I have put up a good many mink, but am pretty new to weasel. I was hoping someone could tell me how to board a weasel leaving his feet intact, should they be left out or tucked in. I could also use some advise on board length, width, thickness. And am curious to how long a big weasel is?

Why do you want to leave his feet on ??

I have a weasel that is 20" long....

I was considering selling some to moscow fur and they want the feet on, dang if I know why. But I have never streched and dried anything with its feet on.

Fur side in and use popcycle sticks in the front legs. When I first started trapping the feet on weasel and martin were left on and weasel was stretched fur side out.

That is odd. Have you skinned it yet? I have skinned several weasels and the feet rip off pretty easily IMO. Most weasels don't end up measuring 20 inches unless they are the long tailed weasels, the short tailed weasels are around 13 inches.

the tannerys dont like the feet left on any animals as the claws tend to damage other hides in the tumbling process but i doubt the weasle claws would do much harm.

I use 3 different boards. One size does not fit all !

Front legs could be just tucked inside. They dry fat enough I doubt spoilage will be a problem.

Would anyone be willing to take some pics while they are skinning one from start to finish. I am trying to catch some this year and it would be helpful, Thanks.

ttt

Here is a picture of a Weasel opened up just like you would a Mink. It is advised not to poke the yellow peas next to the vent. You should be able to see them in the picture.

You can see I opened the tail up slightly. I would free the tail up a little more and then use my thumb nail as a sort of tail stripper. Pinching the tail with my pointer finger and using my thumb nail as a sort of knife blade I can strip the tail bone free. Best way I can explain it is pull the bone out while pinching the tail skin slightly. It gets easier after the first hundred.
A weasel skin can be rolled off similar to rolling your sock of your foot. A rag or paper towel is a big help in holding the slippery buggers !
I clip the front feet off just before I pull the front legs free. If they are cut off to early you will often get blood on the pelt.
Ears lie on the side of the head. It is best to cut the cartilage at the widest point as you start to see the ear as you roll the pelt down.

The best knife I have found is a small exacto knife. I can buy a small kit with several blade holders and a assortment of exacto blades for less then $4 at our local Menards. Just like a skinning knife I touch the blades up on a good steel or pull them across a carbide sharpener. I skin a dozen or more Weasels on a single disposable blade. They will dull around the skull and teeth , keep your blade sharp !!

A tough paper towel serves very well to roll the little bit of flesh off as you pin the pelt to a board. You would be surprised how easily it is removed with just a couple strokes of the paper towel.

Here is several picture of a boarded Weasel. Notice the legs are left to the inside of the pelt. I use no belly boards on them and have developed a sort of wiggle as I pull them off the boards. For the first time Weasel handlers a shish- kabob stick would make a dandy belly board as would a chop stick. Even a soda straw would serve well as a belly board. The tail drys fast enough I do not split them completely.
Hope this helps !!

Hahaha, don't poke the little yellow peas!!!

Learned that the hard way last night. I thought I was going to lose my shop usage privelages.