Bag Design with Fur

[WindLaker]

A question for all,

My Mom was in South Dakota a while ago, and she bought me a piece of Grizzly Bear hide, hair on. It's about 10" x 12". I want to make a shooting bag with it.

I've been looking around without a lot of success for ideas.

Would it be better to use the "hair" for the flap or for the body of the bag. Pictures would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

WindLaker

 

[BrownBear]

Haven't done one myself, but can report seeing a pair of pistol pouches or holsters "dragoon" rigged to hang across a saddlehorn in the leather shop at Williamsburg with bear hair on the flap. Talking to the leatherworker, he said it was an old way to help shed rain. I don't remember a lot of detail about the rest of the pouches, but those hair flaps were so cool looking, it was hard to see past them. Taste applies I'm sure, but at least according to the guy that made them, there's historical precedent in that use. I'm not sure about bags, but the rain shedding makes sense here in rain country.

 

[paulvallandigham]

With that small a piece of hid, use it( or part of it) to make a flap on a bag. Its going to weigh a lot more than other leather used to make bags, so that is a factor you need to consider. A friend of mine got a Beaver hide, and used it with the fur on to make a flap for a bag. He was going to leave the tail attached, but it was way too long, and tripped him at the knees, and it also made the weight of the bag too much for what he wanted to carry. But, that bag always drew comments from other shooters and spectators.

 

[Birdman]

I've found most bear hide is not really all that durable, ya may want to consider backing it with something,(linen, thin deer, wool) no matter where ya decide to use it.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Thats a good idea, light weight hide, maybe garment weight pig skin.

 

[J.D.]

You might want to check federal and state regulations on possession and transfer of Grizzly bear parts.

Depending on the regulations, there could be a stiff fine for being caught in possession of hide and fur of a protected/endangered animal.

IMHO, better safe than sorry.

 

[blueridger]

sounds interesting.

 

[dbiggers]

Well here's what i did with a rabbit pelt, although i probally should have used one from a natural colored pelt instead of snow shoe, due to the fact that carring this bag during hunting season may very well get me shot... :shocked2: