New member introduction

[ssimov]

Hi All, I am a third generation leather tanner, based in Glasgow, and would like to seek advice on sourcing deer skins for an initial leather making investigation. I have limited experience/knowledge in deer stalking, but am keen to get involved and learn all about it!

 

[VSS]

Welcome!
Deer hides can be tricky to work with, largely because it is customary for us to hang carcasses "in skin" for a period of maturation before butchering. This often results in a lot of hair slip during the tanning process, if you're trying to do skin on hides.
Also, because deer hair is hollow and brittle, it can break when the hide is being worked.
However, for tanned leather without hair they're absolutely fine, apart from blood staining around bullet entry/exit points.

I have found that hides from carcasses hung for up to a week in proper chilled conditions are fine, but beyond that it can get a bit borderline.

 

[bullet chucker]

Welcome to the site.

BC.

 

[Mike1979]

Welcome from Mid Wales

 

[ssimov]

Welcome!
Deer hides can be tricky to work with, largely because it is customary for us to hang carcasses "in skin" for a period of maturation before butchering. This often results in a lot of hair slip during the tanning process, if you're trying to do skin on hides.
Also, because deer hair is hollow and brittle, it can break when the hide is being worked.
However, for tanned leather without hair they're absolutely fine, apart from blood staining around bullet entry/exit points.

I have found that hides from carcasses hung for up to a week in proper chilled conditions are fine, but beyond that it can get a bit borderline.

Advice is much appreciated! Any recommendation or introduction to someone who can advise on where I can source skins would be really helpful.

 

[Tim.243]

Hi All, I am a third generation leather tanner, based in Glasgow, and would like to seek advice on sourcing deer skins for an initial leather making investigation. I have limited experience/knowledge in deer stalking, but am keen to get involved and learn all about it!

Call Highland Game as I know my local Game Dealer (Essex) sells his pulled hides, he explained to me they do 3 fallow at a time but only one red with the staff teasing the fur with a knife on the parts that want to tear.