16 NEBRASKAland • DECEMBER 2018
By Jeff Sneller
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,
known as the local Elks Lodge in most small
towns, is again accepting donated deer hides from
now until the end of the January antlerless deer
season.
Donated hides will be shipped to a tannery to be
turned into soft leather and made into gloves for
veterans who use wheelchairs or used for craft kits
that are distributed to veterans at Veterans Affairs
Hospitals across the world as part of the Elks Help
a Vet program.
Before the hides can be shipped, they have to
have all excess fat, flesh and both heads and tails
removed. Then table or stock salt must be rubbed
into all fleshy surfaces. Volunteers at the drop-
off locations do most of this work, but hunters
are welcome to do it themselves before dropping
off the hides. Care must be taken in the skinning
process, however, as even small holes can result
in the hide being ruined during the tanning
process.
Contact your local Elks Lodge for more
information.
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Donate Your Hides
PHOTO
BY
JEFF
KURRUS
