Veterans Leather Program
Hide Preparation Instructions & Drop Off Locations
Veterans Leather Program
Proper preparation of hides prior to shipment to the designated tannery is extremely important. Rotted hides arriving at the tannery are discarded, making freight charges wasteful expenses.
The equipment and material required to prepare hides for storage and shipment are relatively inexpensive and may be obtained from local businesses as donations or purchased for a nominal amount. You will need:
- A container of fine table salt or livestock salt (rock salt will not work)
- a sharp knife for removing excess fat, flesh, tails and tags
- A clean surface (the ground, a table, barrels, plywood, etc.)
- ”Kitty litter” or sawdust under the loaded pallets, to absorb juices and odor
- Surgical rubber gloves or old gloves for clean up
- Packing materials (plastic or cardboard barrels for small amounts, pallets for large amounts)
- Carefully examine the hide to determine if it is still good. Spoiled hides can be identified by a peculiar odor, discoloration and if the hair begins to pull away from the hide easily. This means the hide is worthless and should be discarded.
- Good hides need to be immediately thawed, spread, cleaned and salted. Remove and discard excess fat, flesh and the tail. Be very careful when processing hides. Avoid cutting even the smallest holes with a knife. All holes, bullets, arrows or careless trimming will increase several times when the hides are processed at the tannery.
- Salt should be applied over all of the fleshy surface. A small animal will require four to five pounds of salt. A larger animal, such as a cow or an elk, might require as much as twelve pounds of salt. Remember, you cannot use too much salt!
- Rub the salt thoroughly into all fleshy areas of the hide. Areas not salted will allow bacteria to develop and spread throughout the hide. The juices of the hide will mix with the salt and create a brine that will prevent bacteria growth.
- When salting is completed, the edges of the hide should be folded in four to six inches to keep the moisture inside. This will keep the hides soft and pliable until they reach the tannery.
Drop-off Locations
- Arvada Lodge: 5700 Yukon St Arvada, CO 80002
- Brighton Lodge: 101 N Main St Brighton, CO 80601
- Idaho Springs Lodge: 1600 Colorado Blvd Idaho Springs, CO 80452