proper hide storage

So if you're interested in storing a hide for the spring weather to warm before tanning your hide, I suggest skinning the animal properly first. ie. it should not look like this.

Below (white) is the hide. We want to get muscle/fat off so that it is a nice smooth white colour before we salt it.

So in reference to 'proper skinning'.
If you plan on using the hide to make fabric, think about your cuts that will maximize usable sections of fabric. below is an example of a bunch of wasted extraneous hide that I removed due to this.

*note about skinning
When skinning an animal, cut the edges (ie. back of hind, belly, chest, neck and then PUT DOWN YOUR KNIFE AND PULL OFF THE HIDE WITH YOUR HANDS leaving all muscle on the animal so that you eat it! Knifing a hide off is a waste of everybody's time. however coyote appreciates a hide to chew on now and then.

click any picture for larger view

Notice the heavy salting. salt is cheap. use it liberally.

Allow the salt to draw moisture from the hide for 12 - 24 hours. keep the hide on a slight incline to facilitate drain/run off. Once this is done apply more salt if you like, fold the edges in and roll. store in plastic bag, rubbermaid etc. the idea is that the salt binds all the moisture so rot can't set in. We also don't want the hide to dry out. bad news.

this will store long term, as far as I know, as long as animals don't get in...

I prefer to process a hide into rawhide that I then dry and store inside. it becomes smaller, more portable and much more stable (animals aside)