Hide Handling and Butchering of Bison

To get the optimum use out of bison the Natives had a specific method of butcher. The method involves skinning down the back in order to get at the tender meat just below the surface. This is now known as the "hatch" or "hatched area".

It was o because bison hides are so heavy (Averaging 100 lbs. for a "wet" hide and 70 lbs. for a "dry hide, that the butchering process involved men placing the bison on its belly and removing the hide in two sections, divided along the backbone.

After removal of the hatched area, the front legs were cut off as well as the shoulder blades. Doing so exposes the hump meat (in the Wood Bison), as well as the meat of the ribs and the bison's important inner organs. After everything was exposed, the spine was then severed and the pelvis and hind legs removed. Finally, the neck and head were removed as one. This allowed the tough meat to be dried and made into pemmican.

Then, the meat had to be cut into long thin sheets and dried in the sun. The dried meat was light, portable, and well preserved.

Originally, because they no way of splitting them; the thick very heavy bison BULL hides, suitable for machine belts and heavy equipment, were of little use to the natives; other than for what was fashioned into armour for battle or used to sole moccasins, sandals, or other foot wear.

For this reason, the North American Native targeted the much smaller cows and young caves--with softer, thinner and naturally much more manageable skins. They were not 'TROPHY HUNTERS" but unfortunately, they were also not concerned about conservation, reproduction, or sustainability.

Working or "dressing" an animal hide (especially bison) was a strenuous job. A woman spent several days preparing the bison hide for use, and the process changed little over the years. First the wet hide was stretched taught, and pegged to the ground. The woman then took all the flesh off the hide with a straight, toothed tool known as a flesher. Then they shaved it to a uniform thickness with an "L" shaped antler or wood scrapper Hides with the hair still on them were used as blankets or coats. If the hair was to be removed, the native woman had a very simple but effective way--they would weight the hide down in the bottom of a fast flowing stream and let time and the water do it's work. Or, the hide could be laced tight in a vertical frame and the hair "slipped" off with the scrapper. The woman then then applied a pare of cooked brains that softened the hide. Finally, as a final step , the hide was pulled, twisted, rubbed, and wrung out until it was absolutely dry At this point the robe was snow white and velvety soft; but, bison hide was still bulky, and very heavy; this is evidenced by the fact that although venison hide coats, leggings, jackets, pants, moccasins, etch are and were very common; such products made from bison hide were, and are, not. Some, Canadian police forces and parliamentary "guards, at one time wore "split" bison skin jackets and hats but even in this case it was more commonly bear skin that was used.©