Blaine Wulf

Something definitely went wrong. Unfolded it today and woooof it smelled really ripe. `I'm thinking the membrane was still stuck on the hide even though it looked really clean. Going to avoid factory abused hides as much as possible until I learn to do it proper and can possibly save them.

I would not doubt that one bit.

There was definitely rot going on, focused primarily around the worse of the cow pie matting. I decided it would be best to trim these. I cut the entire outside edge off keeping most of the center section. It was far more manageable to move around and flesh this way as well. I had a bunch of strings for a lack of a better word, it was clearly not membrane or flesh, they looked leather leather and sinew strands. I cleared what I could but hoped these little strands wouldn't really impede the tanning process and I could just sand them off anyway.
Brains went on fine and I folded it together. Now to wait two days or so and see how it turns out.

Yea I attempted to scrape what I could off it was just very difficult in many spots, far more difficult that I thought it should be judging by all the resources that describe it. I am attempting to keep the hair on and just shampoo the grunge off after its been tanned. I am really trying to hurry so it doesn't start rotting and ruin everything. If I can save small scraps that would be fine as well, I want to save as much of it as possible though. Soaking it seems to of helped a bunch, the water was absolutely nasty and  the hide much cleaner afterwards. I think I should stand a very good chance of getting most of it scrapped tomarrow.

I have read through it. In fact the book recommended in there is one I have on the shelf. I am not at the tanning phase. I am still trying to flesh it as it was extremely difficult to do with freezer burned or dry spots.

Hello friends. Looking for advice.
Last year I bought a whole cow and asked the butcher to keep the hide and brains so I could (attempt) to tan it. Being as it was winter I put it into the freezer. The weather has been agreeable so I de-thawed it over the last two days and now I think I need help as the books I was using don't quit cover salvage or less than Idea conditions.

The butcher forgot I wanted the hide so he had to get me a replacement. A replacement that unfortunately looks like it came out of a factory farm as its covered in feces. After thawing I had a few dry spots (or freezer burnt spots anyway) so fleshing it was very difficult if not impossible in spots. I have placed the hide in a barrel of water to rehydrate and hopefully clean most of the filth off.

I'm looking for advice on what to do next. Assuming its hydrated I was going to attempt to reflesh it and brain tan, but if it doesn't quiet work out what would you do?

The battle of the nuts has begun. The squirrels have starting stealing nuts before fall sets in BEFORE they drop the the ground. Should i start cutting them off the tree so i get some of them or just let them feast for a little bit more?
I presume the squirrels know when they're ripe enough and have chosen to start eating them now rather than later. I rarely see them store them, just sit in the tree raining husk down.

I found some hulls from last year. A little weathered but I hope they will still suffice.

South east Idaho. None of the fruits are close to ripe but i can break into one if it will still show well.

I'm not entirely sure it is black walnut specifically. All the identification guides I found say they have a few different features. I primarily want to get saplings because I'm renting this place and cannot do much with the grounds but would still like to have some trees ready to go into the ground when I do get my own land. I figure I can sell decent sized potted saplings to help speed that along.

While yes I hoped the squirrels would plant them, that doesn't seem to be the case. The tree has been here at least 30 years but this is the only walnut I've seen exploring around. I think the gluttons just consume them all. I'll still try and seed a few around locally where they wont get pruned easily.

Hello everyone. I have access to a walnut tree. I am not entirely sure what species. It looks like Black or English walnut, but also looks like butternut (pictures attached). Every year it fruits and every year the local squirrels feast on them. Usually just sitting on the branches and going nuts leaving a huge shell pile.

I would like to get in on these this year and save some seeds to sprout as saplings. I would also like to take a clone cutting to practice that as well but have minimal expertise with this.  I also wouldn't mind tasting some, but I have no idea when they're ready. the squirrels seems to just take them whenever.

The book I have on seeds (Seed to Seed) doesn't have a tree section. I need to remedy this.