Rock chuck fur silencers

[Andrea S]

Regarding string silencers - I was able to search the forums and find out how big a strip of hide to use and how to apply it to the bowstring, but here's a more technical question: if I have a raw animal hide, say, from a rock chuck (yellow belief marmot) that my fiance harvested yesterday, do I have to tan the hide or let the strips dry first? I don't want them to dry solid to the string but I also don't want to send a marmot to the tannery. Any tips?

P.S. I also discovered that rock chuck makes a great stew. Sort of like a fatty, oversized rabbit.

[Stixnstones]

i've always used tanned fur, but hey give it a run

[PatM]

You can quickly tan them with alum and then rub a bit of neatsfoot oil in while working the hide as it dries.

[Andrea S]

Thanks for the tip, Pat. Would I soak the whole strip in alum and water, then work the strip back and forth over a board, rubbing oil in as I go?

[PatM]

You'll need to aggressively degrease the hide first by scraping and washing. Then you can just  rub powdered alum into the damp skin and let it form a kind of paste and let it sit for a couple of days. Rinse and then get it half dry, rub a light coat of neatsfoot into it and work it back and forth over a  rounded board end.
  A little neatsfoot goes a long way.

[tallpine]

Hi Andrea, I make all my silencers out of air dried hides. I cut them in strips and then break them down over a old dull butcher knife held blade up in a vice. Always cut your strips from the flesh side and leave them a little longer than the desired finished size. I have never used a Rock Chuck  but this method has always worked for me. Nice to see a lady interested in this obsession, your fiancé is a lucky guy.

[Traxx]

To a Nevada Native,a Chuck roast aint a cut of beef.LOL

[Buckeye Guy]

Turn the hide inside out so it can dry a few days and cut your strips and go
no need to tan
you can soften them up as tallpine  suggests
Your really  getting after this stuff , keep it up!

Make your own bow
catch trout to perty up the back
now making string silencers
your wearing this old man out just reading about it

[Andrea S]

And with any luck, I'll be getting a gobbler with it this Saturday on opening day! 

Thanks for all the input guys, I'll post some pics once they're done!