Experts Urge Hunters to Maximize Use of Deer Hides
Despite their value, thousands of deer hides are discarded annually by hunters unfamiliar with their potential uses, according to Lyn Schuette, president of W. B. Place Tannery in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Last year in Wisconsin alone, over 130,000 deer hides were legally harvested. Approximately half were sent for commercial tanning, around 25% were prepared at home, and the remaining quarter were discarded.
Maximizing Value from Deer Hides
Deer hides offer significant utility beyond being waste products. They can be transformed into leather for clothing and other durable goods, tanned with the hair intact for use as decorative wall rugs, or sold to fur buyers and taxidermists. Donation to veterans’ hospitals and centers for the handicapped is also an option.
Proper immediate care after harvesting is critical. Contrary to common but outdated practices, cutting the throat does not aid in bleeding the carcass because the animal’s heart ceases beating at death.
Taxidermy Demand Highlights Economic Opportunity
Hunters aiming to have their deer mounted should carefully remove the cape — the skin including the head and shoulders — without causing cuts or holes. Rough handling or dragging the carcass often damages hair, reducing the hide’s value.
Taxidermists actively seek quality capes. Jack Atcheson of Butte, Montana reports paying $15 or more for a clean, mature mule deer buck cape, while Jim Mackrell in Concordville, Pennsylvania quotes similar prices for whitetail buck capes.
Mackrell stresses many hunters improperly skin or truncate the cape, forcing taxidermists to find suitable replacements, which can add to mounting costs.
Market Dynamics and Hunter Advice
Deer hide prices fluctuate with the broader market trends of leather commodities, particularly cowhide. Mackrell notes that when cowhide prices drop, deer hide values tend to decline correspondingly.
Hunters selling multiple hides are advised to compare offers, as unscrupulous buyers may undervalue their hides. Local game wardens often provide reliable guidance on reputable buyers.
Historical Perspective
Russ Carpenter, a noted gun writer, recounted purchasing hides collected by a former forester and game manager at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. Over time, the forester accumulated dozens of skins by assisting cadets and officers with skinning, highlighting a longstanding tradition of utilizing deer hides.
Wildlife Context
From a biological standpoint, a deer’s hide serves as crucial protection against environmental elements and predators. The fur layer provides insulation during cold months, especially in species like the whitetail whose pelage thickens seasonally.
Utilizing the hide efficiently not only honors the animal but also reduces waste in sustainable hunting practices, contributing to wildlife management ethics endorsed by experts.
Additional reporting and sources from: Don’t Toss Out Your Deer Hides. Here’s What to Do With Them Instead
