12 NEBRASKAland • DECEMBER 2014
Elks Lodge Seek Hides
By Connor Graham
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, known as the local Elks Lodge
in most small towns, is again accepting donated deer hides from the beginning
of the November firearm deer season through 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 wheelchair-bound veterans or
used for craft kits that are distributed
to veterans at VA Medical Centers
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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