Having dyed a few capes and a bit of deer hair, reasonably successfully, I find myself wanting to experiment. But buying patches of deer hair from flytying suppliers can Ben relatively expensive so had a look of EBay and found this Roe deer skin:
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All-in cost £41.60 delivered. Really please with it, very clean hice hair and minimal underfur.
Took a Stanley knife to the top third of the skin, some really nice variation.
Centre portion in nice and dark, probably good for sedgehogs and the like:
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Either side the lighter hair looks like it might be good for dyeing (more on this at end). Thinking muddles and colours sedghogs etc:
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There are a couple of patches of shorter hair from the top of the legs, looks like it might be good for smaller emergers and comparaduns.
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Not sure what use the fine belly hair could be put to, maybe winging wets or lures:
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I recently bought some synthetic picric and west of Ireland golden Olive dye from Irish Fly Supplies. Tried dying a couple of the lighter patches of hair earlier and pretty happy with the results:
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Massive savings with whole skin. There will be quite a difference in colour and density summer/wiinter. Those died pieces have come out very well. :D
that's a great idea Robbie, i need to get myself one of those..
That's alot of sedgehogs. Looks good though and I'm sure come the end of the season you'll say "f&#k.....where did all that row deer skin go"
Well done.