Beaver pelt wall hanging

[Greyhound]

My first attempt. Looking for advice for the next one please. I used a cedar branch that I hooped a year ago and let fry.

[Jingles]

Nice looking wall hanger, only thing I'd of done different would of been leave the tail on at the bottom, but that is me

[JakeLand]

I would make the hoops bigger then the pelt so you have 1”-2” gap all the way around the pelt and lace it up that way ! @ Lewey did a nice one

[KFhunter]

Bigger hoop so you can put a better stretch on it when you lace it.  Are you leaving it on the hoop for display?   If so a tail would be cool.

I like it 

[Magnum_Willys]

There was a guy in cCastle Rock who ringed the hoop with antler sheds.  Very cool.

[gramps]

Done with willow

[greenhead_killer]

those are great! any specific time of year youre harvesting branches for these? does it even matter? i need to make a few of these myself, just been putting it off

[Humptulips]

those are great! any specific time of year youre harvesting branches for these? does it even matter? i need to make a few of these myself, just been putting it off

I've made a few with peeled willow. When the sap starts to rise in the spring they peel easily, so I think spring is the best time. It is pretty hard to bend one stick into a round shape. Two lashed together worked better for me. I drove some nails on a beaver board to provide a form to bend the willow, then let it dry.

[Greyhound]

Thanks for all the advice. I will definitely leave more space. The fur stretched more than I thought it would for sure.

[NRA4LIFE]

I got a hide I want to do this with.  I have found Vine Maple very flexible.  Would it work for this application?

[lewy]

Looks great! As mentioned already, little bigger hoop or smaller beaver lol and yes spring time bark peels best but really you can peel anytime. I use 1/4” wide leather on mine. Also I linseed oil the hoops

[NRA4LIFE]

Can I ask where you obtain the leather strap?

[lewy]

On line, kinda hard to find really. Craft stores have the fake stuff that works to

[Humptulips]

Personally, I prefer the look of the hide tight to the hoop.

[Twispriver]

That cedar hoop looks great 

[Greyhound]

I found the leather strapping at Hobby Lobby. No one give me crap for being in that store!  I found a needle that worked for the hide there as well. The leather strapping kind of screws into the end of the needle so it pulls through easy. I don’t see why vine maple wouldn’t work. Put screws in a circular pattern on a wood surface for a form if you are going to use one piece.

[Skyvalhunter]

Thats a mighty nice looking beaver you got there, lots of hair

[callturner]

For a wall hanger you could always cheat and pre stretch your bever on a beaver board, then hoop it when it's dry.

[Humptulips]

I found the leather strapping at Hobby Lobby. No one give me crap for being in that store!  I found a needle that worked for the hide there as well. The leather strapping kind of screws into the end of the needle so it pulls through easy. I don’t see why vine maple wouldn’t work. Put screws in a circular pattern on a wood surface for a form if you are going to use one piece.

I had difficulty finding a long enough piece of vine maple that was straight.

[Greyhound]

The cedar worked well. It already has a natural bend to it. Find the right branch and making the full circle wasn’t too tough.

[LDennis24]

Thats a mighty nice looking beaver you got there, lots of hair

Why didn't I ever try saying that... maybe she would have stayed?

 

But seriously, I have one like this as well only the bow goes full circle. It was given to me and I had a hole in one spot about where it's shoulders would be on top so I put a small nail through there and mounted an old wooden station clock on it. Looks cool I think. Why did they remove the tails traditionally? Just for other use like fat and oils?