Went looking for some Seal skin for my rest and cant find it 3R didn't have it in the recent catalog. A friend said to try deer hide has anyone every used this?

no but it should work!

You won't find real adult seal skin available for sale....that would be illegal! I got mine as a gift from a native friend, who BTW eats them on a regular basis. I've seen a synthetic "seal skin" never used it though.

Caribou hide works well, some folks swear by bear, deer should too just leave the hair full length or it will soak up water like mad. Deer hair is hollow.

Yes, they do.

I think sometimes you can get it from Alaska Bowhunting Supply (used to be able to anyway).  They get it from the Inuits so it's not illegal.  They don't have it all the time though.

Seal skin that is.

Since when is seal skin illegal?  Heck we kill thousands of them a year in Canada.  I'm sure it's not a CITIES animal-or am I wrong?

the chef