Game Skin Curing Hints
Purpose of Curing: Curing is essential to protect freshly flayed hides and skins from micro-organisms and to preserve them effectively.
- Quick action is crucial: Bacteria can damage the hair root within hours, leading to hair slip.
- Delaying the curing process could compromise the quality of your skin.
Method:
- Prompt Skinning: Skin the animal as soon as possible after shooting.
- Cleaning: Remove all excess fat, blood, and meat. Wash off blood and dirt thoroughly.
- Soaking: If feasible, soak the skin for at least 3 hours, or overnight, in a solution of saturated salt and a bactericide (like Dettol).
- Salting: After soaking, lay the skin on a clean surface, flesh side up. Generously cover it with salt.
Hints:
- Salt Quantity: Aim to use a quantity of salt equal to the weight of the skin (1 kg of salt for 1 kg of skin).
- Duration: Leave the skin in salt for a minimum of 3 days. Then, dry it out promptly. Sun drying is effective.
- Roll and Dry: If immediate drying isn't possible, roll the skin in salt and dry it at your destination.
Do Not:
- Avoid Dragging: Do not drag the animal or leave it in the sun post-shooting.
- Clean Thoroughly: Ensure no blood, fat, or flesh remains on the skin (salt cannot penetrate fat).
- Rehydrate if Needed: Do not salt a dehydrated skin. Instead, soak it in a strong salt solution.
- No Plastic Bags: Avoid storing the skin in a plastic bag, except for transportation.
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