Life in Southeast Alaska

Tanning Bear Hide - Entry #1

I began my hide tanning project last Friday.  First I thawed the hide, since it had been frozen since we skinned it.  I laid the hide over a sawhorse which will be my fleshing beam.  I worked for about 2 hours on getting some of the flesh, fat and membrane off of the skin.  That is not easy work!  I used a knife and was very careful, but nicked the skin twice.  That is why I'm practicing!  I got alot of the big stuff off, but that membrane that covers the whole skin, that stuff is really hard to get off.  Next I prepared my borax solution - 8 oz. borax dissolved in 8 gallons warm water.  I am using a 18 gallon rubbermaid tote for my container.  I immersed the hide in the solution, put on the lid and put it in a cool spot outside.  It will soak in this for 5 days, so tomorrow I will proceed with the next step.

Cool!

6:08 PM, Tuesday, June 19, 2007 .. Posted by JoyceFamily

Boy does this bring back memories. When we lived in the country, my husband used cow brains to tan hides. Seriously. There is some chemical in cow brains that softens and preserves the hide somehow. Anyway, he left to work in another state, and I was clearing out the farm buildings preparing to move. There were ice cream buckets with cow brains in the freezer, and hides in various stages of work in rubbermaid tubs, and a 3 legged saw horse thing...and just seeing your photos and reading your post tonight has taken me right back in my mind to those days. Thanks for sharing!

Oh Good!

6:13 PM, Tuesday, June 19, 2007 .. Posted by Darcy

I remember watching your moose butchering process and now we get to see you tan a bear hide! I love it. Now in the event we ever finally get a large animal we will have watched first hand how to "get er done". Step by step with pictures.......can't get better than that!
Darcy

Untitled Comment

6:14 PM, Tuesday, June 19, 2007 .. Posted by hcorbin

I just think it is awesome that you are trying this. What an accomplishment in this day in age..... most women would be way to squeemish to even try!!!!!
Heather

Untitled Comment

6:24 PM, Tuesday, June 19, 2007 .. Posted by meme21713

This is awesome...We tried doing that with deer hide but did not suceed....will have to try again...I will put you on my friends list to find you again.....The pictures in the post before this one were beautiful..I would NEVER had gone on that ride on those wires..lol....NEVER !!!!!!! Glad to meet you and till another day.....God bless you and yours....Debbie