Help with my first deer hides???

[orangepridendns1]

This past weekend hubby and I went deer hunting for the first time...we now have 3 hides available to us and will hopefully get a couple of more this weekend...anyway, I don't want the hides to go to waste and hubby really wants a pair of buckskin leggings to dance in this summer..plus they will mean alot to him if they are "his" hides... I guess my question is..how do I have them tanned? They are going to a commercial outfit in Iowa and I wasn't sure that garment tanning them would be appropriate?? The man told me that he would help me determine how to have them tanned depending on what I wanted to do with them but I would love to hear it from the fellow n8tvs out here that have a better understanding of what I am talking about...lol....

I would also like to make a pair of mocs for daughters and myself and will keep reading powwowbum49's tutorial....there seemes to be really great infor there...

Also, anyone that can provide directions on making the leggins would be so appreciated bc/ I don't want to mess up the hides once we get them back...The guy said on average I'll have 8 - 10 sf per hide...how much hide will be needed to make the leggins and to make moccasins??

Thank you all so much for the advice!! It helps to knowe that there are friends that I can ask these questions to and know I will get honest answers and understanding at the very least!! Thanks in advance!!!

[wyo_rose]

Oh, I thought you were gonna be brave and tan them yourself. I was gonna say salt them down or start soaking them NOW. 'Nywayz...

Of course brain tanning would be best but I doubt they do that commercially in Iowa. Just tell him you want to be able to sew it by hand afterwards.

[orangepridendns1]

We talked about trying to do it ourselves but decided it would be a better idea to let the professionals do it this time....no place to work or store them at the moment..once the garage and shed are cleaned out we may try and do it ourselves next year...the place where my dad took them to be processed is salting them for us so we don't have to worry about that part..

Is that all I need to tell him? If we want one hide to be able to make mocs out of does it need to be a different thickness than the hides we will use to make the leggins? I read somewhere that one side would be like suede if it is cut a certain way and we don't want that do we?
Thanks Wyo_Rose!!

[wyo_rose]

It is a TON of work, (and stinky) to do it yourself not to mention MESSY!!

I really don't know much about the commercial ways of tanning, but talk to the guy and he can set you straight I'm sure.

And yeah, mocs should be thicker. As for making it like suede I don't know. Having only daughters, I've never even SEEN a guys buckskin leggings up close. But if the guy means splitting the hide, I wouldn't. Deer hides aren't that thick to start with.

Good luck!

[badmaninc]

I have a cousin that couldn't do his right away so he put it in the freezer for a couple of months and it turned out alright. So if that is an option maybe you might want to do that but if you do make sure you triple bag it.

[orangepridendns1]

Yeah!! We have hides...sorta!!

Well, my dad picked up our meat from deer number 2 and 4 hides..he had to salt them a little more and he has them hanging at his house until they are dried...all I know is that they are really nice looking and pretty big, according to my dad...hubby is really excited and now wants to get them shipped out asap to start tanning..heard about a guy in Ponca that does them the "old fashioned way" so I am assuming he will brain tan them but still need to call and check on his prices..anyway, we are planning on having Chris a pair of leggings by this spring or summer...wish us luck!!!

[orangepridendns1]

Finally!!! We have beautiful tanned hides!!

Our three tanned hides came in the mail today. They are a really pretty tan color and are so soft!! I thought they might be to thin but Chris thinks they are going to be great for makinghis leggings so, now that I have them anyone want to share secrets on how to make the leggings? I know he wants fringe on the edges and I will put beads of some kind on them I think..Other than that we are ready to learn so load us up with information so I can start this fun (humor me!!) project and get the Daksi man a pair of leather britches made!!

Wado,
OP1

[WocusWoman]

I'm just getting ready to make a new pair of elk hide leggings for my teenage son. I have one good suggestion. Take apart a pair of his best fitting jeans, at the seams and use it as a pattern.

[Dakota Wica'hpi Ina]

Deer hides

Try taking them to a taxidermist next time. I know I guy in St. Charles Iowa that Will brain or commercially tan your hides and smoke them. You don't even have to salt them- just finish the tags and make sure it's legal. I've used his equipment to tan before modern stuff is way easier (and faster)than the old way. If you do them yourself make sure that you have someone who's done it sucessfully before around to guide you. We did 6 elk this year and I was sure glad I had access to a fleshing machine, pressure tanner, and tumbler! It's alot easier to do buff this way to.

[orangepridendns1]

Wocus.. Thanks for the tip. My husbands godmother suggested the same thing and since she has made buckskin leggings before I figured I could trust her advice..lol..I also bought one of the Missouri River patterns but darn if I have been able to figure out how to read it..as for teh jeans idea- do I need to find a pair of his loose fit jeans or like wrangler kinds that really fit him snug??? Then how do I proceed- simply lay out the jeans on the skins and go to cutting or what?? Last question for the day is how do I do the fringe? Do I cut an extra length/ width on both sides or attach after or what??? Thanks again everyone for your advice and input!! Keep it coming!!!!
OP1

[orangepridendns1]

Half way done!!!!

We started teh leggings project saturday in Claremore as we had help from the mil who has been sewing for 35 plus years..anyways we took apart an old pair of jeans and went from there. The fringe piece that will be on the leggings is between 5 - 6 inches and the Daksi man is 6 '4" so needless to say the leggings are long. It took all three hides to get enough to do his leggings. There are still some scrapes leftover to do little projects but I doubt I will be making any moccasins any time soon- not to mention I heard that making moccasins is the hardest craft project I could undertake..anyway we started sewing Saturday afternoon after we split the sinew that we had and last night I finished the first leg...both sides and turned it rightside out to check it all out..Hubby really liked the finished leg and tonight we are starting the second leg so that I can finish them before Ponca Pow Wow next weekend....we'll post a pic once we get them done fringework and beads and all......
OP1

[orangepridendns1]

Finally Done!!!!!!!

The buckskin leggings are finally done and I am so glad. It was a neat project to work on together and we spent close to 25 or so hours working on them..We spent time with our families while we did them and that makes them even more special. Anyway Chris wore them Saturday night at the Ponca Pow Wow and we thought he looked great!! So, I am attaching two pics- 1 of the leggings without the fringe and one of the leggings as they looked dressed out Saturday night with the fringe. Chris did decide he didn't want the beads and cones so we didn't end up attaching those as we had originally planned. Let us know what you think!!!
OP1