Deer Hide "Brain Tanning"

Natural "brain" tan Deer Hide, before (left) and after (right).

This photo demonstrates the before and after of "smoking" a hide, the final step needed to make the hide ready for use. Smoking not only tans the hide, it also protects the hide fiber against water allowing it to be washed over and over again. For a great source, check out http://braintan.com/. I highly recommend Matt Richards' "Deerskins to Buckskins", both volumes.