My son was out with me this weekend and caught his first beaver. It was 58.7 pounds. I wanted to get it tanned and hoop it for his room, but I put two small holes in it when skinning it (I’ve been out of the game for awhile). The holes are about dime size1- center of back about 6” from the tail and the other one is near the eye about dime size as well. Will this be noticeable when tanned and hooped? I hope I didn’t ruin his pelt.

If you sew them, no body will know. Be lucky if the tanner don't give you more holes.

Thank you

Yes,sew them up after you get it back from the tanner,and before you wet it for hooping and the holes will disappear.

I would suggest not to do a commercial tan as the leather won't hold the lacing as well and may tear out. Flesh and sew up any holes, even the legs if you like. Then stretch it on a board and brush your tanning solution onto it. Let it set for a week so til it's dry/cured, remove and hoop it. I don't even work mine as you'll never see the back of it once it's on the wall. I use the stuff in the orange bottle for tanning.

I did this same exact thing with a little dinker that i hooped, worked very well. I didnt care what the leather looked or felt like as long as its preserved.

I have a bottle of that stuff. Did you salt brine it like the bottle says or just flesh, stretch, and brush it on?

Fleshed, stretched and brushed it on. Check it every few days as you migh have to touch up on a few areas but that may be a personal preference. Might also add to wait till spring to get a nice green willow for hooping. Most any tree or shrub is more flexible that time of year. Saves a lot of time than trying to steam and bend ones cut in the winter.

Thanks, I’m going to try it

If it were me I would brine/salt it first, or however the bottle describes.
Part of the process with the salt is that that salt pulls water out of the skin, the skin becomes more or less thirsty and draws your tanning solution into the skin.

I believe fatty hides need to be degreased for tanning to work too. Ask Boco!