HIDE OR BRAIN TANNING:

Brain tanning is both a exciting and rewarding experience. You will take a raw deer pelt and in a few days with your own efforts transform it into a beautiful luxurious buckskin that will make you beam with pride every time you look at it.

During the course you will learn how to scrape the unnecessary hair and tissue off, learn to properly saturate the fibres of the hide with oil, stretch the hide until it is soft and supple and finally smoke your buckskin into a beautiful piece of leather that can be later used to make a variety of clothing.

Other skills to be discussed are proper hide handling, several methods of skinning, alternative tanning agents and how to preserve brain materials and also primitive tools that can be used to tan hides. Deer hide and all necessary tools will be provided. Indoor facilities will be provided in case of inclement weather.

© Elements Outdoor School, 2011