A deer hide you can tan at home without special tools

Hunting season leaves a lot of hides in a lot of garages.

Tanning one at home sounds like a job for somebody with a shed full of special gear. It isn't. This method uses salt and alum in a big plastic tote. Most of the days are just waiting.

It's based on an extension guide that calls salt and alum the least expensive home method, and probably the most common.

The hands-on part is short. But one step at the very end is what decides whether you get soft leather or a stiff board, and it takes some elbow grease.

There's also a stop point early on. Skip it, and the hair can start slipping later.

The guide walks through all 8 steps and how long each stage takes. It also covers what to do when something goes wrong, and when a hide belongs at a tannery instead.

This one keeps the hair on. Think rug or wall hide.

You'll want an ordinary deer hide for your first one, not a trophy. That's my advice, too.

See how to tan a hide at home →

Hair On or Hair Off for Your First Hide?

Hair on gives you a rug or wall hide with less scraping. Hair off gives you soft leather you can sew, but it takes more work.