The Missouri Department of Conservation is offering classes on making Rawhide from Deer Hides. The MDC encourages deer hunters to save their deer hides to be soaked and scraped to make rawhide or tanned and smoked to transform them into buckskin leather.
Free classes are offered in the Kansas City and Northwest regions in December making rawhide from deer hides. Registration is required for all classes. Participants 16 years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult.
MDC will provide tools and demonstration hides in various stages of conversion to rawhide. Participants will scrape the hides they bring during the three-hour class. MDC instructs hunters to place hides in leakproof bags and freeze them between the date of harvest and the start of class. Instructions for soaking and preparing hides for the class will be emailed to participants prior to the class. Hides must have a valid Conservation ID number or Telecheck confirmation number accompanying them.
Participants will also be given plans to build a simple fleshing beam and frame. Participants will need to purchase a fleshing knife and other simple materials to complete and stretch hides at home.
Get more information below and register through the links:
- Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Lost Valley Hatchery in Warsaw. Register at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/204633
- Dec. 9 from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Lost Valley Hatchery in Warsaw. Register at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/204636
- Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Lost Valley Hatchery in Warsaw. Register at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/204635
- Dec. 10 from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. at Lost Valley Hatchery in Warsaw. Register at http://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/204634
- Dec. 11 from 2 – 5 p.m. at Pony Express Conservation Area Trial Barn (on west side of area) near Osborn. Register at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/204640
- Dec. 12 from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. at Lake City Shooting Range in Buckner. Register at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/204638
- Dec. 12 from 5 – 8 p.m. at Lake City Shooting Range in Buckner. Register at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/204638
For more information on the classes, contact MDC Conservation Educator Ginger Miller at Ginger.Miller@mdc.mo.gov.
