After collecting hides for some time, the group members decided it was time to tan and smoke them.

We began by cooking and blending the deer brains.

Next, we strained the brains through a screen
to remove any small fragments of bone.

After mixing in some warm water, the brains were ready to use.

Soaking the hide in the brain mixture.

After soaking for about 30 minutes in the brains, the hide is
wrung out to remove the water and ready it for another soaking.

While the hide was soaking again, Kim hand stretched to
open the pores allowing the oils to saturate the hide.

After soaking and wringing out the hide 20 times,
it is ready to be stretched and dried.

After working with the smelly deer brains, the kids
were sent off for a swim in the not as smelly pond.

They survived the cold pond and were allowed back into the house.

Due to the very wet Sunday weather, we didn't get our hides properly brained and stretched dry. We rolled them up and put them in the freezer so we could continue working on them on the following weekend. We hoped for better weather next time.

Click here to see the report for the next weekend