Backwoods Fashion

Way to wear your harvested animal in style

Rita Alonso

More stories from Rita Alonso

A+purse+fashioned+from+deer+hide%2C+part+of+a+coyote+pelt%2C+Whitetail+antler+buttons%2C+brass+cones+and+Whitetail+fur+made+by+junior+Rita+Alonso.

A purse fashioned from deer hide, part of a coyote pelt, Whitetail antler buttons, brass cones and Whitetail fur made by junior Rita Alonso.

Hunting is a way of life, and also provides many uses to hunters other than just food. For example, one deer provides at least 90 lbs of meat, a hide that can be tanned, hooves the can be turned into a gun rack, antlers that can be made into rattles, and a skull that could be painted to hang for decoration. Many hunters only take the meat, and if a buck, they take the antlers. Or for fur trapping, the common use is the pelt of a coyote but it also provides claws, teeth, which can be used for jewelry, and a skull and bones that could be used for a project. The goal is not to waste the animal harvested.  

A new different trending sort of fashion are these unique Native American bags. Mostly worn by proud hunters that have a creative eye. They are made from real animal hides and have a lot of work put into them. The bags come in all different sizes and colors. Many different animal furs can be used on theses bags. This is one neat way not to waste a lot of the harvested animal. These little bags are great for gifts or just to make for own wear.

1. The first step is harvesting the animal.
2. Then, the tanning process is started. This includes scrapers, knives, fur stretchers and tanning chemicals. This is usually a week long process, and requires patience and hard work. Scraping the pelt is the first step, and the most important part. It requires scraping off all the fat and extra meat left on the hide after skinning.
3. Coming up with how big the bag is going to be is the next thing. This includes a tape measure, marker, knife and scissors. The size of the bag really depends on the length and size of the fur piece. For example using the face for a flap, the bag size is measured by the neck. So, mark and cut out the bag piece from the hide tanned.
4. Sewing it together requires sinew and a needle. Take time to sew the bag so it will be dependable and there will be no worry of it breaking.
5. Make sure there is a nice sturdy strap that will be dependable for holding the weight that is going to be in the bag. A good strap would be braided thick pieces of leather.
6. After sewing the bag up and attaching the fur as the flap, little items can be added as decoration. For example, brass cones with deer hair coming out the bottom or antler buttons on the bag. Other things to add would be claws or teeth along with some beads. This will give the bag a unique look. By adding theses neat items, it shows that more of the animal is being used, and shows that there is creativity and thought put into the bag.