Re: Buffalo hides
[Re: loosegoose]
#7464565
01/18/22 10:48 AM
01/18/22 10:48 AM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 504 Nebraska
Mocular
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 504
Nebraska
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I worked a yearling Buffalo hide a couple years ago and it was exactly as described. Multiple days of thinning and scraping followed by hours of working the tanning solution in and breaking the hide and mine is still cardboard like in spots.
2023-24 Beaver I, Mink I
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Re: Buffalo hides
[Re: loosegoose]
#7464625
01/18/22 11:40 AM
01/18/22 11:40 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,718 MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
Trapper7
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,718
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
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Five of us went on a buffalo hunt. We shot 5 buffalo. We wanted to have the hides tanned and consulted a local tannery. The guy there said if we could bring the hides in all fleshed, they would tan them. Only one of us had the equipment to flesh them. Me. I fleshed all five hides, which was not like fleshing a fur bearer or a bear hide. I would never do it again. I delivered the hides to the tannery guy. About 2 months later we got the hides back. The tannery guy said a deals a deal, but don't ever bring me a buffalo hide again.
The difference between animals and humans is that animals would never let the dumbest ones lead the pack.
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Re: Buffalo hides
[Re: loosegoose]
#7464644
01/18/22 11:54 AM
01/18/22 11:54 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,109 Northern Michigan
J.Morse
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trapper
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,109
Northern Michigan
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I believe your tanning project would cause you to hate the guy that sold you the pelt! I hated working on buffalo/bison in my taxidermy shop. I jacked the price so high that, thankfully, I only got to do the occasional wooly beast. As stated, these hides would very likely be in horrible shape, plus so thick with manure and whatnot (do you have burdock in your area???) The last one I priced was a monstrous old bull, it had burdock so thick in its shaggy head and neck that it would have taken me many, many hours to deal with them.....or many, many $$ to pay the tannery to deal with them. It also had scores of pounds of manure caked in the hair. All that plus the usual gore you'd expect from a massive fresh-dead beast that was skinned by the farmer that was in a big hurry to get the carcass to the butcher. I honestly don't remember what I quoted the guy, but it must have impressed the heck out of him because he told several people that I wanted way too much money to get any work from him. I smiled and smiled.
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Re: Buffalo hides
[Re: grumpa]
#7464855
01/18/22 04:00 PM
01/18/22 04:00 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,967 new york
mike mason
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,967
new york
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Also, they butcher buffalo year round. Just because you want a cushy winter hide, doesn't mean you're not gonna get a short hair rubbed summer hide. You got that right. A few years ago, a local ranch had a few get free and they shot them not too far from me. A friend said I could have the hides, so I went to the farm. The guy skidded the buffalo out with a skid steer, and they were worn down to the hide. No thank you.
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Re: Buffalo hides
[Re: loosegoose]
#7464894
01/18/22 04:40 PM
01/18/22 04:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,570 Worley, Idaho
Machias
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,570
Worley, Idaho
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A few years ago a fella I knew was going on a buffalo hunt in MT. Offered to sell the hide for a $100. Me not really knowing anything and wanting a tanned hide called my taxidermist friend. He said heck I got 6 hides in the freezer, I'll give you one. He tanned it for $300. Turned out awesome!
When things are Grim, become the Grim Reaper! Fred Moyer
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