"...are you saying that the drying and shrinking of the hide causes the fur to lie flat..." No, not saying that. The hair will be whatever shape the skin dries/cures. If the skin is rolled up or wrinkled, the hair will be very difficult if not impossilbe to use. You want the skin to dry flat so the hair will lie flat. Before drying, reaign the hair in the way it grew. Your hide is too late for this. the hair is what it is.

Happy Trails!
Ronn