Tanning Hides

[idahogardner]

FOTH, you've described the process Einar goes through to turn hides into leather. Have you ever personally tanned a hide?

I'm thinking about trying to learn as much as I can about it and possibly giving it a try during deer hunting season next November. I'm sure it takes a lot of practicing to get it right though.

[FOTH]

Yes. Deer, elk and numerous small, furry critters (rabbits, marten, fox, bobcat, etc.)

The first one is always the hardest, but it's a great skill to practice, and very rewarding when you end up with that first soft, beautiful hide to turn into something useful!

Here's my favorite book on the subject:

www.amazon.com/Deerskins-Into-Buckskins-Materials-Gatherers/dp/0965867242/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333248082&sr=1-1

Matt Richards did a DVD teaching that technique, too, which is also quite good.


And you can learn a lot from the discussions on Paleo Plantet, too:

paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/forums/5/Leather-Hides-amp-Tanning#.T3fARsVAaf8

[idahogardner]

Thanks FOTH. That looks like a good book to get and thanks for the link to paleo planet.

Do you think that if I went to a place where they butcher deer for hunters that I could get a deer skin to practice on? I wonder what they do with them.