De skinning a hare's head....Advice required

[goggs]

Any hints or tips on the best way to do the above? Got a couple of hare's heads to do tonite :?

[Fishtales]

I would have thought, cut under the chin from the neck to the mouth, pull from the back of the head and peel the skin over the top to the mouth. Leave or remove the ears whatever you think is easiest. Think of it like pulling a jumper over your head. A small knife is handy for releasing the skin from any tough bits of membrane.

Scrape it and pin it out rubbing Borax into the skin afterwards and leave it to dry. Repeat every few days until all the loose fat is removed.

Have a read at this too.

http://www.uky.edu/~agrdanny/flyfish/petti.htm

http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_l/l-103.pdf

I've done deer and squirrel like this

[Traditionalist]

Sandy has it.  You can use salt instead of borax. Make sure the whole lot is perfectly dry before storing it as it will otherwise rot and stink.

Before you do anything wash thoroughly in hot water with fairy liquid or similar.  Allow to dry, and then salt liberally. Check occasionally and add salt to any wet spots.

When the whole lot is dry, then wash again in very hot water with fairy liquid. Allow to dry very thoroughly, and then you can store it.

TL
MC

[goggs]

Ok lads cheers,it sounds pretty straight forward......after I've removed the skin I'll wash it in warm fairy liquid water then sault the skin side.
Cheers.

[Fishtales]

Don't forget to pin it out on a board to dry. Hair side down with nails at intervals around the edge with some space underneath so that it dries.

[Darwin]

As Mike said make sure it is bone dry before you package it.  I dyed a bit of deer hair and sealed it in a zip lock bag when I thought it was dry, it still had enough moisture in the hide to cause it to rot.   

[Traditionalist]

As Mike said make sure it is bone dry before you package it.  I dyed a bit of deer hair and sealed it in a zip lock bag when I thought it was dry, it still had enough moisture in the hide to cause it to rot.   

Yes, this is a point worth stressing very strongly. If the material is not absolutely bone dry it will rot and stink in a closed container. It can take quite a while to dry material thoroughly.  If you have an airing cupboard, or some other source of dry warmth then it is a very good idea to do the final drying there.

TL
MC

[goggs]

Thanks again for the sound advice,thats the mask all washed and nailed to a board......i had to just use salt on it i'll scrape the salt of in a couple of days then re salt it.
Cheers...

[Wildfisher]

What a forum eh?

Where else would you find topics covering everything from local election turn outs and  reel making through trolling and fly fishing culminating in the nailing of salted hare's heids to boards?   :lol:

[Traditionalist]

Thanks again for the sound advice,thats the mask all washed and nailed to a board......i had to just use salt on it i'll scrape the salt of in a couple of days then re salt it.
Cheers...

Don't scrape the salt off. Just add some if you see any wet spots. All the loose salt is washed off when the skin is cured anyway.  The salt pulls all the moisture out of the skin, and cures it at the same time.

TL
MC