[HesterF]

Is this a technique/skill? The cats are bringing in lots of (dead) baby bunnies at the moment. Not tiny, tiny ones but probably the ones that have just ventured out. I've just been binning them but then thought that actually their fur is really quite lovely and it seems a bit of a shame to waste it (meat is just not worth it - they're not big enough to be worth the faff). I've got some directions on how to skin them but what do I do then? How do I make sure I don't end up with a stinking pile of pelts?

Thanks,

Hester

[oor wullie]

There are a few guides on the internet.  The best looking one that I found was

http://www.tn.gov/twra/pdfs/tanninghides.pdf

I haven't done any tanning yet but have a deerskin salted and have just ordered some Alum from e-bay to give it a go.

[Fleecewife]

Deerskins are very difficult to do apparently because they have a thick hide with a hollow between the layers.  This makes it difficult for the chemicals to penetrate and also hard working over the skin to keep it supple afterwards.
 
I have a short rabbitskin cape which was my mothers (so at least from the 1930s) and it's gorgeous - soft and cosy.  I haven't tanned any myself so will be interested to hear how you get on HesterF, and oor wullie with the deer.
 
I did once try moleskins when our mole man caught lots.  I salted them while I was thinking about how to do it, and layed them all out to dry, but something stole them.  As we had a rat problem at the time we think the rats stole them to line their nests     The moles are back this year so maybe I'll try again.

[HesterF]

OMG! That looks incredibly laborious and difficult. So I dry them, I wet them again and clean them (repeatedly) with various bits and pieces, I tan them with stuff and then I finish them. Hmmm - I think I may have just abandoned my brief thought. I might try skinning a rabbit next time one appears to see how difficult it is to do that bit and then take it from there to see at what point I lose the will to live.

We had a reindeer hide from a few years back that lost it's hair in chunks. Reading this, I think the tanning process was not great so at least I've learnt that today.

Thanks for the help!

Hester

[oor wullie]

Many years ago I preserved a rabbit skin without going through the tanning process. 
I stretched the skin out, covered it with salt then left it to dry in the wind.  The skin felt more like wax paper than leather but the hair did not fall out and it lasted a couple of years until the cat got hold of it and tore it to bits.

I suspect if it had gotten wet it would have started rotting and smelling but you could try something basic like this to see how you get on before making the jump to trying it properly.