Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 32 minutes ago
Traditional and primitive hide tanning is one of those ancient arts not much in practice today. The ancient methods of tanning animal skins into usable furs or leather have largely been replaced by modern chemical tanning. But although traditional tanning methods like bark tanning and brain tanning take more time and patience, with the right knowledge, they still produce some of the finest leather and pelts in the world. In this week's hide tanning video we learn how to "brain tan" a bison (buffalo) hide using egg yolks and oil. Brain tan is in quotes because, although the process is exactly the same, we're replacing the brains with egg yolks and a little neatsfoot oil. The results are the same. The tanning methods shown in this video are the same as if you wanted to brain tan a deer hide, or any animal skin or fur with the hair on. Hide tanning is a great homesteading, survival, and wilderness living skill and you can do it completely off grid. Being able to use every part of an animal makes us that much more self-reliant.
This winter bison hide came from my friends at the Wild Bison Ranch over in Montana. If you're looking for a good hide or you're in the market for some bison meat, check them out at wildbisonranch.com
Don't forget to subscribe to the channel. We're uploading a new video each week that features one of the following topics: archery, bow hunting, bow building, survival skills, bushcraft, self reliance, primitive skills, primitive bows, hunting, camping, fishing, and a lot more!
GEAR I USE:
Knives - montanaknifecompany.com
Backpacks - kifaru.net/CLAYHAYES
Archery Gear - 3riversarchery.com
Optics - vortexoptics.com
Clothing - firstlite.com/?lang=en_US&bid=firstlite&utm_source=social&utm_medium=firstlite_clayhayes&utm_campaign=2025&utm_term=flpro_team
Camera Gear - amzn.to/47HZFrz
Essential Backcountry Gear - amzn.to/3u6H0If
Surviving Alone by Clay Hayes - amzn.to/3Qqou3l
You can also connect with me on my other media outlets!
Website: twistedstave.com
Facebook: facebook.com/clayhayeshunter
Instagram: instagram.com/clayhayeshunter
Patreon: patreon.com/clayhayes
Traditional and primitive hide tanning is one of those ancient arts not much in practice today. The ancient methods of tanning animal skins into usable furs or leather have largely been replaced by modern chemical tanning. But although traditional tanning methods like bark tanning and brain tanning take more time and patience, with the right knowledge, they still produce some of the finest leather and pelts in the world. In this week's hide tanning video we learn how to "brain tan" a bison (buffalo) hide using egg yolks and oil. Brain tan is in quotes because, although the process is exactly the same, we're replacing the brains with egg yolks and a little neatsfoot oil. The results are the same. The tanning methods shown in this video are the same as if you wanted to brain tan a deer hide, or any animal skin or fur with the hair on. Hide tanning is a great homesteading, survival, and wilderness living skill and you can do it completely off grid. Being able to use every part of an animal makes us that much more self-reliant.
This winter bison hide came from my friends at the Wild Bison Ranch over in Montana. If you're looking for a good hide or you're in the market for some bison meat, check them out at wildbisonranch.com
Don't forget to subscribe to the channel. We're uploading a new video each week that features one of the following topics: archery, bow hunting, bow building, survival skills, bushcraft, self reliance, primitive skills, primitive bows, hunting, camping, fishing, and a lot more!
GEAR I USE:
Knives - montanaknifecompany.com
Backpacks - kifaru.net/CLAYHAYES
Archery Gear - 3riversarchery.com
Optics - vortexoptics.com
Clothing - firstlite.com/?lang=en_US&bid=firstlite&utm_source=social&utm_medium=firstlite_clayhayes&utm_campaign=2025&utm_term=flpro_team
Camera Gear - amzn.to/47HZFrz
Essential Backcountry Gear - amzn.to/3u6H0If
Surviving Alone by Clay Hayes - amzn.to/3Qqou3l
You can also connect with me on my other media outlets!
Website: twistedstave.com
Facebook: facebook.com/clayhayeshunter
Instagram: instagram.com/clayhayeshunter
Patreon: patreon.com/clayhayes
