Hey guys,

I have a question about tail bone pullers/pliers, what have you.

I am not an experienced fur handler, in fact, I have only dealt with green so far (except a few squirrels for "practice").

Is there a trick to removing tail bones? Are most animal tails as delicate as a squirrels?

I ask this as a matter of technique. If the tail of a furred animal is cut from vent to tip any way for stretching, why not remove the tail bone after the entire cut is made, as opposed to pulling it through a 1/4 to 1/2 length cut before opening the tail the entire length?

I remember on the squirrel I used a razor knife and cut about 1/2 of the tail length. When I tried to pull the tail bone through, I was left with a hand full of fur and a severed tail.

Sorry for all of the questions this morning. I have been away from trapping for a few years, and I am just getting back into it this winter.

Thanks,
Walter

I find it easier to split the tail out from the inside vs. cutting outside from the vent to the tip.

Buy a tailbone puller. Well worth the price!

I split mine until I get to the point where you can see it will pull easy.Do it a couple times and you will know where that point is.But yes definitely a tail stripper.It is easier to pull them and split them after the bone is out.

I used a coupla green sticks for a season or two then bought a plastic one and tore that up, so I bought a coupla plastic ones and wore them out and finally bought a metal one that will probably outlast me

I use channel lock pliers.

It depends on the species you are pelting. Sure is a time saver with Coon, Mink, Fisher etc.

When dealing with smaller animals like Weasels and Squirrels I prefer just opening the tail up part way and using my thumb nail to separate the tail from the bone.

Like anything else experience and confidence will make tail stripping on smaller animals quite easy over time.

have used two sixteen penny nails for ever.. think i'll break down and buy a stripper this year if i remember... one of those things i always forget... guess i need to write a list......before the kansas rondy

Thanks for all of the advice guys. Yeah, 2poor, there are just no substitutes for experience, which hopefully in time, builds confidence.

Walter

I promise they are worth every penny. If your too cheap to buy one you can always buy a regular set of pliers then ream them out a bit with a drill bit to make the empty space behind the grasping part a little bit bigger. I used one like this one winter in a fur shop and liked it just fine.

The metal pullers are great and will last forever. I seen guys with way more experience than me use regular pliers very effectively.

Skinning out the tail takes forever, the stripper is the way to go.

Old boar coon tails are always going to be tough though.

I've used a wiiden clothespin on mink when I couldn't find mine.

Get a steel one!

michael

I've used a wooden clothespin for several deacdes now. A metal one would be nice but the clothespins are handy. Definitely gives you a better finished product to split the tail from the inside out.

The thing i used to do before i got a metal tail puller was use two metal rods about a foot long each. Put it on both sides of the tail, squeeze both ends together and yank straight down. I never really had any problems with this method. I bought the metal puller because i kept losing my rods (using them on other projects)

Click on that video link. I use the plastic pullers and so does my trapping partner. We've skinned hundreds of coons and NEVER broke but one (he stepped on it lol).

~ADC~

ADC,

Man you have that down to a perfect science, gear and all!

That video was just the visualization I needed.

Walter

Thanks Walter. There is practice needed but its easy once you get the "hang" of it.

~ADC~

ADC nice setup ,but have you thought about putting your switch for your winch on a foot pedal so your hands are free to work.The machine for skinning is nice,and there is a need for some folk to use them,and when I get older I my sure use one. I have found over the years that I am a little quicker skinner without the machine,but I sure like the way they work.I just my put one in this year just to play with......Ringtailtrapper

I have the aluminum "lifetime" tail stripper and I wouldn't skin without it if I had a choice. It is a good investment for the fur shed IMO.

I use clothespins on the sides of my coon stretchers, and to hold beaver leg holes closed. I have several hundred of them so I always have one handy...

Incidentally, its all I've ever used as a tail puller. Works perfect.

Did he just call me old? LOL

I don't use the machine for speed but more for endurance. I can't skin 20 or 30+ coons a day by hand without my hands and back killing me. I'd hate to skin even one without the machine now. As for the foot control, I've thought about it but I really can't see it bieng much of a time saver for me, I don't cut while the winch is pulling anyway. It's all in what you get used to.

~ADC~

I use an old pair of pliers, when they are closed the opening is about the right size for coons.

ADC THANKS for the video, answered alot of questions, like that set up. How high is you ceiling???

Its about 12' to the peak where the winch is mounted...



~ADC~

I made my own out of small flat stock and two bolts.Weld it up drill your holes....Works great. Tried one of those cheap red plastic tail strippers it was cold and one side broke off on a coyote

ADC, thats a nice set-up. great video.
J-

K. Miller,

I did the nail thing since 1979. I had a plastic one given to me last year and I gave it a try. I won't use nails again. That little simple thing really makes a difference!

Doug

Just remember to pull on the bone and not on the tail. Two dial rods work ok, but for a couple of bucks a tail puller makes it a lot easier. I hold the puller in one hand and get my finger under the bone and pull it straight out while holding the puller stationary. Saves a lot of pulled off tails.

Pair of pliers. Skinned thousands of coons with the same pair of pliers. Doubt yhey will ever break. Foot control is nice on skinner. Have one on mine even though it ain't necessary.

A pair of nut crackers works great.

He was asking about the tails.

When I skin out yotes, cats, foxes and just about anything else I take a thin knife and split it from the inside out all the way down. Then grap the tip of the bone and pull from there towards the butt. Quick, easy and You don't get the hair pulling thru like you would if you pulled from the fat end. Never used a tail stripper.

That is quite an assorted list in the reveal. Clothespins, two pieces of dowel or pliers is all that I have ever used.

This topic surfaced quite some time ago, and one "tool" used by member Metal that hasn't been mentioned yet - a copper tubing flaring die tool.
Anybody ever try one of these? It has size options as the commercial hand held offerings.

Jonathan

Yes, I tried one of them Johnathan, went to the metal stripper a couple years ago. It is just easier. Still use the clothes pin on skunk most of the time just because I skin them in a different area. Tom

I do too! Best investment in the Shed!

Now if I could get it to work on Flattails

I used to use them as well.

~ADC~

For the difference between a stock and a tricked out coyote trap in price for a tool that you may use on say hundreds of pelts per season is it too much to have that tool in inventory if it can speed up your process and works smooth? I used the pliers, the cloths pins etc. in the past and now have a couple of the plastic ones and they are esier to use for me.

Bryce