[mum4boys]

and we have the option to keep the hide.

What the heck do I do with the hide?

 

[Belleweather]

Um. You'd have to have it cured or treated before it would be useful for anything. I know it's possible to do that yourself, but that it's a smelly and time consuming process. I'm sure google can hook you up with the specifics.

 

[mum4boys]

I should have defined it more...if I have it tanned then what? I am just trying to figure out if it is worth it or not.

 

[annethcz]

Make shoes, or bags or purses or use it for a canvas. A friend of mine used to make the cutes toddler booties with a leather sole and knitted upper.

 

[chumani]

My dh has tanned hides for over 23 years. He mainly tanned deer, some elk and other hides. He tanned the way his grandmother/tribe taught him using brains and water. Cow hides are HARD to do, they are very thick. Commercial tanneries use terrible chemicals to tan the hide. If you can get the brains to go with it check out www.braintan.com for pointers on how to tan. They use lye/KOH to slip the hair which my dh has never done. Cow hide would be good for moccasin/shoe soles and heavy bags. If you pare it thin enough it could then be used for baby shoes/moccasins. If you scrape it within 24-48 hours of butchering the smell isn't any worse than raw meat, longer than that, yuck! If you know of any mountain man/rendezvous enthusiasts in your area they would be able to give you some pointers as well.

Good Luck! and Best Wishes if you decide to tackle the project.
Sarah

 

[henny penny]

You could lash together some bamboo poles, throw the hide over, and have a cool play tent. I'm debating on doing this with a deer hide from my stepmother's hunting this fall.

 

[WeasleyMum]

Hang it on your wall, use it as a throw rug, or toss it over the back of your sofa for that "rugged country", Colorado/Texas look.

 

[chaoticzenmom]

you could make a huge rug with it. I saw one once and it was really nice looking and huge.

 

[mamadelbosque]

My DH is tanning a deer hide this year for the first time. He's leaving the hair on it and using the brains to tan the other side. So far it looks pretty cool (I think he's going to try and scrape it tommorrow or the next day)... i think he's going to donate it to the nature center around here though.