Sour dough is a new one on me, not looked into that at all, but I may have a read up, the process I use with Aluminium Sulphate and salt is very easy, feels somewhat too easy and cheatish aha but the results are good, I think it would honor your rams to try tanning the last pelts, even if the fur slips you could easily make regular leather with it :)

If in doubt, freeze the pelts until ready, no wastage that way :D