative. I am currently doing an elk hide and I fleshed it with a pressure washer. I hung it on a ladder to drain. The center of the hide is slightly stretched from being on the ladder. I salted it as described and wondered if the stretched portion would return to normal as I continued the process. Thank you

For breaking the hide you can also run it over a lightly dulled ahe/hatchet in a vice

I just completed my first tanning of a deer hide with hair off for buckskin. I used the traditional dulled fleshing knife and I want to commend you for your masterful skill with that sharp Ulu knife. That is amazing watching you flesh the elk. Should we assume that you only use the Advanced Tanning Solutions kit for your tanning videos? I am curious what the reasons are for two of the steps, the salting, and the pickling. This question is in regard to what do the steps do to the hide.

Amazing job on the Elk Hide. What would happen if you put your hide into too hot water. Eg: Moose hide. After the flesh n hair have been removed. Soaking at the last stage before smoothing out then to tanning stage. What will the hot water do to the hide? Thanks

Could you do a video on tanning a cased coyote? I could easily follow a video done by this guy. Also if I buy a kit is it something that I can replace individual parts as I need to off of the site? Rather than continually buying the kit

How do I join your forum

Interesting method, as a taxidermist for 40 years, I'm surprised that you end up with any hair left salting lightly and not totally drying the hide but I guess it works for you!

If I build a frame and stretch the hide will I need to do the final step to break the hide down ?

Is there any pickling solution I can use and make at home? I bought your tanning agent. Not sire if thats all I need or not

Can you use the same salt for rehydration?? Could you use a hair dryer to dry out the hide when pearling??

I hunted an elk last year and i did took the hide home but the taxidermist did not want to do it. I just left it hanging outside. I am so bummed i did not do your process here. Sorry about that. But next time i want to find someone to do it for me. Thanks for the content!

The flesh side of my hide starting drying and getting stiff when fleshing. It made it very difficult to flesh it. Is there anything I can do to fix/prevent this in the future?

Hey is it ok if you skipped the second 24hour pickle bath and did the tanning bath for longer?

Hi ,I did not understand what the oil was?And what is its other name pickle tan?

I've used karrowtann and the stuff in the orange bottle and worked hides until they felt dry to me and still ended up stiff what to do?

I have a deer hide in the freezer. I never salted it...just rolled it up and threw it in the freezer. Do you think it's salvageable?

How many days is it ok to take for the stretching?

For rehydrating, is the detergent special? I assume dawn dish soap won't do anythging?

Can you use a power washer and get it done well?

I do braintanning now. But I used to do hides this way except when dirt & dust & powder are in the hair I would cut holes along one side & then attach it to pole like a flag & go for a drive, people would stare wonder why I have a bison flag in back of truck, helps breaking hide too. Don’t go to fast tho.

What are you using for a fleshing beam?

This is a very detailed tutorial on how NOT to tan a hide. You can see the loss of guard hairs(especially on the hind quarters)and how stiff the hide is. Use an actual tan or save your time and money and send it to a tannery

How much is the kit?

How many man hours

PAINT AND RUST STRIPPER DISC!!! sorry to yell.. but these open web style poly discs are many, many times faster and easier/more forgiving than normal grinding discs.. next best thing to a fleshing machine!!

You aren't actually tanning the hide, just pickling it and neutralizing it. It will eventually fall apart or get hard as a rock because the hide isn't actually leather without using an actual tanning solution. A real tan is a much better way to go if you want a quality hide that will stand the test of time

Ill be careful not to cut a hole in my hide.

I drew a cow elk hunt this year and in addition to having a bunch of delicious elk I want to tan the hide as well if I get one how do I order one n of these kits?