I decided to try tanning one of my bobcats myself. I know, kind of risky trying a first time thing on a nice western bobcat, but I’m not struggling to pay my bills and I have a few more to sell, so I thought why not. Here are the steps I took:

1. Rehydrate(it was stretched and dried) and flesh making sure to removed all the membrane and as much flesh and fat as possible.
2. Wash/Degrease in dawn dish soap and luke warm water
3. Rinse in cold water
4. Pickle bath( I had a guy give me 5 gallons of liquid citric acid) wasn’t sure how much to mix in so I did a pound of salt per gallon of water and added citric acid until my PH was 2. Left the skin in the pickle bath for 3 days stirring 2 to 3 times a day and checking ph everytime I’d stir it.
5. Removed from pickle bath and wring out, and removed more flesh and membrane
6. Degreased again, same as steps 2 and 3.
7. Back into pickle bath for another 3 days( this turned in to 10 days because USPS lost the Trubond 1000B I ordered when I started this and took 2 weeks to get it.) I wasn’t to worried as I had read as long as I maintained a PH of 2 it would be fine in the pickle.
8. Removed from pickle and wring out thoroughly
9. Neutralized with 1/4lb salt and 1oz baking soda per gallon of luke warm water for 30 minutes stirring occasionally.
10. Removed from neutralize solution and rinse in cold water. Wrong out thoroughly and allow to dry for a couple hours. Also used paper towel to help with drying faster.
11. Brush Trubond 1000B on and left skin to skin overnight.
12. Stretched and pulled a few times a day for the next couple days until dry and soft and supple
13. Used a 4” cordless grinder with a flap disc to do some thinning.

I definitely need to hone my fleshing skills. I put a few holes in it, ripped it near the base of the tail and messed up one of the eyes, but all in all I was happy with how it turned out. I think once I get better at fleshing and can do a few pelts at a time it will make it worth the time spent. I did notice yesterday when I was putting up a couple bobcats to sell, that I had rolled up in the freezer, that it seemed like they were a lot easier to flesh after they had been frozen and then thawed.

It was case skinned but my wife wanted me to open it up to lay flat. It is really nice and soft and supple. No hair slippage. Like I said I’m really happy with how well it turned out being the first thing I’ve ever tanned. I think the next few will just get better.

Nice looking on the couch , I did a bobcat for my first animal tanning. I left the feet on and did the tanning after reading Bosco instructions.

Looks good from here partner

Like!!

Looks good to me. Practice makes perfect.

Good job

That is really pretty! Big sense of satisfaction for you I’m sure!

Good job!

Thank you all, it definitely came out better than I expected.

Elsmasho, it was very satisfying especially because I was kind of worried I was gonna ruin a bobcat lol

Even better that you had success! I’m trying to practice so I can do the big coon I caught this year. Def a learning experience

I think I learned the most important steps are fleshing completely, degreasing completely, and thinning so the pickle and tanning agent can penetrate the leather. All the other step are necessary for sure but not as complicated. The Trubond was easy to use and worked great. I bought a half gallon and probably only use 1/2 cup on the bobcat.

I can already see my wife rolling her eyes when tell her now I want to buy a fleshing machine lol..

She and my husband can have an eye rolling competition.

I think I want one too lol!

I know they make little handheld ones

looks great way better than my first one,