first try to tan a coyote hide

[coyotezh]

I finally got some time to tan the coyote hide I got last year. I chose to used Trapper & hunters hide tanning formula to make things little simple and easier. Everything went smoothly until the last step. After I applied the tanning formula, some hair clustered together (refer to the picture). I guess it is because the oily the formula got through to the fur side and made some area of the fur sticky.

I tried to use warm air blower to dry it out and doesn't work. next step, I may try to wash the whole hide in warm water with TIDE.

But I am really not sure. So, please give your thoughts.... really appreciated!

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by coyotezh

Are you sure that the underfur wasn’t already matted like that before the tanning process? There doesn’t seem to be much guard hair in with that matted underfur. Even if you somehow manage to untangle the mat, without guard hair you’re going to have a noticeable rubbed spot on the pelt. Last season I tried to carefully untangle similar mats using the point of an upside down knife and that’s what happened.

My advice is to forget about using the pelt as a wallhanger or whatever, and use the good fur to make mitts, etc. That’s probably the best thing to do with pelts like that imo.

[coyotezh]

do you know how did it happen?

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by coyotezh

do you know how did it happen?

It looks like the coyote did it and wasn’t because of the tanning process. Did you brush the fur before skinning it?

[coyotezh]

no, I did not... is it possible my washing machine did it? I used washing machine before tanning

[TrapperMike]

Have washed thousands of coyotes in washing machines and never had it happen. Most fur balls are caused by some kind of foreign substance or parasite.

[coyotezh]

thank you for your information... Next time I should be more careful before starting the tanning process to make sure the fur is ok lol.. I didn't check this time.