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Congrats @Bunnerbun6

Can't believe this thread is still going. Wow! Currently mainly affecting work a bit still

Fun news! Great ideas for videos so far, alot of which will most likely be pre-trapping/hunting season, so for now I'm going to focus on some projects with finished hides that can be done the rest of the year. I only took one raccoon last year and I plan to make a little bag with it, and I'm...

Welcome to BackYard Herds! There are alot of great goat people here that are bound to chime in, so perhaps tell us a bit about yourself and your goals here, then post over in the Goats section of forums! Thanks for joining this great community

@Larsen Poultry Ranch - great idea on video topic. Here's some info on freezing/thaw of hides: Do not salt the hides before freezing. Salt draws moisture. When storing to freeze, make sure flesh side touches flesh and never let the flesh touch hair. Alot of blood in your fur side causes hair...

@Larsen Poultry Ranch - Here's a big question on your hides - how did you put them in the freezer, as in, how did you fold them? Did you fold flesh to flesh, or is the meat side touching any of the fur sides? Did you salt them prior? I am going to dig up both my books as far as freezing and...

@Ceciliasflock - deboning a squirrel tail is VERY hard and delicate...tried it for one hide a year or two ago and it was very tedious. Cut the tail off at the base of the tail, lay it out flat and straight, then salt it. People use the tails to make fly fishing lures, and I had one lady tell me...

Larsen, when I get home I will give more detail on that for you! I’m mobile and I want to make sure I get my book out for thawing details as I often skin and tan fresh. When you froze them, it depends on how you folded them also, as to how salvageable they could be

LPR, great thought! I might take some of the base tips I tell people normally in forums and make something out of it including tips on that and what causes it

Just bumping this thread in case anyone needs it. I try to check in when I can for those who want to ask any questions or share their own experiences. Going to try and use a raccoon hide sometime soon and make either a bag or a cap out of it, not sure which, and do a little video on it. I need...

And that is the kind of thinking I think more people need. Repurposing all we can is the responsible thing to do. Notice what we can, so just work on getting your practice in and maybe you'll be able to work up to a cow hide! To touch on what @Baymule was saying, covering an old chair with...

@Ceciliasflock - Glad to be of help in any way! If you get into tanning small game or tanning something like rabbit, let us know. Can't wait to hear how it goes for you! @Baymule - You are totally right, it's pretty easy to buy one already finished. I've seen some cheaper at local flea markets...

(WARNING: Just to be safe, following discusses skinning and tanning.) @Ceciliasflock - edit: I wrote a book here, sorry! I forgot to add, most places have someone that comes and picks up hide/scraps but it's still worth the ask! Our local places have a hide/tallow factory that comes to pick up...

@Larsen Poultry Ranch - I managed to find my book and combed through every chapter a few times, but could not find any info on dying the furs. I even picked up my other buckskin book, but no avail. I found some info on those using it for fly fishing lures, but the issue is that I don't know that...

Some recommended items I've found great use for during tanning: Monte Burch's book “The Ultimate Guide to Skinning and Tanning” 4lb Alum Powder - for use in salt and alum tanning (use caution when handling) I gave the orange trapper's formula by Cumberland's a try this past year on my raccoon...

An update on my 2020-2021 tanning season, for personal notes really. I didn't end up tanning anything big or picking up anything in light of all the mess going on with the virus. Plus, I took a break just to really enjoy the woods and some other hobbies. I got one squirrel, but the hide was not...

@Larsen Poultry Ranch - Haven't forgotten you, I'm still trying to dig up my book! I put it up when season ended, but still looking. I'll tag again when I can find it. @CLSranch - Thank you for joining! HIGHLY recommend it! Tanning hides is an excellent way to repurpose the normal "waste" of...

@Larsen Poultry Ranch - Let me dig up my tanning book I use for reference. It hasn't led me astray yet, and he does mention dyes...

@Larsen Poultry Ranch - So sorry for my late reply in this thread - I have never tried dying the pelts, but have dyed a rabbit's foot with blackberries

There are a handful of people who render the fat of animals into tallow and make emergency candles of them. You could always try that!