I am just starting to put up my muskrats. I got one skinned, fleshed, and on the stretcher. When i got to the eyes it was hard to get past them. Pretty sure i made big holes then it tore before getting to the edge of the mouth. Anybody have some tips on skinning the head? Would it be easy to skin around the mouth during the first cuts?

i have the same problems some times, but ill tell you what helps me, a sharp knife and taking my time, and i mean taking my time.

When you are skinning the head, you pull gently until you see the ears (little white area), cut through them, then pull gently again until it stops, this is where the eyes will be. Cut straight through, not at an angle, where the eyes are. Make sure you cut all the ligaments below the eye before you pull anymore. Generally, once you get the eyes cut through, you can make a cut on the jaw to free it up and work to the nose. Cut the nose cartilage and give little pull and cut straight down leaving the lower lip and a thumbnail sized patch of fur on the lower jaw and you are done. It takes a little practice to get it right every time, but it will come.

My knife probably wasnt sharp enough and i should have took more time. I sharpened up a couple knives tho. They are VERY sharp! thanks for the advice, trapperkeck! will i get docked for that first one?

Try doing it this way

You won't get docked if your cuts are between the ears and the nose, unless you don't get it stretched properly. You should be fine; but I know what you mean, it just looks bad.

That video is rediculously awesome! Not sure if I could pull that off though. Guy was out of breath at the end lol

That video is pretty sweet! The video kinda shows a sharp knife should help with the ears and eyes! On the muskrat i skinned i accidently made about a 2 inch cut about 1 inch up from the tail. hope i dont get docked to bad for that mistake!

Uuuh, that's not gonna be good!

oh well. first one isnt gonna be the best but i am gonna try hard not to mess up again! How do you tell if it is prime from the leather? i know white means prime and blue is unprime but do all muskrats have that blue stripe?

the stripe and splothches has nothing to do with fur primeness. a juvenile rat will have two stripes that show through the hide like a skunk does. the splotches showing through the skin mean its an adult/mature rat. i believe this happens at about 6 months old, this may be why you are seeing them more mature as the summers last litter matures into the winter and spring.

just go slow when you first try it that way you will get faster the more you do it it takes me about a minute I only tear about 2 bellies in 10 these days. It is almost like peeling a glove off your hand good luck

good video Aprophet, almost need slo mo!

I tried the video method today, it worked much better than just peeling them up all the way. The belly did not let go though on mine, he was a tough old bugger. Oh well no big deal, he stretched to 16.5 inches. XXL I was happy.

Awesome video, can't wait to try that tomorrow. Thanks