SOLVED. well known author, China attacks Russia, hero is old army veteran who lives in the woods [s]

[Chav]

our hero tans his hides in a nearby stream that has gold dust running through it causing the skins to become golden. I hope this helps thanks a lot

[Tab]

How many years ago did you read this? What genre: scifi, political thriller, adventure, etc?

Remember any other characters/settings/events?

Anything about the cover?

[Chav]

Read it like 10 years ago, our hero notched his rifle for every Chinese that he shot.

[Robert]

Tom Clancy novel "Bear vs Dragon"

[Tab]

Here's the link to Robert's suggestion
The Bear and the Dragon

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Chav, was "The Bear and the Dragon" your book or are you still looking?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

No response but I confirmed through google preview the part about the gilded pelts and the notches on the rifle. Moving to Solved.