Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bullets
Smoke tanned moose and elk hides have a good value. Takes alot of effort to brain tan and smoke a hide but a garde "A" full moose or elk hide sells for up to 3500.00.
A half dozen moose hides that would otherwise be left in the bush could be turned into as much as 20K.
|
I’ve brain tanned a few hides. Moose are a ton of work, and I have the utmost respect for anyone that can finish a hide to Select quality. The entire process of scraping, thinning, and softening with no or very few holes is quite an art that I suspect doesn’t happen without tanning a few to “C” quality at far less value. Not wanting to waste the hides and the intrigue of how this was done traditionally is what got me interested.
The book “Deerskins into Buckskins” by Matt Richards is an excellent resource.
One more thing. If you are starting with any hides your friends have saved for you. Make sure they didn’t skin them like they used a hatchet. It’s hard enough work with a perfect hide, let alone a hide that already has holes and knife marks throughout. Good luck!
