how to tan a porcupine hide

Smoke the Hide. Always wear gloves and eye protection when handling battery acid, as it is corrosive and can burn the skin and eyes. Continue doing so until you are both tired, then place it back on the rack and use the hide breaker to keep working the hide. They can also be stored outdoors in sub-freezing weather. Youll need to scrape all of the meat and fat off the hide as thoroughly as possible. Change out the rinse water and rinse again to be sure youve got as much of the salt off of the hide as possible. If youre the kind of person whos easily grossed out by gooey textures and pungent smells, then tanning hides really isnt for you. May 19, 2017 #1 . Scoop up road kill: As with the slaughterhouse, youll want to check the laws before you start snatching up dead animals on the side of the road. One of the best is to gently press the base of the quill with a knife blade right at the skin. Make sure you wear gloves and take other precautions to prevent getting burned. Next, use 3- to 6-foot lengths of cord to tie the legs of the hide to the corners of the rack. He'll be back he'll be back. The salt will pull the moisture from the hide as it preserves it. Unless you have all of the materials necessary to tan your hide immediately, youll need to salt the hide. I will use this idea for future generations Thank you. They remove it from the rest of the porcupine hide. Let the hide hang a bit so that most of the water runs off of it. Roll up the hide and store it in a large plastic freezer bag or food storage bag. Explanation by vulpezvulpez Sat Feb 18, 2023 5:45 pm. Watch closely for flare ups, as you want a lot of smoke but no heat or flames. By doing so, you will ensure that your hide is properly preserved and will last for many years. Wash the hides in dish detergent 2-3 times depending on how greasy or dirty they are. i've always wanted to roast one over the fire but haven't came across one. Etymology. well for starters to some one who wants to buy them and pay your price. And they are slow and fairly easy to catch. Assessing the hide is the first step in tanning a hide. Wring out moisture. The item you order may look different.] Suspend the flesh side of the hide over a small pile of embers and rotten wood chunks. Gloves really aren't necessary but do be carefull. You can add a box or two of baking soda to the rinse water to help neutralize the battery acid on the hide, but this isnt necessary. Native Habitat. When you feel that the center is dry, you can take the hide down. For tanning one deer hide: mix one deer brain into a gallon of hot water, and mash the brain up so it looks like a soup. Particularly bloody or dirty hides can be washed in water, with or without soap, and before and/or after fleshing. He is in the Pittsburg, Texas area. Rawhide can be used for various containers, cut into strips or lacing, or used like a parchment. Withdraw 27 cowhides from the bank south of the tanner and 3 coins for each hide you want to tan, thus costing a total of 81 coins. Very soft and supple. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Next, youll want to dry the hide by stretching it flat in a rack to dry. Leopard tortoises have a distinctive domed shell and are huge desert tortoises. This can take anywhere from a few days to a week, depending on the temperature and humidity levels in your area. And I'm on a limited budget. I'd hate to just kill the pests and waste them. These very aggressive defense measures mean that the porcupine does not typically feel the need to run away from danger. Make sure that the hide is actually stretched, not just hung, on the drying rack. In that case, use your scrapings for trap or fish bait. You want the hide centered and symmetrical in the rack. After a few days the hide should feel dry and flexible. Driftwood available at . The brain of every game animal contains the perfect volume and balance of conditioning oils to tan its own hide. How Do You Get Rid Of Hard Calcium Deposits In The Shower? This will help to remove the membrane and grain. If this all sounds like a lot of work, youre rightit is. These large hides have a lot of quills. (1.2 to 35 kilograms), depending on species, and their tails can grow up to 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm), according to the San Diego Zoo. RELATED: How to Brain-Tan a Deer Hide in 8 Steps. Dont get your wet tanning solution on the fur side of the pelt as it may cause the hair to slip out. Get to work: Lay the pelt on a flat surface and use your fingers to work the brain solution over the skin until thoroughly covered. (The skin will absorb some of the acid, thats part of the tanning process, but excess acid in the hair and on the surface of the skin can be an irritant.). Then I cut the hide in strips from head to tail about 1" wide and put in a box. When the color of the flesh side has changed, thats enough smoke. These tips and instructions will be for tanning a hide with the hair intact, not for producing smooth hairless leather. If you don't plan to use the hide to make clothing, you can forgo the box of baking soda, since in neutralizing the acid it lessens the acid's effectiveness in preserving the hide. You dont want any flames or much heat under the hide, just smoke. Be carefull when leaving the hide out in the open. Get it yourself: Hunting and trapping are ancient traditions. Most cowhide producers use the hair-on-hide method. A thin layer on the bottom should suffice. First, you'll need to combine 5 gallons of warm water with 1 gallon of distilled vinegar. Sheep, goats and a few other creatures grow the hair type thats considered wool. Let it soak for 40 minutes. This takes approximately two weeks. Many people find hairless leather easier to take care of than fur. A few do quill work today. Never been to a camping world. Porcupine guard hairs are measured from longest to shortest providing an average length in each bundle. For porcupines, urination can be romantic. Due to a porcupine's quills, using a cage trap is your best bet to trap the animal. The only difference is that youll want to take extra care to ensure your cuts are smooth and straight and that you dont punch any holes in the hide. Toby Walrath. . Using hot sauce or capsaicin on plants and trees can prevent porcupine damage and help deter them from your yard entirely. You can cover the entire hide with a blanket if youd like. Male porcupines have less guard hairs in the rump, so you see the quills on their lower back and rump more. Leather: Used for shoes, bags, belts, upholstery, and many other applications, leather is a hairless animal skin product thats tanned with various vegetable tannins or chemicals. Porcupine Hides. Hair, fur, and wool are all made from the same substance (keratin) and are chemically indistinguishable from each other. ", "I never knew you could use so many things to tan a hide, really helped me out.". Additionally, its a great way to personalize your hide you can choose the color and style that you want. Place suitable bait in the trap. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. The length of quills . ft. home is a 3 bed, 2.0 bath property. Place the bran flakes into your 5 gallon pale and add about 2-3 gallons of boiling hot water. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Fold hide skin to skin and let set for 24 hours. If a hole rips out, just cut another hole to use and dont tie it as tightly next time. This recipe will be enough to do four deer hides. Tanning your own hide can be a bit of a hassle, but its definitely worth it in the end! Don't tie it too tightly, yet. If the hide has been lying around for a few days (or for too many hours, in warm weather), the meat and fat pulled from it may no longer be safe for human consumption. If you stretch your hide over a wall or barn, make sure there's ample space for air to circulate between the hide and the wall, or it won't dry properly. The ears. Follow their advice to the letter, and be careful. How do I tan a hide like a Native American and without using any modern technologies? -This process has been used for centuries in order to create leather goods that are durable and long-lasting. Run north into Ellis's building and right-click Trade Ellis. 34 Porcupine Dr , Palm Coast, FL 32164-6736 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $320,990. Use braining solutions. #8. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Cage/box traps also can be set at den entrances. The quills are nice for decorating stuff. What if you want to retain it to use as a fur? Take care not to stay in one place too long, as you want to evenly work the skin. % of people told us that this article helped them. No artificial dyes are used on fur, each Bison robe has it own distinct pattern. Skin can also be a catch-all term that includes furs and pelts. Then take the following steps to tan the hide: Put the salt in a trash can and pour 2 gallons (7.6 L) of boiling water inside. 13 0. This is possibly the most important step and the one that most people overlook. The first step is to soak the hide in a water-based solution, which helps to loosen the hair and remove any dirt or debris. If you get them out of a pine tree you are better off just taking the quills because the meat will taste like a pine tree. The roof is aggressively tiled in orange, red and blue, with spikes on the corners and pinnacles, like hats for polychrome porcupines. And for those hunters concerned about CWD, you can use egg yolks as a brain tan alternative. Awn hair: Filling the gap between down and guard hairs, the awn hair start off growing like guard hairs, but they become wavy and thinner about halfway through their growth. The hide must be stretched until it is completely dry in order to remain soft. This physical manipulation (along with the brain oils as a lubricant) makes the hide soft and pliable. This mixture will help to de-furrow and/or flesh the hide. By using our site, you agree to our. Once the hair soaks up the solution and the hide stays submerged youll be able to let the hide sit. Posts: 30,076. Build a rack: Your drying frame, or rack, can be made out of wooden poles or lumber. Smoking a tanned hide wont waterproof it, but it will keep it from turning stiff after it gets wet and dries. Perhaps Im a little old fashioned but when it comes to hunting, I like to use as much of the animal as possible. I'm going to try and teach my dogs to avoid them at the same time. Close-up of Hair and Quills [All pictures are samples only. Spread out the hide, flesh-side up, and with your knife, slice holes parallel to the edge of the hide. You can tack it to the side of your shed, recycle a pallet, or construct simple stretcher with a few 2x4s. #8727841 11/06/22 08:51 PM: Joined: Aug 2005. These longer hairs are protective, and many mammals can raise their guard hairs as a threat display when alarmed. Save and sell them. are highly recommended. Next, boil the solution for 2 to 3 minutes. All you need is your animal hide, the brain of the animal, and a few other items to make tanned pelts just like our ancestors. Warm Hide Tanning Formula in a bucket of hot water. The tips of these hairs help shed water, while the bases of the hairs keep the animal warm. They were used before beads became common, and still some afterwards. Roll the skin up in the damp towel and set it aside. Send out a request: Just put out the word among your family, friends and co-workers that you are looking for deer hides, coyote pelts, or any other skins they can spare. Fleshing can be done in different ways, but I prefer to scrape with the square edge on the back of a drawknife handle, while pressing the hide against a smooth log for support. And finally, its a great way to save money. This will help to preserve it. 2 clean plastic garbage cans or large plastic totes, A long wooden stick to stir the hides (a broom handle or broken handle from a rake or shovel works well, too! Porcupines are slow-moving animals that do not run away from humans or predators. Soak the hide in a mixture of 5 gallons warm water and 1 gallon distilled vinegar for 3 days. Be careful not to damage the hide as you scrape. I prefer to use plywood for this. i shot and ate one last winter they skin easy,like any other critter just be carefull of the quills.pick up all quills when done.they can get stuck in your dogs feet just from being steped on,and work there way in deep.it is edible,very oily.mine had a slight pine taste.save some quills someone on here may want some. Call your state game agency to find out the regulations and protocol for picking up road kill. Then, sew it loosely to form a bag with one end closed. They were used before beads became common, and still some afterwards. The North American porcupine is one of the largest rodents found in North America, coming second to the North America beaver. Well, tanning your own hide can have a number of benefits. I skin, lace into a small frame and scrape flesh side with a dry scraper to remove the fat and such, salt heavily and allow to dry. Tack the carcass upside down to a board and place a bin beneath it to catch the quills. You will need to continue to brain and wring the hide until the tanning process is complete. Not all Guard hairs in bundles are all same length. Rain can wash the salt away which means starting the process again. For it is not the . Simply scrape the visible meat and fat from a fresh hide and sprinkle some salt across the damp surface. There are typically more down hairs in an animals coat than any other hair type, and these are primarily used for thermoregulation (creating an insulating layer next to the skin). A porcupine Discussion in 'Beginners' started by Theboneguy, May 19, 2017. The advice above is all you need. Mix it slowly, again, to prevent splashing. It wont stick to the dried flesh side, but it will settle into the fur to discourage the insects that would eat holes in the hide. If you see a pool of liquid emerge from an area of the hide, cover it with more salt. Now carefully wash/soak hide in room temp water in 5 gallon bucket just long enough to get salt off. After de-furring and/or fleshing the hide, soak it in the mixture for three days. During the day, leopard tortoises require a basking hotspot temperature of 85F-90F. Skin open, lay flat on table skin up, flesh the best you can. This step shouldnt take any longer than it did to dry the hide with salt. Cut the cord: Any cord or rope will be fine for stretching the hide. Once the hide is soft and pliable, allow it to dry fully. . Safety glasses, old clothes, and sturdy gloves are heavily recommended throughout this process but especially at this step. You dont need to worry about stretching the hide or tacking it down. I continue rolling the hide as I skin around the body. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. A teepee shape works well. Wool is another covering on the skin of an animal. A proper face mask, eye protection, gloves, etc. . Most of my deer-hide racks are usually 6- by 4-foot rectangles. The repeated action serves to soften the hide though it will take some time and strength on your part. Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) have quills embedded in . The chemicals you need to tan hide are table salt and water. All have short stocky legs, but their tails range from short to long, some being prehensile. Untanned hides with no guard hairs. As the hide absorbs the salt, cover any bare spots with more salt. Should be good long enough to ship. Place the trap in the vicinity of damage and bait with a salt-soaked cloth, sponge, or piece of wood. ", is what stood out most to me. Fleshing the hide: Start by fleshing the hide to scrape off all of the meat and fat. May 10, 2010. Soak in water or a bucking solution. I have poor skinning skills as is, but I know the basics from skinning some rabbits. The hide can then be stored flat, hung up on a wall or rolled up into a tube. Ive done quillworking and those little bastards get everywhere and go right through the bags they sell them in and i had to keep them in a plastic box. The process is different, as with tanning a hide there are extra steps that need to be taken to ensure the hair doesnt fall out. A raw hide ready for fleshing. It is important not to leave the hide in the solution for too long, as this can cause the hair to fall out. To tan a cow hide at home, you need to salt it and lay it on its first side on a plywood. Gear & Gadgets on the Texas Fishing and Outdoors Show, Powered by UBB.threads PHP Forum Software 7.7.3. Hide with Tail. This will prevent the acid from harming people's skin. Youll want to ensure that there is an adequate amount of airflow, low moisture in the air, and that the hide is in a place where its not at risk of being chewed or gnawed on by predators, mice, or less than well-behaved pets. [PORCUPINE HI] $49.95. Add the bran flake water and stir until the salt has completely dissolved. They are usually curved and elongated, measuring about 1 inch long and 3/8 inch wide. If the patch is less then about 3" x 3", or it's just quills falling out and the guard hair is ok, nobody is going to notice. Smoke the hide: Once the pelt is both soft and dry, its time for the final step. 72027 wrote: ive seen people do it! Meat will rot and lead to the decay of the skin. If you dont soften the hide, it will be perfectly preserved and tanned, but it will have a tough and cardboard like feeling rather than the soft, butter smooth feel you want. Once you have removed the flesh, you can let the hide sit in a warm water solution for a while. sorry i couldnt help more. Natives still had Access to salt, smoke and water, and also used the animal's urine to help cure the hide. Moscow Hide and Fur has been buying furs and antlers throughout the western United States, and by mail from trappers and hunters nation-wide for over 35 years. Do not skimp on the salt. Treating a hide with a tanning process ensures you'll end up with a supple piece of leather that can be used to make shoes and clothing or hung on the wall. Remove membrane and grain. Slice through the skin of the belly from head to the tail. Youll want to stir it every few minutes to make sure that every part of the hide is submerged and soaking up the tanning solution. extra charge of $20-$25. Can you tan there hide like a pelt or utilize them in some way? Porcupine hunting is something I do every year. Which is great to let the dogs chew on, but not so great for making clothes. A self-taught DIYer, Tammy loves nothing more than tackling a new project in her own home. Over the course of a couple of weeks, continue salting the hide until it has become crispy. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. You can see that my hand is only grasping the underside of the skin, that way the skin protects my hands from the quills. Porky hides are extremely greasy. This gives me leather and fur that I can then use to make clothing, bags, belts, blankets, or as wall hangings to showcase the effort Ive put in as a hunter and pay tribute to the animal. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/18\/Tan-a-Hide-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tan-a-Hide-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/18\/Tan-a-Hide-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid36825-v4-728px-Tan-a-Hide-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"