How to Tan a Moose Hide

Moose hides can be used to make items such as belts, moccasins, wallets and purses. Home-tanning a hide takes more than five weeks and requires basic household tools and products. Veteran tanners caution that tanning a moose hide is strenuous work, particularly when it comes to "breaking," or softening, the hide.

Things You'll Need

  • Meat knife
  • Shovel
  • 4 poles, 6 feet long
  • Rope
  • Oats
  • Baking powder
  • Evergreen kindling fuel
  • Poplar chips
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the meat off the hide. Scrape the fur off.

    • 2

      Place the hide in water for two hours. While the hide is soaking, cut holes in the corners to run a rope through.

    • 3

      Tie four 6-foot poles together in a square. String the hide to this rack and stretch it overnight. Stretch it in cool -- but not freezing -- conditions. Be sure the hide is out of reach of animals that might try to eat it, such as dogs.

    • 4

      Scrape both sides of the hide with a shovel to remove any dry meat remaining.

    • 5

      Place the hide in warm water.

    • 6

      Boil a mixture of water, grated soap, oats and baking powder until it turns into a yellow syrup. Smear the syrup all over the hide. Place the hide outside for a week to dry.

    • 7

      Bring the hide inside. Soak it in water for one week.

    • 8

      Wring the hide. Roll the hide up and wrap it around two sticks. Twist the sticks to drain the excess water from the hide.

    • 9

      Stretch the hide again on the pole rack. Start a small fire underneath using evergreens to create a lot of smoke. Take care not to burn the hide. Smoke the hide for two hours.

    • 10

      Scrape the hide with a shovel to soften it. The process can easily take three days of work. Do not dry the hide in the sun.

    • 11

      Cut the rope holes out of the hide and sew the hide into a tube shape. Sew an old rag around the hide to protect it. Hang the tube from a branch and place an enamel bucket containing poplar chips at the base of the tube. Light the chips and place the end of the tube over the bucket. Smoke the hide for a couple of hours, then turn it inside-out and repeat the process.

    • 12

      Cut and shape the hide as desired.