Everything below is true for elk as well as deer with the exception that elk is more durable than deer because it is a thicker hide.
Deerskin is one of the most difficult leathers to work with, both in its tanning process, and in the making of leather goods. This, and limited availability, prevents it from being a leather that can be stamped out and sewn into products by the millions using inexperienced labor and many common mass production methods. When done properly however, it produces one of the strongest, softest, most durable, and comfortable leather gloves you can wear.A properly cut deerskin glove has stretch widthwise and very little stretch lengthwise. This means a snug fitting glove that will expand with your hand when you make a fist or grip something,but the fingers won't stretch or become floppy.
The physical structure of deerskin leather is different than other types of skins. Its elongated interwoven fibers give it an extremely high shear strength and abrasion resistance. The spaces between the fibers make the leather soft and comfortable over a wider range of temperatures than others. In other words: cooler in the warm weather and warmer in the cold weather.
The combination of a naturally superior leather, tanned, cut and sewn by experienced crafts people using age old processes, results in a product that truly "fits like a glove".
Unlike man-made materials that appear flawless, any skin has surface scratches and scars, etc., and contain subtle variations in color and texture resulting in natural markings which add to the uniqueness of each item. These variations in no way affect the durability or performance of the glove. Normal use will enhance the character of this leather.
Paul Trachy