Can I save this

[paulc]

So I have had this skin hanging over the fence since late October...just never got to it. Should I let it go or could I still get raw hide from it?  Was never scraped, I'm in South GA. Thought I might try to slip the hair if it was salvageable.  Thoughts?  Paul

[Pat B]

Paul, soak it in water and it will soften up then you can work with it. It may stink a bit though.

[mullet]

Yep, what Pat said. After you soak it stretch it out on a rack.

[Mounter]

i agree with pat and mull/........i've worked with hides that have been dried for years. Long as bugs don't get to them you can even do fur on rugs with them. Rawhide, no problems...

[BowEd]

You'll see what you got after soaking it in a water tank or creek.Then stretching it out.You'll need to weight it down to stay under water as the hairs are hollow.If it was'nt fleshed at all of fat those areas could very well be compromised or fat burned.Fleshed hides if treated with bug repellent can be kept for years dried till used for something.

[paulc]

Thanks all!

[BowEd]

paulc...you should know the state that it was in before you hung it on the fence.Fleshed or not.To make just rawhide from it will be more easily attainable than making brain tan leather from it if it is compromised any with bugs or fat burn because of the strenuous stretching involved making brain tan.Holes will appear in it then.If it is'nt compromised any it should be good to go for making brain tan then also.
Good luck.