Skinning Gut

How to preserve a skin?

My sister is keen to skin, gut and cook a rabbit, the meat to the family, the guts to cats and dogs, bones to the fox that lives nearby, however, we have nowhere for the skin to go so I decided that I want it. But I don’t know how I should treat it to make it last.

ohh my mother used to tan skins hold on let me look and see if i can find the directions
Soak and rinse hides in cold water. Do not stretch or dry. Squeeze out excess water and dry with a cloth. Remove all fat. Hides can be put on a stretcher to remove fat if this makes it easier for you. Don’t remove the layers of membrane, just the fat. Slit the pelt down the belling and legs, so it lays flat.

Mix together two parts salt, one part saltpeter, and two parts powdered alum. Measure parts by volume, not weight. Saltpeter and alum can be purchased at the drug store. Sprinkle on the skin and rub in well. Roll up the skin starting at the head end. Roll individually in several layers of newspaper to absorb the excess water. Place in a plastic bag and fasten with a twist tie. Keep in a cool place for fourteen (14) days. I put mine in the back of the bottom shelf of my refrigerator.

After fourteen (14) days, rinse well several times. Squeeze out as much water as you can and immediately begin peeling off the membrane layer. It seems easiest to start at the neck edge and work your way down. This is the only hard part of the entire process. Use your fingers to separate and pull the membrane. If the hide starts to dry, it will be harder. In this case, rinse and squeeze, again. Be careful not to tear the hide. On some hides, there seems to be an especially difficult spot at the pin bone area.

Now, allow the hides to dry very slowly by putting them hide-side down on a sheet of plastic (a large garbage bag works well), or a vinyl or oilcloth tablecloth, and on a large, flat surface such as a table or the floor. Be very careful NOT to put them in the sun or wind where flies or animals can get to them.

The drying and working process takes about a week. Once or twice, or even three times each day, turn the hides over, one at a time, and rub with a pumice stone. You can purchase a pumice stone at the drug store, also. Get a natural pumice stone — not on a handle and not synthetic. The first day, the hides will be so wet that not much will be accomplished, but as they begin to dry, you will see how pushing and rubbing with the pumice stone stretches and softens. As areas become almost dry, pull with your fingers and see the leather turn white and soft. After working each hide, immediately return it to its hide-side-down position on the plastic. If it dries too quickly, it will get hard before it can be worked soft. It should take about five to seven days to dry and be worked smooth and soft.

How to Slaughter, Skin, Gut, and Butcher a Meat Rabbit. Clean and process a rabbit.