Do you prefer bark on or bark off?

How do you attach the ends of your hoops?

Going out to cut some some pussywillows for Dingus Day coming soon and figured I'd cut some willow for hoops while I'm at it

You mean real hoops for stretching beaver or just decorations?
Real hoops are made of tamarack or similar wood that grows tall and straight and is around 1 inch thick all the way up.
Made in two pieces to form the perfect oval.



If its just for a decoration with a tanned pelt you can use any old stick like willow etc. and thickness is not an issue as there is no chance of a tanned pelt twisting a weak hoop.

Boco, for decoration
That hoop looks great, nice job

I have been using grapevine for several years now. The first ones that I did I just peeled the loose bark off and left the cambium layer on the vine. It looked ok. The next year I made some with the bark and cambium layer cleaned off. It looks different but still nice. Will have to see how it looks once I get the beaver lashed on.