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Skin-side has been fleshed of meat; now to scrape the hair.
The husband using hair clippers to shave the hair off. Yeah, this really sped the process up! (This is sarcasm - said with straight face while rolling eyes) It really didn't speed anything up. It was simply his curiosity getting the best of him. He used human clippers, not animal clippers and let me tell you, human clippers weren't meant for such abuse! (not sarcasm, it's the truth!) After this "experiment", we needed new clippers for the family!
The hide actually looks pretty neat with the hair cropped so close. I was amazed to learn just how thick the hair is near the deer's skin. Without shaving it so close, I don't think anyone can truly appreciate how thick the hair is. Just an observation.
Between finishing scraping and drying, built a small smoke house.
The husband, who was initially mad that I purchased the lumber, helped me.
Backside of husband, to show how long his hair is. I used to braid it every morning, but in November of 1998, he decided he wanted it all cut off. Of course, I braided it before cutting it. For the first time I can remember, the feel of his (cut) hair didn't feel good at all!
(Side note or update: he grew his hair back; it was back down to his waist and I braided it every morning. Now he says he's too old to wear it so long and keeps it to his collar.)
The 2 youngest boys came home from school long enough to help stand the smoke house up and take some credit for helping.
Left to dry...and continue stretching every half hour or so, depending on the weather.
While drying, use regular thread and needle to sew up any holes. Immitation sinew can also be used. Some say they use fishing line. I wouldn't recommend fishing line.....but it's a matter of personal preference, I guess. I prefer immitation sinew because it most resembles animal sinew that would have been used - and it's stronger than thread.
Large tarp serves to protect from drenching rains that fell for 2 days. When snow dusted the area, I didn't put the tarps back up until the snow got heavier. Even with snow coating the hides, it didn't hurt the hides at all.
Smoke house was moved to a new location by the winds and so it sits where it was blown (right over the fence). A circle of stones and "punk" - rotten wood that doesn't burn, it smokes - is generally what's used. If you don't live in an area where punk would be easily found, then cedar chips (bought in the pet section; commonly used for bedding and such) can also be used. Keep a pitcher of water nearby to toss droplets of water on the fire, to put down the fire and cause the chips to smoke. Remember, unlike anywhere else, smoke is the goal!
A small tarp covers the front, to keep the smoke in and to provide some ventilation at the bottom; to keep the coals burning.
*LOL* As Jim Carrey might say, "Now we're smmmmmmokin'!"
Showing pictures of taking the hide and rubbing it back and forth over a metal pole would be more boring than the pictures you've already seen so I'll spare y'all that misery. *laughing* Keep in mind that you've gotta keep the hide moving (scraping and stretching it) while it dries...and it's not as dry as you might think it is, when you think it feels pretty dry.
What I haven't included yet is the actual brain tanning process and recipe I used when pig brains were commonly available at the local grocery stores here. Since the advent of "Mad Cow Disease", pig brains are no longer sold. Until a suitable replacement is found (that's reliable and available on a regular basis - meaning the hunters don't often provide the head with brains when dropping off just the 'cape' or hide), I've had to stop 'brain tanning'.
This is my favorite source of information. Very detailed!
BRAIN TANNING DEER HIDES
'MANY MOONS', contributed by Fred
Brain Tanning Less Instruction With More Results
by Joseph Dinsmore & Victoria Longtrail D.
Preserving a Hide with the Fur On
Contributed by Cynthia Senicka
Preserving Bird Wings, Tails, or Talons
By Tara Prindle with some tips from Elke Hepach and Les Tate
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