elk/deer rawide

[vander]

Does anyone on here use it... I was pondering using the hide off my deer and elk this year to make some rawhide. Also if anyone has any experience with it, is the process any different considering the hollow hair of deer and elk? any awnsers will help.

Thanks Vander

[Rod and Denise Nikkel]

Vander,

We make rawhide out of deer to use as lace in stitching our saddle trees. The thickness and amount of hair does increase the time in the chemical to dehair it but otherwise we do nothing different in making it into rawhide. It is a very strong hide but it is also very stretchy which makes it great for stitching but lousy for braiding. Definitely not recommended for braiding. We have never done an elk so can't help you with that.

[rgerbitz]

I second that, I tried a couple of white tailed deer last year and ended up throwing them away. They are very thin and if they weren't so strechy would have been nice for knots, but it was almost like working with hard rubber bands.

Rob

[vander]

Thanks for the replies and advice, i was really hope it could be a cheap way to get some rawhide for braiding, but guess i will have to try and get ahold of a cow hide. I suppose that with the stretchiness it wouldnt be worth trying to use it for bosal cores?

Thanks again.

[Rod and Denise Nikkel]

If you could get it consistent it might be worth a try. The problem with the stretchiness is inconsistency. I imagine it would have a nice feel to it, but I have never done it.

Rod