Skin the deer carefully and remove all flesh, fat, and membrane from the hide
Salt the pelt heavily or freeze it if you cannot begin tanning immediately
Soak the hide in cool water to rehydrate it if needed
Flesh the hide again until the inner surface is clean
Soak the pelt in a dehairing solution if you want to remove the hair
Scrape off hair and remaining tissue after loosening
Rinse the hide thoroughly
Pickle the pelt in an acid bath according to a tanning recipe
Neutralize the hide after pickling if required by the tanning method
Apply tanning solution, such as brain, bark, or commercial tanning agent
Work the tanning solution into the hide evenly
Let the hide absorb the tanning material fully
Stretch, soften, and repeatedly work the hide while it dries
Keep the hide moving until it is dry and supple
Smoke the hide if desired for added water resistance and durability
Condition the finished pelt with a suitable hide oil or dressing