Home Tanning

[ShaneH]

I'm new to taxidermy and have completed my second shoulder mounted whitetail. Up to this point I have been home tanning (pickled) my capes. However, I keep running into people who for some reason hate even the thought of having their mount home tanned. Is there a real difference in the quality of a home tanned cape vs. a commercially tanned skin? Will the home tanned skin hold up over time as well as the commercially tanned skin?

[Wolverine-1]

I'm not that familiar with home pickling of hides, but I do know that it's hard to beat a good commercial tan. I have seen a few poor commercial tans though, the kind that slips the hair after you wet the hide to mount it. Makes a pretty strange looking mount. I personally feel that a mount should and can last for several generations if done properly and maintained regularly.

[grayghost]

Some of the new Liquid Tan's on the market are great for big game, as long as you flesh and thin the capes properly. If you haven't read about them, check with a major supply companies. Most are carrying the full line. Good hunting, grayghost

[M.T. Pockets]

I had a shoulder mount done in the fall of '03 by a newer taxidermist who did his own tanning. I don't know which method he used but I do know now that I will NEVER bring a head to a taxidermist that does his own tanning again. Very poor quality, next time I'll take the wait with a taxidermist that has the capes tanned commercially.