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Comment by Chief Walks on December 28, 2017 at 11:37pm

Comment by Chief Walks on December 28, 2017 at 11:36pm

Brain Tanning
Step 1: Flesh the hide

Estimated time: One hour

Fleshing the hide involves scraping off all of the meat and fat. This is necessary to prevent the hide from rotting, and to allow a hide to be tanned properly. Bloody, dirty hides can be washed in water, with or without soap, before and/or after fleshing.

Step 2: Dry the hide

Estimated time: Hours to days, depending on the weather

Drying the hide involves stretching out a hide flat and allowing it to dry, so that it may be properly scraped. I poke holes around the hide’s perimeter and lace some rope through the holes to tie the hide into the wooden frame. Once the hide is tied up in the rack, leave it to dry out.

Step 3: Scrape and sand the hide

Estimated time: Roughly two hours

Scraping and then sanding are done to remove the hair and outer layers of the skin so that the brains will soak all the way through the skin. The tool of choice is a rounded steel blade on a handle, resembling an adz.

Step 4: Wash the hide

Estimated time: 20 to 30 minutes

Washing the hide is important for removing any remaining grease, which will interfere with the tanning process. This is an optional step that can be skipped if the hide doesn't seem too greasy.

Step 5: Wringing the hide (if the hide was washed)

Estimated time: 10 min

Wringing out the hide removes the water from the hide so that the brain solution may soak into the hide.

Step 6: Brain the hide

Estimated time: Two to eight hours

Braining the hide introduces fine, emulsified brain oils into the hide so that it can be soft tanned. For tanning one deer hide, mix one deer brain into a gallon of hot water and mash the brain until it looks like a soup. Soak the hide in the brain soup for 2 to 8 hours. The longer you soak it, the better.

In an area where CWD is prevalent in the deer herd, deer brains should not be used. However, a dozen egg yolks (no whites) added to a gallon of warm water makes a substitute solution for brain tanning.

Step 7: Stretch the hide

Estimated time: Three to nine hours, depending on the weather

Stretching the hide is necessary to soften it. The hide must be stretched until it is completely dry in order for it to remain soft. You can stretch it tied up in the rack, poking it with a stick, or you can pull it by hand. Don't let the hide get wet after stretching and before smoking (the next step). An un-smoked hide will dry with hard spots and patches if it gets wet before smoking.

Step 8: Smoke the hide

Estimated time: One hour

moking the hide coats the hide fibers with "tar" to keep the brain oils on these fibers. This allows the hide to get wet and then remain soft after drying without stretching it again.

The end result is a highly coveted brain-tanned buckskin. Small deer skins tanned this way go for $100 a pop at frontier reenactments and similar events.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried this method, or have any questions about it. Good luck tanning!

Comment by Chief Walks on December 28, 2017 at 11:35pm

Comment by Chief Walks on December 28, 2017 at 11:35pm

DIY Simple Humane Mousetrap
Easy to build humane mousetrap. The mouse is not harmed and can easily be released. This mouse trap is easy to bait and can be used over and over.

See the video below for complete instructions.

Material List:
1 – 2×4 – 18 1/2″
2 liter soda bottle
1 – wire hanger
3 screws and washers

Comment by Chief Walks on December 28, 2017 at 11:34pm

Comment by Chief Walks on December 28, 2017 at 11:34pm

Comment by Chief Walks on December 28, 2017 at 11:33pm

Comment by Chief Walks on December 28, 2017 at 11:33pm

Comment by Chief Walks on December 28, 2017 at 11:32pm

Comment by Chief Walks on December 28, 2017 at 11:32pm

Solar lights

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