I was given a few beaver hides and am going to tan them for a throw blanket. The problem I have is they have been cut more square than round. The leg holes are split and the hides lay flat. They are also cut just above the ears with the face not included. Should I still try to stretch them round or should I do something different?

If you are tanning them for a throw blanket, they will need to be blocked which will make them rectangle anyhow. You shouldn't have to stretch them before you tan them. Just salt them to set the hair, pickle, neutralize, tan, soften, and break as they dry.

That's what I figured, so instead of letting them go to waste I took them. I didn't think ahead about stretching and wonder if I should use board and nail versus hoop.

If you are tanning them, whether doing it yourself or having it professionally done, how they are put up makes no difference.

Flesh well, then salt thoroughly. OR. Flesh well, tack out to dry on a piece of plywood. No need to worry about them being round/oval. You are going to be cutting them up any way.

I think I have answered my own question after doing some research. I have never tanned something to be flexible. I have always tanned for a mount. I treated these hides like I would anything I would tan. I fleshed, salted, and pickled. I was thinking I still needed to stretch after I applied the tan, but am assuming I should just break the hide after tanning and not stretch.

yes to get soft you will have to break, not stretch. if they were going to be wall hangers just stretching and drying after the tan would be fine to give them some shape.