Post by: 7mmfan on June 26, 2018, 11:19:38 AM
Post by: 724wd on June 26, 2018, 11:24:35 AM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on June 26, 2018, 11:27:20 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on June 26, 2018, 11:41:05 AM
Post by: ghosthunter on June 26, 2018, 11:58:23 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on June 26, 2018, 12:17:21 PM
I had mine tanned last year. Just like a rug but no skull or batting.
Any photos of the finished product?
Post by: buglebuster on June 26, 2018, 12:22:03 PM
Post by: tlbradford on June 26, 2018, 01:03:25 PM
Post by: kselkhunter on June 26, 2018, 01:34:14 PM
I was contemplating going the soft tanned route (no head) and sowing a soft fleece blanket to the bottom and using it as a throw in the living room décor. Just curious if others have tried that route.
Post by: Jonathan_S on June 26, 2018, 01:53:55 PM
Post by: trophyhunt on June 26, 2018, 01:59:08 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on June 26, 2018, 03:20:52 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on June 26, 2018, 04:36:48 PM
I had mine tanned last year. Just like a rug but no skull or batting.
Any photos of the finished product?
Here ya go.
Post by: bolsen on June 26, 2018, 05:18:54 PM
Post by: tlbradford on June 26, 2018, 05:19:07 PM
There is also some air time needed right after you get them back.
Yes. Hung mine in the garage for several months. I would say depending on room size and ventilation, you may would do the same for 3-6 months. Maybe there is a trick to speed this up, but I have never researched.
Post by: idaho guy on June 26, 2018, 05:35:20 PM
Post by: 7mmfan on June 26, 2018, 08:27:37 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on June 26, 2018, 08:30:45 PM
Post by: Humptulips on June 26, 2018, 09:28:15 PM
Good stuff guys, thanks for the photos, that helps me. Are they anywhere near soft or cozy enough to use as a couch blanket? Deer/elk included.
Not a bear but I have a couple cougar I had garment tanned at Moyle Mink and they are quite soft. Easily use as a comforter.
Post by: 7mmfan on June 26, 2018, 09:36:07 PM
Post by: Jonathan_S on June 27, 2018, 06:13:19 AM
So maybe that's the question that needs asked. Is there a specific tanning process that needs to happen to make them very soft? Garment tanning?
If you go through moyle's I doubt you'll be disappointed with the couch blanket softness. Elk hair really isn't that soft but the leather can get supple enough for it. Deer turn out quite nice.
Post by: shmacker on June 27, 2018, 07:22:02 AM
Post by: Jonathan_S on June 27, 2018, 07:27:10 AM
Do you flesh the hides yourself or have a taxi do it before sending to Moyles?
All but a few, I've fleshed to leather myself. When I lived in an apartment for a couple years, I sent them to a taxi first :chuckle:
Post by: 724wd on June 27, 2018, 08:21:10 AM
Post by: luvmystang67 on June 27, 2018, 09:12:09 AM
Post by: fowl smacker on June 27, 2018, 10:12:14 AM
So maybe that's the question that needs asked. Is there a specific tanning process that needs to happen to make them very soft? Garment tanning?The process of tanning to make it soft is a dry tan. A wet tan is what is used for shoulder mounts and such, it dries hard.
Post by: Humptulips on June 27, 2018, 11:30:11 AM
I believe garment tanned should be less then taxidermy tanned.
Post by: Jpmiller on June 28, 2018, 06:53:55 AM
Post by: Okanagan on June 28, 2018, 08:00:21 AM
Some of this duplicates what others have said, but for soft tanning, or garment tanning, every bit of the inner membrane must be removed when fleshing. The ears must be fully turned, and lips split completely or those sections will stiffen and eventually fall off because the tanning chemicals did not reach them during the process. Sometimes I have done those jobs myself, though I am not good at turning the ears, and sometimes I have paid extra to have the tannery check it and have their pro skinner finish those jobs for me. I don't think the big tannery in Idaho offers those services, but merely pops the hide into the tanning process however it arrives.
Post by: 7mmfan on June 28, 2018, 08:16:16 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on June 28, 2018, 08:54:50 AM
Post by: Okanagan on June 28, 2018, 02:34:12 PM
I would almost consider not having the head on a soft tanned bear hide, but I'd have to see it first. I suppose if it gets done head on and it creeps everyone out I can just get rid of it.
I probably won't shoot another bear but if I do I plan to cut it down before having it soft tanned. Unless it is a monster for size I will either make an oval out of it, or a semi bear shape with feet and head cut off kind of rounded. Then I would probably cut wedges out of flank and armpit and sew it flat. If you trim it first, it should cost considerably less to have tanned because they usually charge for bears based on length of the hide.
Re ragged eye hole and mouth on a garment tanned fur: When I get it back from the tannery I take tiny fly fishing scissors and carefully trim off the strings and excess tanned material. They come out tidy and look very good. Of course, it helps if you kept all of the eyelid and lips when skinning and didn't make any oops cuts in them! Ditto for "button hole" cuts anywhere in the hide!
Post by: Humptulips on June 28, 2018, 02:56:05 PM
Kind of wondering if you had something like that and got it to lay flat could you paint some kind of non-slip backing on it like a rubber coating. I like the idea of just the hide but fear it would be a little slippery. Probably put t somewhere it wasn't getting walked on so maybe not necessary.
Post by: lewy on June 28, 2018, 05:31:06 PM
Post by: Jpmiller on June 28, 2018, 06:33:30 PM
Post by: Alchase on June 28, 2018, 06:42:27 PM
Post by: Born2late on June 29, 2018, 06:51:25 PM
Post by: Johnny Doe on July 06, 2018, 09:10:23 AM
Just my :twocents:
Post by: Jonathan_S on July 06, 2018, 09:12:11 AM
Post by: Pete112288 on July 06, 2018, 09:28:59 AM
I really wouldnt want to mess up anything in the process of doing things on my end to prepare it to be sent out though. I never done all that before with hides.
Am I making a bigger issue out of the fleshing it and drying it and such than it really is?
Does anyone know of anybody local (within the state, or Oregon) that does the whole thing?
I thought about doing it myself as a few other people have mentioned as well. I am just not sure of the whole thing.
Post by: BlackRiverTaxidermy on July 06, 2018, 10:45:12 AM
Something to consider when contemplating your own skinning/fleshing and/or sending to a tannery... Yes, its usually cheaper to send to a tannery yourself, however make sure you know what your doing when prepping the hide (turning the lips, ears and eyes and fleshing) and salting. Some tanneries wont accept hides from private parties for this specific reason. If you do it wrong your going to really mess or even ruin your leather/hide. If you've decided to do this process on your own I would highly suggest to NOT start with a bear as due to their size some guys get part of the way through the process and just give up due to length of time and frustration :bash:
The other consideration in sending to a tannery vs. taxidermist is what your overall plan with the hide is? I have a ton of customers that want the hide sent to the tannery for a dry tan or 'trapper tan' as I refer to it, for their bears to just have the hide preserved. If your looking at ONLY doing that for your hide then a tannery may be worth it after you've done all the prep work. HOWEVER..if its a hide that your thinking of turning into a mount or rug later then I would highly recommend sending to a taxidermist unless you extremely proficient at turning the lips, ears, eyes, paws, etc CORRECTLY. If you don't do this efficiently then your chance of being able to have the right amount of membrane around the all the said areas could be slim or full of un-needed holes. I recently had a customer bring me a bobcat that was fleshed and dried for the fur market, however he decided to have it mounted. Unfortunately he took so much of the membrane off around the mouth and eyes that I have nothing to tuck for a rug.
And your right....the prices can really vary from taxi to taxi for a dry tan job. Some charge by the foot, some a flat fee. The leathers can also be differing depending on which tannery or method they use. The best way to find the one that meets with your approval is recommendations, or better yet to see their work in person and see the hide and leather quality; I would highly recommend this as the quality of the leather greatly dictates the longevity of your hide.
Best of luck and hope this helped...Joel/BRT
Post by: HikerHunter on July 09, 2018, 03:04:26 PM