What do people do with animal hides?

[Nathanael_Greene]

I've always wondered...what happens to all the hides of animals that are taken during hunting season?

Does anyone preserve deer hides, for example?

I'm asking because it looks like I'll be going on a fallow deer hunt in a while, and I'm wondering how hard it would be to preserve the hide. It might make a nice souvenir or something--if it's not too difficult/expensive.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[sumpnz]

I was going to save the hide from my elk, but the dragging we had to do destroyed over half of it, so I just left it with the rib cage and head (I had a cow tag, so no horns to bother saving).

Some folks will get their deer/elk hides tanned but it ain't cheap. IIRC for a typical deer size hide you're looking at around $100-150 for tanning. I could be wrong though, so if someone else has better info please chime in. A lot of folks who take their deer to a processor with the hide still on just let the processor deal with the hide. Some will sell those hides (at least the ones that are good enough), some will toss them in the garbage.

Next year, if I get drawn for cow elk again I'll be sure to bring a sled or something to keep the hide from getting ruined during dragging. Then I'll start trying to figure out where the heck to go for tanning in the Phx area.

If you do get the hide tanned, there are people who will make everything from jackets to gloves to slippers to whatever you want from the tanned hides. For a jacket you'll typically need 4 deer hides, depending on how big they are.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I've never kept any hides. Usually bury them with the remains.

 

[Bigreno]

I use to tan my own hides but haven't in several years. It's really not difficult at all. A bunch of salt and a piece of plywood will do a very basic job. If you want a more professional piece to show you should get a tanning kit. Van Dykes sells quite a few at very reasonable prices.

Deer hide tanning kit.
That kit includes all the materials and instructions for less than $13.00.

 

[sumpnz]

Apparently I was way overestimating the tanning charge. A couple places I found via Google were charging $28-45 for deer hides and ~$100 for elk hides. Some places, though, charged by the sq ft. One place was $17/ft, which they said would have a typical elk hide costing $300-400.

Of course, that doesn't include any shipping costs if the place isn't local to you.

I'd love to have an elk hide jacket, and some dress and work gloves, plus slippers would sure be nice to have too.

 

[ScreamnEagle]

i once tried to tan my deer hide, baught a kit, followed the instructions, and it pulled on me. So..i threw it way and never tried it agian.


To have my bobcats tanned by a taxidermy it is around $75.

 

[Polishrifleman]

How about nailing it to a stump and using it for yote bait.

 

[rbernie]

I have a Sika deer hiding being tanned as we speak. The shop I'm using charged me $150, but if you've ever seen/felt a Sika hide you'd know that it's worth it. Dunno if I'd pay that for a fallow hide. Maybe red deer - I came within ten yards of a HUGE red doe last weekend but couldn't get a shot thru the brush. I really wanted that doe - she was huge and the hide on that girl was superb.

Nathanael - where are you going? I spent last weekend at NTO (second year going there)....

 

[rwc]

You may want to consider carefully cutting open the skin on the belly and then using your hands to seperate the skin from the body. While the deer is still warm I've been able to sort of thrust my hand under the hide and loosen the skin off the body. Sort of a punching, sweeping move with my hand flat against the body. You'll have to get your arm pretty far in there, but if it works for you, it will minimize the chance of nicking a hole in the hide.

 

[Sunray]

There are the kits like ScreamnEagle and bigreno mention, but tanning is smelly and messy. Just salting doesn't turn the hide into leather though.
Any taxidermist should be able to tan your hides.
Elk hide is wonderfully soft and makes an extremely warm garment. So does moose and deer hide. Most deer are too small to get a jacket or coat out of one hide though. Ok, for a guy my size, but you should figure on about 50 sq. ft. for a coat. And unless you line the garment you'll have bits of hide fluff on your clothes when you take it off.

 

[mindpilot]

Turn them in at most outfitters or Fleet Farm for and they give you $5 then they sell them to places that make gloves and other crap with them.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Nathanael - where are you going? I spent last weekend at NTO (second year going there)....

I'm going to see Curtis at www.huntingtexasexotics.com; found a deal through another online forum. $425 for a mangement fallow buck was too tempting to resist.

Plus, that ranch is normally for bowhunters only, but he's allowing rifles for this hunt.

 

[ZenMasterJG]

Send one over to me, i'll get it tanned and made into a new upper for my boots.

Seriously, these boots need a new upper. Bad.