groundhog hides

[Rifleman1776]

For some strange reason, we have been nearly infested with groundhogs on my property this years. They are wreaking havoc with my wife's gardens.
I shot three in one week. Now, I'm wondering if I should have saved the hides. I just tossed them in the woods for the critters to feast one.
Is groundhog hide especailly good for anything that leather or buckskin can't do?

 

[necchi]

Yep, feeding critters. :wink:

 

[R.C.BINGAMAN]

If you work them down to raw hide they make great banjo head covers and very correct for an early Appalachian mountain period instrument, also the hide is very tough as to wear.

 

[Pete G]

According to Jim Webb they were used quite often in the Southern Appalacians for shot pouches and such. Probably a matter of availability as much as anything else.

 

[leonard5054]

:hmm: boot laces :v

 

[Patocazador]

I imagine it would be as tough as a squirrel hide only many times larger. Shoot 'em in the head.

 

[wattlebuster]

Curt Lyles would make some fine looking bags with them :thumbsup:

 

[Rifleman1776]

Thanks guys. Varied experiences. That is unusual here. :shocked2: :rotf:
I think I'll save the next and experiement.

Shoot 'em in the head.

That is wise advice, fer certain. Last year I shot one that was running. With hollow points .22s (am I going to get mod zapped now? ) I put eight shots into the body before it stopped. Tough critters.

 

[bubba.50]

oil them to make them more translucent & use them for windows in yer huntin' lodge.

 

[Billnpatti]

A friend of mine used to make moccasins from them. He grew up in the mountains of Kentucky. They must have worked because he told me that they seldom had store bought shoes growing up. In the summer, they went barefoot and in the winter, they had groundhog moccasins. I don't know how they tanned the hides but he said that after their dad tanned them they would be very stiff, his mom would have to wet them and fit the hide to their feet. She would then sew them and they would walk in them until they were no longer stiff. If they got wet, they would get stiff if they let them dry so they would have to put them on and wear them to keep them from becoming stiff and having to break them in again. It may be worth a try.

 

[Stophel]

Yeah, the old story has always been that groundhog hides are VERY tough and were used for moccasins/soles. Give it a shot. Maybe try an alum tan???

 

[sidelock]

shoe strings. last a long time. tough.

 

[smo]

Yeah, the old story has always been that groundhog hides are VERY tough and were used for moccasins/soles. Give it a shot. Maybe try an alum tan???

Alum will makem' stiff for sure

 

[Rifleman1776]

A friend of mine used to make moccasins from them. He grew up in the mountains of Kentucky. They must have worked because he told me that they seldom had store bought shoes growing up. In the summer, they went barefoot and in the winter, they had groundhog moccasins. I don't know how they tanned the hides but he said that after their dad tanned them they would be very stiff, his mom would have to wet them and fit the hide to their feet. She would then sew them and they would walk in them until they were no longer stiff. If they got wet, they would get stiff if they let them dry so they would have to put them on and wear them to keep them from becoming stiff and having to break them in again. It may be worth a try.

An old timer friend of mine who grew up here told me (actually he wrote a book) the Arkansas Ozark folks were richer thant Texicans. They made their shoes from old tires, didn't need groundhogs. :rotf:

 

[MSW]

A friend of mine used to make moccasins from them. He grew up in the mountains of Kentucky. They must have worked because he told me that they seldom had store bought shoes growing up. In the summer, they went barefoot and in the winter, they had groundhog moccasins. I don't know how they tanned the hides but he said that after their dad tanned them they would be very stiff, his mom would have to wet them and fit the hide to their feet. She would then sew them and they would walk in them until they were no longer stiff. If they got wet, they would get stiff if they let them dry so they would have to put them on and wear them to keep them from becoming stiff and having to break them in again. It may be worth a try.

An old timer friend of mine who grew up here told me (actually he wrote a book) the Arkansas Ozark folks were richer thant Texicans. They made their shoes from old tires, didn't need groundhogs. :rotf:

don't knock sandals made from tires ... it worked fine for the Viet Mihn, and later the VC!

(wouldn't wear them in the mill, though)

 

[Wes/Tex]

don't knock sandals made from tires ... it worked fine for the Viet Mihn, and later the VC!
(wouldn't wear them in the mill, though)

Down here they're called 'huaraches' and the INS/Border Patrol guys been trailing tracks for decades. Sometimes the track's good enough to tell if they're Goodyear or Firestone! :haha:
http://huaracheblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/mexican-sons-sandals1.jpg

They now come in fancy tourist versions for summer wear. https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com...t1BnIoYTfrCMcAcEKr7scF1pFgNv4Lhadvmz7NdJTHIVQ

 

[Patocazador]

They wear the tire flip-flops in Africa too.

 

[Wes/Tex]

I've heard of the African sandals but didn't know their cool real name! :wink: :haha: