How many of you keep and use deer hide?  Also, what do you do with it??

When  I keep them I make rawhide. Used for bow backings etc.

yes, they do

I have one outside now in a 5 gallon bucket of wood ash "bucking" as I write this. It will make a fine buckskin. Check out the book "Deerskins into Buckskins" by Matt Richards 2nd edition its an easy read compared to some the other things I have been reading....

QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Most:
I have one outside now in a 5 gallon bucket of wood ash "bucking" as I write this. It will make a fine buckskin. Check out the book "Deerskins into Buckskins" by Matt Richards 2nd edition its an easy read compared to some the other things I have been reading....

Thanks I will take a look at it.

Yep got one in the freezer right now waiting to be tanned. It along with a bobcat pelt are going to become my new moccasins  :D  My wife wants one as an area rug so unless my next deer is a wall hanger then it's hide will also get tanned to become a rug.

I have three tanned hides that are maybe 40 years old...I like it for arrow rest and side plate...not all that durable, very quiet...I just glued another piece on a longbow grip...no attempt to make it pretty, just practical...very easy to stretch to where you want it...I have another piece I use to burnish wax into bow strings...it also makes a nice background for pictures

DDave

I have made raw hide a few times from buddies hides. Tide soap and ashes, soak in water for few days. Hair come right off. I use the raw hide to make drums. For tanning, a friend does them for me. I use the lower legs to make bow hangers. The heart we use at sweat lodges for ceremonies.