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Buffalo hides #7464501
01/18/22 09:30 AM
01/18/22 09:30 AM
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,739
Beatrice, NE
L
loosegoose Offline OP
trapper
loosegoose  Offline OP
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L

Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,739
Beatrice, NE
My neighbor says he found a place that makes buffalo jerky, that'll sell raw buffalo hides for $50. This seems pretty cheap, bur how hard would it be to home tan them? I've home tanned stuff before, but only small stuff. Am I going to break my back and my mind trying to get one soft, or can it be done at home?

Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464503
01/18/22 09:33 AM
01/18/22 09:33 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,663
S.E. Ohio
M
M.Magis Offline
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M.Magis  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,663
S.E. Ohio
Unless you have nothing else to do but work a hide all day every day for days on end, don't even try it. It will never be soft. Even shaving it thin enough to tan properly will be a nightmare without a shaving machine. Frankly, $50 is more than they're worth.

Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464511
01/18/22 09:42 AM
01/18/22 09:42 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,366
east central WI
K
k snow Offline
trapper
k snow  Offline
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K

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,366
east central WI
Here's a neat blog write up on one tanner's experience brain tanning a robe. Definitely a lot of work.

https://www.nanawaya.com/post/braintanning-a-buffalo-robe

Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464525
01/18/22 09:59 AM
01/18/22 09:59 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,664
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,664
Minnesota
Very Good Read k snow


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464543
01/18/22 10:23 AM
01/18/22 10:23 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,656
idaho falls idaho
trapr Offline
trapper
trapr  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,656
idaho falls idaho
When they say raw, they mean it. they are "wet" and dirty.
These are penned animals for the most part and will have stanchion rubs on them and need a lot of cleaning up on both sides to be ready to process.
The leather will be up to an inch thick in places and needs to be shaved to ensure a complete tan and soft hide.
this is not a project to take on as a rookie. Not saying do not do it, but learn on something like a beaver and then go from there.

Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464554
01/18/22 10:37 AM
01/18/22 10:37 AM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 173
iowa ringgold
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bch Offline
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bch  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 173
iowa ringgold
Buffalo hides are worth what cow hides are, Nothing

Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464565
01/18/22 10:48 AM
01/18/22 10:48 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 503
Nebraska
Mocular Offline
trapper
Mocular  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 503
Nebraska
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
Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464580
01/18/22 11:06 AM
01/18/22 11:06 AM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,035
wyoming southeast
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danvee Offline
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danvee  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,035
wyoming southeast
To expensive they can be bought for cheaper I have seen them for half that and even under as the get beat up. As far as tanning them i tried one when I was a young man and it made a great piece of plywood.

Re: Buffalo hides [Re: danvee] #7464593
01/18/22 11:13 AM
01/18/22 11:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,664
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,664
Minnesota
Originally Posted by danvee
To expensive they can be bought for cheaper I have seen them for half that and even under as the get beat up. As far as tanning them i tried one when I was a young man and it made a great piece of plywood.

Plywood wink


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464615
01/18/22 11:28 AM
01/18/22 11:28 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,684
north Idaho
W
wissmiss Offline
trapper
wissmiss  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,684
north Idaho
There is something besides the goose that is loose if you take on a project like home tanning a Buffalo hide!! Your name should be loosescrew!! LOL


www.usedtraps.com

Please check out my updated inventory of Native American books.

Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464625
01/18/22 11:40 AM
01/18/22 11:40 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,594
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
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Trapper7 Offline
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Trapper7  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,594
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
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.


I don't care how nice the hand soap smells, you should never walk out of the restroom sniffing your fingers.
Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464644
01/18/22 11:54 AM
01/18/22 11:54 AM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,101
Northern Michigan
J
J.Morse Offline
trapper
J.Morse  Offline
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,101
Northern Michigan
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.


Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464645
01/18/22 11:55 AM
01/18/22 11:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,560
Va
B
bandy Offline
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Posts: 1,560
Va
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
I did 2 elk hides in the shop soft tan and a buffalo I scraped and salted to send to the tannery and another for a mount.


No matter where you go there you are.
Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464694
01/18/22 12:55 PM
01/18/22 12:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 252
idaho
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grumpa Offline
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Posts: 252
idaho
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.

Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464839
01/18/22 03:45 PM
01/18/22 03:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,192
AR
T
TurkeyWrangler Offline
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TurkeyWrangler  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,192
AR
Y'all guys have no sense of humor. Should have told him to jump on that deal. grin


Poor people have poor ways.
Re: Buffalo hides [Re: TurkeyWrangler] #7464842
01/18/22 03:48 PM
01/18/22 03:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
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Bruce T  Offline
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Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by TurkeyWrangler
Y'all guys have no sense of humor. Should have told him to jump on that deal. grin

laugh


Nevada bound
Re: Buffalo hides [Re: grumpa] #7464855
01/18/22 04:00 PM
01/18/22 04:00 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,893
new york
M
mike mason Offline
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,893
new york
Originally Posted by grumpa
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.

Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464888
01/18/22 04:34 PM
01/18/22 04:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,684
north Idaho
W
wissmiss Offline
trapper
wissmiss  Offline
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W

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,684
north Idaho
In my opinion, if you want a tanned Buffalo hide for what ever purpose, I think you should buy one already tanned and ready to use. Shop around on the internet and you will find all sorts of Buffalo hides for sale - various sizes, various quality, various prices. Should be able to find what you are looking for.

The advantage of buying already tanned - you know what the finished hide looks like!! No work, no gamble on the tanning, etc. more expensive but worth it in the long run.


www.usedtraps.com

Please check out my updated inventory of Native American books.

Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464894
01/18/22 04:40 PM
01/18/22 04:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,563
Worley, Idaho
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Machias Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,563
Worley, Idaho
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
Re: Buffalo hides [Re: loosegoose] #7464896
01/18/22 04:45 PM
01/18/22 04:45 PM
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,739
Beatrice, NE
L
loosegoose Offline OP
trapper
loosegoose  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4,739
Beatrice, NE
I kinda figured it would be too much work. I don't really want one, but my neighbor was all over it until I told him it would probably turn out to be a stinking hairy piece of plywood grin

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