As part of my cabin fever therapy, I'm gonna start making some lures. A hunter I know hooked me up with a deer tail so I could start dressing my trebles. It's in good shape I guess, it's not matted or doesn't smell bad or anything like that. It's got a little dried blood, that's about it.

1) Should I attempt to clean it, or just leave it be ? If so, how ?

2) When I'm ready, do I just cut the hair or pull it out ?

3) Is there a "shelf life" to something like this ? storage ?

Any links or advice would be appreciated. Thanks

I have been tying bucktails for years and you are on the right track.

Get ALL the flesh off the tail stub that you can then use table salt and rub in lots on any meaty areas. After that just allow to dry naturally (away from cats--been there done that).

I duck hunt, keep duck parts and have friends who give me turkey and pheasant parts. This is normally easy to find if you start asking around. These feathers/hackle make GREAT additions to the bucktails.

You will need a pair of Friscar brand kids scissors (they cut anything) to cut the needed material trom the tail. There are several different colors in a Bucktail and with a feather in the middle for contrast you can make some beautiful bucktail lures.

I have a Golden Retriever and use some of her different colored hair for nice lures.

The main key is to use a very small amount of hair, wrap it, add a bit more, repeat as needed. Use your imagination, Christmas Tree ice-cycles work great for a bit of flash.

Good tying.

8-)

LOL, I have a Golden too.  The lady of the house would kill me if she saw me cutting his hair to tie trebles with    ;D

One of our dogs is a chihuahua I can't stand. I wonder if he'd make a good swimbait ? :

One of our dogs is a chihuahua I can't stand. I wonder if he'd make a good swimbait ? :

Chihahua tails rigged wacky style works great----(just kidding)

8-)