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What to do with deer hide

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bjrogg:
That was a very good thread Ed, I really enjoyed it.
Bjrogg

nclonghunter:
Since you are undecided as to what you want to do, you can simply stretch it in a frame and let it air dry. If you have all the flesh removed the hide will dry hard and flat. If kept in a garage or dry area it will last in that condition for a long time. After drying you can remove from the rack and pin it to a wall for display or roll it like a stiff piece of plastic and store it. After several months or years sometimes bugs will get into the hair and cause it to turn loose. If you de-hair it while on the frame you can store it as rawhide for years.

No need to keep it in a freezer if you get it free of fat and tissue and dry it hard. Take your time then and decide on what you want or need it for.

BowEd:
Glad to share it BJ.It's always fun to share something that pleases yourself hoping the new comer will experience the same feelings about it.
One more thing I would like to add when storing rawhide is I spray my hides with a light mist of regular bug spay like OFF.If I know I'm not going to get to brain tanning it very soon.I've never had any occurance of bugs or the notorious hide beatle[and you'll remember them when you see them] after spraying them.Even after years of storage which does'nt happen much because I process them.

bjrogg:
Ed I'd love to see a magazine article, I think it'd be a good read. Like to see some articles about how you make your bags,pants and various end products. I love furs and hides and am starting to play around with tanning them and making things from them. I find it very rewarding. I've got a couple bear hides I was gifted that I'm looking forward to doing something with this winter.
Bjrogg

BowEd:
BJ....You've done more then most already.The sky is the limit.Making useful things from ground 0 out of natural materials knowing full well things wear out keeps the production going.Proper preperation/care/and usage are all learned then.Glovers needles/speedy stitchers and good thread.The backstrap sinew is amazing stuff for sewing very tight seams too using an awl and the stiffened end as a point.Consoling with seamstress's[a lost art] methods of seams.Referencing to books back in the 80's was the only way to learn back then.Nothing wrong with making something useful in your own style to suit your needs.Nowadays a U tube version is available it seems.
There are many on here who make very nice things.I enjoy seeing them.
Your bear hides are very nice to make anything out of.I used to substitute skunk hide as a look alike....lol.A guy who used to stoke my fire was John Mcphearson aka the Paraire Wolf.He's got his own web site and many many books out there nowadays.
Loope can take it as far as he wants in the future and hope to see the results of his intentions.Yours too BJ.

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