How to prepare fresh bucktail for tying?

[newsmyrnaflyer 0]

Can anyone recommend a good resource for showing how to properly prepare a fresh buck tail, and even belly hair, to be used to tying flies?

[drgulian 0]

Bleaching And Dyeing by A. K. Best has a whole chapter or two on the subject.

 

Cheers.

[skidoosh 0]

Can anyone recommend a good resource for showing how to properly prepare a fresh buck tail, and even belly hair, to be used to tying flies?

 

From Field to Fly is a pretty good resource- google it. Also there is alot on taxidermy sites.

Bucktails are simple and straightforward

1) Split the bucktail from the top (dark colored fur) by running a blade (anything sharp will do but a scalpel is nice to have) and remove the tail bone.

2) Place the tail white fur side down on plywood (if its really bloody a quick wash in dawn may be needed)

3)Spread out the tail as far as possible and nail in place.

4) Generously sprinkle borax in place (Borax is easy to find at wally world or any decent super market)

5) After a day shake off the borax and replace (its drawing out all the liquid from the tail)

6) I usually leave mine about a week or two and they will shrink and be flat.

 

After that I usually die several with kool-aide or ritte die with great results.

 

Treat Belly hair similarly

-the difference is it needs to be "fleshed" or the membrane removed from the skin. I used a brass wire wheel and a drill to really speed up the process. You can soak it in an aluminum sulfate solution in a plastic 5 gallon bucket (look on line for some curative solutions). Avoid salt- it will re-absorb humidity and can cause some molding. I had southern deer pelts which were OK but not great for spinning but still had plenty of applications.

Enjoy and be careful - it opens up a world of dangerous possibilities but one I really enjoyed- especially water fowl.