1.) RowdyXRedneck - 10/17/2016

What's the best way to preserve a rabbit skin. Right now I have it stretched on a drying board, but I'm not sure really how to do it. Do I need to put something on the skin before it actually gets dry, or do I just let it dry and then scrape the membrane?

2.) bluecat - 10/17/2016

I'm not an expert but I believe I would sprinkle some salt or borax to keep it from getting rancid as it drys.

3.) Swamp Fox - 10/17/2016

The salt or borax is to remove the moisture from the hide. It needs to be done and done thoroughly as soon as humanly possible after skinning.

I've never been able to determine that there's any difference between using salt and borax for a home project, but somebody who's really into it or is a pro taxidermist might be able to point out a difference. I know my own taxidermist is happy using salt.

The next step is going to depend on what you want to do with the hide. You wrote that you want to "preserve" the hide, by which you might mean you're not interested in tanning it. You can display a hide without tanning it, but it won't stand much handling. Or, you might want to do something with the hide that will require tanning. If so, then you're into a whole different project level, where Google will be your friend. There is a lot of tanning/preserving/taxidermy info out there.

I remember Floyd was taking on a hide tanning project at one point, and I want to say he was going to try to do it "the old-fashioned way" (possibly using an alternative to chewing the hide, LOL). I don't know that he ever told us how it turned out.

4.) luv2bowhunt - 10/18/2016

My son-in-law is a taxidermist and he just uses salt to remove the moisture. Then he uses a homemade tanning solution that you wouldn't want to drop your phone into.

Seems like a lot of trouble for a rabbit hide. I'd just toss in the trash can and move along.:wink

5.) Swamp Fox - 10/18/2016

If I ever get a bunch of rabbit hides all at one time, I'm getting some gloves made. Although now that I think about it, I haven't gotten a new hat in a while... That would probably be better. A little warmish, though. But Piggly Wiggly-worthy. Do the gloves in deerskin.

Speaking of rabbits, if there's any interest in a HC rabbit hunt in January or February, someone shoot a spitball in my direction...

6.) RowdyXRedneck - 10/18/2016

Lol luv2bowhunt, aside from the fact that it's so soft and cuddly, it's my first bow kill,so I think I'll keep this one. I'll probably just frame it in a cedar frame or something of that nature. Maybe make a keychain out of his little cottontail.

7.) luv2bowhunt - 10/18/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;44885]Speaking of rabbits, if there's any interest in a HC rabbit hunt in January or February, someone shoot a spitball in my direction...[/QUOTE]

Is this going to involve pack horses?

8.) Swamp Fox - 10/18/2016

LOL...I was going to suggest packhorses when you brought up the Rambo bike, but I got distracted by something shiny in another thread. :wave:

9.) bluecat - 10/18/2016

[QUOTE=luv2bowhunt;44882]
Seems like a lot of trouble for a rabbit hide. I'd just toss in the trash can and move along.:wink[/QUOTE]

Don't pay any attention to Luv2. He had his hide tanned daily as a kid and it's a delicate subject with him. There was some emotional scarring so to speak.

10.) bluecat - 10/18/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;44885]If I ever get a bunch of rabbit hides all at one time, I'm getting some gloves made. Although now that I think about it, I haven't gotten a new hat in a while... That would probably be better. A little warmish, though. But Piggly Wiggly-worthy.[/QUOTE]

11.) Swamp Fox - 10/18/2016

Cah-[B]stan[/B]za!----:grin::grin:

12.) bluecat - 10/18/2016

"Dial 9 Merlin."

That was a good one.

13.) Swamp Fox - 10/18/2016

:-)

That's what put that clip over the top vs. a similar clip that leaves that out but includes George explaining his "get-in-your-head" (Cah-stanza!) and "leave-behind" strategies...LOL

Jerry: "Why don't you just show up in a wooden horse?"



Can't find it now.

14.) DParker - 10/18/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;44899][/QUOTE]

"A man walks down the street in that hat, people know he's not afraid of anything."

- Capt. Malcolm Reynolds

15.) bluecat - 10/18/2016

:wink

16.) DParker - 10/18/2016

By the way....this is the "Recipes/Cooking" forum. So....where are the hasenpfeffer pics?

17.) bluecat - 10/18/2016

18.) DParker - 10/18/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;44912][/QUOTE]

Overcooked. :tap:

19.) Swamp Fox - 10/18/2016

I haven't had hasenpfeffer in forever...Is it supposed to still be mooing when you slap it on the plate?


I did tell my rabbit medallions ruined in a French white sauce story on here, though, didn't I?

20.) bluecat - 10/18/2016

Not yet.

21.) Swamp Fox - 10/18/2016

Let me work up to it. I think I can make it a better tale after it's 5 o'clock somewhere...:-)

22.) RowdyXRedneck - 10/18/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;44897]Don't pay any attention to Luv2. He had his hide tanned daily as a kid and it's a delicate subject with him. There was some emotional scarring so to speak.[/QUOTE]

Awww, wee lamb. He just needs a safe place. :lol::p

23.) RowdyXRedneck - 10/18/2016

[QUOTE=DParker;44913]Overcooked. :tap:[/QUOTE]

:tu:

24.) bluecat - 10/18/2016

[QUOTE=RowdyXRedneck;44928]Awww, wee lamb. [/QUOTE]

You should see him in his skinny jeans.

25.) DParker - 10/18/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;44933][B][I]No one[/I][/B] should see him in his skinny jeans.[/QUOTE]

FIFY

26.) RowdyXRedneck - 10/18/2016

:bang: excuse me while I try to get that image out of my head.