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Moose hides to raw hides

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Wolf Watcher:
Am embarrassed to admit that I need help with making raw hide for drum tops out a moose that was given to me by the Game and fish.  The hide is in four quarters and is salted.  Was thinking I could put a couple of pieces in the creek as it is thawed and open.  Any information that will get me started would be appreciated!  Thanks for the help!  Joe

Jodocus:
I never done it with elk, but many times with roedeer. I hope this will carry over.

Four quarters is not ideal, since a perfect drumhead is cut from the middle of the skin, so it's halved by the center of the back ( I hope I am understandable). But it will work with quarters.

cut as much of the skin as you need. If the flesh side is not clean, it's a good moment to scrape it clean. dry Skin can be sanded. Only take as much as you need, since the skin will become ugly and smelly if you thaw-freeze or wet-dry it too often.

Generally, I'd rather keep the skins dried than frozen.

I guess hair is still on the skin? Make a lie from hardwood ashes. about 5 water to 1 ashes. Soak the hide for half a day. Then scrape and tear the hair off. This is messy, best to do it outside. The hair is great for the soil if you have a garden.

Wash the hide with plenty water. Put it on the drum hair side out.

Outbackbob48:
Joe, when I do deer hides to rawhide. I first flesh the hide on a beam , next is soak in a buck until hair slips real easy, this can be ashes and water(lye) or plain water. Hair should come off real easy then i go over flesh side again and remove remaining membrane, stretch fairly tight in a frame and let dry. clear as mud. :o Bob

Wolf Watcher:
My wife and I came home one day to find a note on the door from our local game warden that said to look in the shop.  Well, hanging on my tractor bucket was four large quarters of a bull moose.  The bull had been injured and the warden had to shoot it and he gave the carcass to me.  I skinned the quarters and salted them down like the elk hides I took to Pappy.  It looks like I won't make it to the Classic this year so I thought I would try to make some raw hide.  I can buy raw hide from different animals from Montana Leather in Billings, but it is expensive and I end up with lots of scraps. 
Jodocus:  Thanks for the information. I have plenty of ashes, just no hardwood ashes.  The quarters are very large so hoping to make a some large drums if I can ever get them made into raw hide.  The skins are heavily salted and may be frozen as they have been laying on the shop floor. 
Bob: The hides are stiff as a board from the salt so do I need to soak the hides in water to soften them up before fleshing on a beam and if so is the creek water ok? I don't have anything besides my horse trough big enough to soak each hide.  Thanks for the help! Joe

Outbackbob48:
Joe, sorry to hear ya can't make the classic :(. Creek water will be fine to rehydrate also hair will slip in just water especially if it warms up some, If you warm the water up hair will slip but can get kinda stinky quick. Good luck with your project and enjoy some nice tender moose roast for dinner. Bob

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