Finished my first beaver hoop today. I made many mistakes along the way, but am happy with the results for a first. The beaver was snared under the ice a few years ago by my elderly neighbor and myself. I did a lot of the grunt work breaking trail to the beaver houses and chopping the hole through the March ice. He was showing me how he set snares under ice. He then showed me how to clean skin with a knife and bone scraper. He cooked the beaver with curry and rice. It was delicious! He gave me the castor and hide along with some of it cooked up. I then proceeded to tan the hide using the orange bottle formula (advice: don't use the orange bottle; don't tan beaver as the first thing you ever tan). I worked hard to break the hide but it never got as soft as I had hoped. So I decided to make a hooped beaver wall hanging rather than a hat or mitts.



After the hide sat around a couple years, I finally went and got some willows in late September and soak them in the creek. The majority of them broke when I was bending them to the form. I think I will try spring willows next time. I actually taped the willows together with electrical tape and then covered the tape with artificial sinew. Initially it looked good and tight, but today when I was looking at it the sinew was a little loose. Not sure why. I put it together anyway with the leather lacing I purchased a week ago and Voila!

Anyone who uses artificial sinew have an idea on how to tighten it without rewrapping?

Be proud. You did just fine and looks great.

Looks just fine! Get yourself a tube of Shoe Goo, available at most hardware stores, and smear that on the loose faux sinew. Rub it in good, then push the sinew around to the back side of the hoop, starting in the center top on the front side of the hoop. Push down on both sides, "squeezing" the sinew around to the back. Let dry. Wipe up any you get on the wood. Once dry, you'll be the only one who knows there's shoe goo on there.

Nice project - You done well friend!

Looks good Bfisch. Try "steaming" the wood before bending it. I'm not a woodworker by any means but that has worked for me.

Looks great!

I think if you bend the willow when green might help you some, also beside like stated to try streaming it. it came out good other wise.The lace up use is look like the one I use to do taxidermy of large animals. that is wax cover. Just think it might be.

Very Nicr first Hooped Beaver

Thanks everyone!

Muskrats- Thanks for the tip! I will give shoe goo a try.

jctunnelrat & coydog2- How do you steam yours?

Looks good. I have a small tanned hide I've been meaning to make one out of but just haven't gotten around to it yet. You have inspired me to get mine done.