Deer Hair Preference

[Trout Guy]

Im just wondering what brands of deer hair you guys preferr for tying Compara Duns. Having trouble finding deer hair that i like for the wing..

 

[David G]

Trout Guy
I really like natures spirit deer hair some of the best i have found so far.

 

[tomfly]

Experiment with different hair. I have used Whitetail, Moose, Elk and Mule Deer, personally what I like the best is Caribou.

 

[JeffK]

I've tried many, many patches but the best ones come from Blue Ribbon Flies. They tie huge quantities of sparkle duns and x-caddis and know how to select deer hair IMHO. It's too bad they don't come to the NJ Fly Show anymore, but you can deal with them on-line.

 

[Pete]

Don't use the same body hair that you use for bass bugs, and muddler heads.

Comparadun wing hair should come from the leg, it's shorter, finer, and not hollow.
IMHO: The best way to make sure, is if you're a deer hunter, or friends with one, and can select it yourself.

 

[Trout Fever]

how bout shooting your self a deer buying the curing chemicals and finding a good section to use the chemicals are fairly cheap

 

[narcodog]

There are a few places that I get my hair. One is BRF's but I was in the shop in Sept and they cut the product in half and raised the price. I can see raising the price on what they sold but not both.
Chris Helms is a great guy to deal with. Call him and he'll fix you up.
Natures Spirit for off the rack.

 

[Trout Guy]

Good stuff guys, the Hareline brand compara dun hair i bought really sucks... Hopefully ill get some time and see if my local fly shop(s) carry any other brands.

TF, what do you use to preserve skins?? My gramps has a buck hanging up in his barn next door to me.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Pete is correct in that the best hair is from the legs. But also the best hair is harvested from summer deer. There is far less under fur. Hareline such a demand that they have to put out winter deer hair. So hareline can be a crap shoot.

For natural materials such as deer hair and bird skins you really can't beat blue ribbon. Don't forget to pick up some z-Lon

 

[narcodog]

If you go to global fly fisher, Chis Helms did a great piece on deer hair. To preserve a hide, scape all of the fat from the skin, then rub it with either salt or borax work it into the skin. Then stretch the hide after a few days reapply whatever you used in the first place. then just let it cure.

 

[Trout Nazi]

Actually, the best hair comes from a 2 week window in October, when the deer in the northern part of the country shed their summer coats, and the winter coat just starts coming in. Chris Helm is the deer hair authority, and a super nice guy. Every time I call him to place an order, I learn something new.

 

[Trout Guy]

Actually, the best hair comes from a 2 week window in October, when the deer in the northern part of the country shed their summer coats, and the winter coat just starts coming in. Chris Helm is the deer hair authority, and a super nice guy. Every time I call him to place an order, I learn something new.

Sounds like you know your furr

 

[Trouser Trout]

Is it true the best hair comes from the taint?

 

[lightenup]

Is it true the best hair comes from the taint?

Only from Bumbles, and they bounce!