Tools to Spin and Trim Deer Hair

The Deer Hair Hopper showing four head variations.

Spinning deer hair is primarily a method used to build the heads and bodies of flies. There are two styles that can be used. The flared style, where the hair flares out in one place on the hook shank, and the spun style, where the hair spins around the hook shank. Both are equally effective but my preference is the flared method. The only tools you will need are a hair stacker (tamper) and scissors or razor blade. If you don't have a tamper the sleeve of a ball point pen will do the job nearly as well.  

Below are samples of the flared style and the tamping process.

Flared Style Fly Head

Tamping Hair Process