elk hide

[mtswampfox]

so have started to ride a little more this year on the harley and of course wanted to update the wardrobe. Have always wanted an Elk hide vest. Some of the thinnest softest and been told toughest hide out there. Big thing have found its the most expensive hide too. Did find a good deal from a small vendor, but not my point. How many of you take the time and effort to save the hide and if you do is it profitable? Know in all years deer hunting never even thought of the hide , but deer hide is pretty nice stuff too.

 

[austinphps]

Haven't thought about it from a profit angle, and haven't gotten an elk hide to save (although I am hoping that changes this year), but I plan on saving it if I get an elk down. I live in an apartment so I need to find someone in the Golden/Denver, CO area to do all the work (any suggestions?). But I want to keep it for making a few articles of clothing. Gloves, moccasins, things of that nature for myself and as presents for people. Hopefully one day I have my own house/yard and I can treat the hide myself, but the way the market is here....not looking like that's going to happen anytime soon.

I think if you can, and after all the meat is taken care of, why not take the hide and give it a try.

 

[rayporter]

i have had 2 tanned with hair on. they made good throws on the couch. both began to fall apart after 15 years which is probably due to poor tanning process.

i might also add that you should plan on a lot of work to retrieve the hide as it weighs a bunch and is quite hard to pack. a large bag to put it in would help.

 

[5MilesBack]

I've always wanted a full-size tanned hide with the hair on it. But if it's a big enough bull I'm caping it already, and if it's not.......by the time I get done breaking an elk down and hauling it out, the last thing I want to do is go retrieve the hide.

Plus, I'd have to completely change up my skinning routine as I slice down the back bone and skin down.

 

[Trogon]

Haven't thought about it from a profit angle, and haven't gotten an elk hide to save (although I am hoping that changes this year), but I plan on saving it if I get an elk down. I live in an apartment so I need to find someone in the Golden/Denver, CO area to do all the work (any suggestions?). But I want to keep it for making a few articles of clothing. Gloves, moccasins, things of that nature for myself and as presents for people. Hopefully one day I have my own house/yard and I can treat the hide myself, but the way the market is here....not looking like that's going to happen anytime soon.

I think if you can, and after all the meat is taken care of, why not take the hide and give it a try.

I skinned a cow a few years ago. It was extra work, and it did take a while, and I didnt do a very good job of skinning the hide off square, AND I sliced the hide a few times in the thin spots BUT after all that it still looked pretty killer tanned. All those little mistakes don't really show up. Its a total bitch to hike that thing out - its heavy and awkward shaped. Best to roll it and put it in a garbage bag, then the garbage bag will slide easily into your pack.

I took the hide straight to A Lasting Memory in Denver, Brad fleshed it and sent it for tanning. He did a real good job. 'Spensive tho. 25 sq ft cost me like 400 bucks. Wait was something like 4 months to get it back.

Basically it was a PITA, expensive, and took a long time. But totally worth it because its pretty cool. I have it on the floor in front of my gunsafe.

 

[mtswampfox]

I skinned a cow a few years ago. It was extra work, and it did take a while, and I didnt do a very good job of skinning the hide off square, AND I sliced the hide a few times in the thin spots BUT after all that it still looked pretty killer tanned. All those little mistakes don't really show up. Its a total bitch to hike that thing out - its heavy and awkward shaped. Best to roll it and put it in a garbage bag, then the garbage bag will slide easily into your pack.

I took the hide straight to A Lasting Memory in Denver, Brad fleshed it and sent it for tanning. He did a real good job. 'Spensive tho. 25 sq ft cost me like 400 bucks. Wait was something like 4 months to get it back.

Basically it was a PITA, expensive, and took a long time. But totally worth it because its pretty cool. I have it on the floor in front of my gunsafe.

Makes the 400.00 for the finished vest a little easier to comprehend.

 

[cnelk]

It doesnt need to be mentioned again that getting an elk hide out of the woods is a PITA.

When my son shot his first elk 5 years ago, I cut a decent size patch of hide off - 2ft x 2ft - and brought it out and got it tanned for him

I sent it Moyles Mink & Tannery for just a small fee, it came back looking awesome

Moyle Mink & Tannery / Home

http://www.moytown.com/docs/MMT_pricelist_taxidermy.pdf

 

[cnelk]

Instead of lugging out a heavy ol hide, I took the scrotum of big ol bull I shot, skinned it out and also sent it to Moyles.

For $16 [see above price list for scrotums] I got a nifty 'pouch' to keep all of my elk ivory in....

 

[blackpowderhunter]

buddy shot a big ol fat cow during muzzleloader season 2015..we skinned her out and hiked the dang thing out, it was a pita, took way longer, but I'm excited to see what it looks like when he gets it back from getting it tanned.
the entire hide of an elk is heavier and bulkier than one would imagine.. luckily this one was only a 2 mile hike from the truck.

 

[LaGriz]

mtswampfox,

I have 2 hides from 4 elk. My 1st bull was a rifle kill on a WMA in New Mexico and got packed out along with the meat by horses. Had the hide tanned with the hair on and it is truly awesome. This is a trophy that gets much attention from both hunters and non-hunters. gives perspective on the size of these magnificent animals.

I shot a cow with my muzzleloader in Colorado on a OTC unit. The ranch I stayed at provided a packer and one mule that we lead on foot to the kill site the next morning. Was able to get all the meat and the hide out with that one mule in some nasty blow downs and ledges. This time I went for a hair-off tanning job. I was given a choice of color options. I went with "tobacco" and it came out very well. Have not made anything out of the leather as yet.

One other hide was dropped off with a taxi in Espanola, NM only to have him loose it in shipping. Took me a year to get my deposit back. The 4th elk was a 6X5 bull with non-typical chocolate antlers killed in a wilderness area. This was a fully guided hunt. My guide did a fine job capeing the beast and I had it mounted buy a taxi in Dillon, MT. He still presides in a place of honor over my living room today.

LaGriz

 

[austinphps]

I took the hide straight to A Lasting Memory in Denver, Brad fleshed it and sent it for tanning. He did a real good job. 'Spensive tho. 25 sq ft cost me like 400 bucks. Wait was something like 4 months to get it back.

Basically it was a PITA, expensive, and took a long time. But totally worth it because its pretty cool. I have it on the floor in front of my gunsafe.

I'll have to look in to them, but for that price it might be a no-go. I'll just have to wait till I have a house with a work shed to try to tan it the old fashioned way.

 

[alexanderg23]

When I kill one, I'm going to send it to USA FOXX I believe.

 

[jmez]

I'll second USA Foxx. They do excellent work and prices are reasonable.

 

[Trogon]

I'll have to look in to them, but for that price it might be a no-go. I'll just have to wait till I have a house with a work shed to try to tan it the old fashioned way.

That's a good idea. Glad I did but wouldn't do again.


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[UtahJimmy]

I've been lucky enough to get my last two cows out whole! Ice fishing sleds are perfect! I didn't tan them because the cost scared me away.

My wife is going to draw this tag this year (first elk tag), so maybe that will motivate me to do it for her. It'd be a pretty neat keepsake for us!

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[MtnHunter]

I've always wanted to do this as well. Maybe if I get one close to the truck this year! I think it would look pretty cool draped over a couch, hair on!

 

[Laelkhunter]

If you tan a hide with hair on, it is not real durable. The hair is like deer hair, and is hollow for insulation. Therefore, it won't hold up well if you
want to sit on it (chair or couch), and certainly not to be used as a rug on the floor where people will walk on it. If you can have it in an out of the way place, they are very attractive. Tanned hairless hide is very soft, and very durable.
I had the hide (the remainder that the taxi didn't need for shoulder mount) of my first Bull tanned with the hair on. Back in 1990, it cost me $200.
That sure seemed expensive at the time, but it was a beautiful piece of work.

 

[njdoxie]

I don't save hide or ivories, and lately not even the antlers, my buddy always reminds me to get the ivories and I always don't. I don't collect anything. I bring out the antlers per the law and then give them away.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

my buddy always reminds me to get the ivories and I always don't.

Something for the next guy. I will stop and pull left behind ivories as I hunt.

 

[mtswampfox]

elk hide vest arrived today, and it is beautiful. Would highly recommend Fox Creek Leathers for your riding needs leather-wise. Monday a.m. will be giving them a call and ordering same vest in buffalo hide. to me their pricing is in line and the workmanship is superb. Nice to have a totally American made product from the raw material to finished product. The customer service is top notch too from phone calls to e-mail.
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