These days, the abundance of hunting seasons across the country spreads the work more evenly around the year. But, as winter sets in, Mr. Lee says whitetail deer remain the family's bread and butter. Already, the workshop overflows with deer hides. In a small, unheated room at the back of the shop, two 4-foot high stacks of deer hides cure, a covering of salt preserving the skin for later use. Each set of antlers wears a number that corresponds to one of the stacked hides.
Many seasoned hunters bring the hides and antlers in already removed.
The deer that formerly wore the hides either hang from a tree limb, aging, or already have been butchered, ready for a holiday meal of roasted venison. Others, less skilled in the art of skinning, bring the whole head and shoulders, leaving the delicate work to the Lee family. Working by myself or with family works best for me. It's hard to go out and hire somebody for something that takes such an individual touch. Turning a hide into a trophy mount takes months.