Cleaning stinky from skunk hides???

[Mesophilic]

Anyone got a tried and tru method to clean the stinky from skunk hides?

Recently trapped a couple skunks, got the hides fleshed, salted, and dried.  But they still smell terrible.

Can I use some bicarbonate along with a little detergent?  I was thinking maybe a little oxyclean or even some baking soda mixed in the wash.

Thanks.

[jeffhalfrack]

Blue dawn peroxide and baking soda soak best I can think of change water ,,,they make a nice pelt if you get the stink out jeffw

[osage outlaw]

I bought a nice skunk hide from the big auction site cheap enough that I'll never attempt to tan one myself.  It was almost scent free.

[Pat B]

I had a bow with skunk silencers. They didn't stink until they got wet and then the perfume was awakened. 

[YosemiteBen]

What Halftrack said

[Mesophilic]

Blue dawn peroxide and baking soda soak best I can think of change water ,,,they make a nice pelt if you get the stink out jeffw

Thanks, guys, I'll give it a shot and see how it goes.

[Mesophilic]

Update:

Hides smell somewhay better.  I didn't have unscented Dawn so now they smell like apple blossom wet skunk.  But it is an improvement.   Kind of like a truck stop restroom after a millenial cleans it...smells better but still has the cloying smell of unmentionables underneath the no name pinesol.

All in all it is a good experience.   My daughter assisted in skinning critters for the first time, and showed an interest in the tanning process.   Though going forward it's quite probable that I would opt to just purchase professionally tanned skunk hides. 

[DC]

The pro's must get rid of the smell somehow or do they euthanize their skunks?

[Marc St Louis]

A water/vinegar solution gets rid of the smell

[Hawkdancer]

Ozark legend says tomato juice will do the trick!  Caveat - I never tried it!  I prefer my tomato juice with vodka!
Hawkdancer