MDC Buckskin Leather "Deer to Rawhide" Workshop (Virtual)

Our ancestors utilized deer hides for making clothing, containers, musical instruments, shelter and more. Learn how to flesh, scrape, stretch, and dry your deer hide to make rawhide. At this 2 hr. virtual workshop, you will work at home with a deer hide you harvested and prepared. We will demonstrate how to scrape a hide and coach you along.

Plan to wear old clothes and a rubber apron, if you have one. A heavy trash bag can be used in place of an apron. A fleshing knife will be helpful, but an old butter knife, mussel shell, ice cream scoop, deer cannon (leg) bone or other tool with a dulled edge may be used.

You will also need to set up a work surface. PVC pipe works well. See Nov. 2025 issue of the Missouri Conservationist for equipment and how-to.

As you work through your hide, you can email pictures to the instructors for feedback in real time.

After harvest, skin your deer and remove any excess flesh (meat) from the hide. Place hide in a leakproof bag and freeze. Instructions for soaking and preparing your hide for the class will be emailed to you prior to the class. Hides must have a valid Conservation ID Number or Telecheck Confirmation Number accompanying them at all times up until it becomes a product.

Participants 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.