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Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: Boco] #4892421
02/02/15 03:09 AM
02/02/15 03:09 AM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,692
Meridian, Idaho
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Originally Posted By: Boco
Over the years,I suppose several thousands,but I have been trapping quite along time.
There is lots of trappers that put up more than I do.
I learned all the methods from other trappers over the years by going to workshops and working on traplines with oldtimers when I was younger.I am just passing it on.Learning to skin and put up fur got me on traplines with seasoned trappers back in the day.

Well there it is. Experience being shared. I haven't put of thousands of anything and have caught and put up exactly two beaver. Thanks to you, trapper ron, beaverpeeler and others I was able to put those two up with compliments from the buyer who gave me a good bit more than average for my effort. Putting up any fur well isn't easy and so far I have to say beaver takes the most work but it isn't so bad when you pay attention to the guys who are willing to share what they know.

Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4892469
02/02/15 07:30 AM
02/02/15 07:30 AM
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Posts: 1,618
S. Texas
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Great post


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Greg Novak
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361-793-6706
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4892542
02/02/15 09:44 AM
02/02/15 09:44 AM
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Northern MN
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Boco

That clean skinning is impressive. Don't know if I have a knife that could do that. Can you recommend one for those of us who are in awe of that photo??


2020-2021 Goals
57/75 Beaver
15/100 Muskrats
3/1 Fox
0/4 Otter
0/1 Bobcat
5/1 Coyote
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Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4892603
02/02/15 10:39 AM
02/02/15 10:39 AM
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Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
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I use two knives basically for clean skinning beaver,a Post large round nose beaver skinner,for the smaller beaver and belly on bigger beaver,and a victorinox 5inch skinner for the rest.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: Boco] #4892632
02/02/15 11:07 AM
02/02/15 11:07 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,422
Akron, Ohio
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Boco, as much trouble as I am having fleshing beaver I may try clean skinning next year. I'd rather spend and extra hour skinning than the three hours I am on fleshing. My question is around the tail and back, I'd think that would be very, very tough to clean skin?


"The more people I meet the more I love my dog!"
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4892665
02/02/15 11:43 AM
02/02/15 11:43 AM
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Posts: 577
Brooks, MN
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Brooks, MN
Does everyone remove the ears? I've only done six beavers, but never removed the ears.

Does a frost-dried beaver (or any species) get a damage grade? Frost dried is just another term for freezer burn, correct?

Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4892725
02/02/15 12:43 PM
02/02/15 12:43 PM
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james bay frontierOnt.
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Not many have the correct climatic conditions for frost drying.Frost drying also ties up your boards as it takes a couple weeks to frost dry a pelt properly,and the temps have to remain well below freezing to make a proper job,also the air has to be dry or those that look frost dried are really not dry and will be floppy when brought inside.
This is why frost drying is not recommended by the auction houses.
Do not confuse frost scraping with frost drying-they are two totally different things.
Frost scraped pelts are dried same as any other pelt,in cool temps of around 50f.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4892734
02/02/15 12:47 PM
02/02/15 12:47 PM
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james bay frontierOnt.
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Once you get the hang of it clean skinning is pretty easy.It will take you a while until you get the feel of it.The back and rump area is not difficult and skins clean.
Sharp knife with a nice sweep to the blade is key.
Beeverpeeler has a good video of cleanskinning on here somewhere.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: Brooks Trapper] #4892788
02/02/15 01:23 PM
02/02/15 01:23 PM
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Posts: 11,134
Armpit, ak
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Originally Posted By: Brooks Trapper
Does everyone remove the ears? I've only done six beavers, but never removed the ears.

Does a frost-dried beaver (or any species) get a damage grade? Frost dried is just another term for freezer burn, correct?


No


Who is John Galt?
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: Brooks Trapper] #4892832
02/02/15 01:47 PM
02/02/15 01:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,997
Kelowna BC Canada
trapper ron Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: Brooks Trapper
Does everyone remove the ears? I've only done six beavers, but never removed the ears.

Does a frost-dried beaver (or any species) get a damage grade? Frost dried is just another term for freezer burn, correct?


Go back to the first posting on this thread and you will see that the ears are removed. One nail to close the hole or just leave it open does not matter.


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Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4892848
02/02/15 01:55 PM
02/02/15 01:55 PM
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Posts: 1,997
Kelowna BC Canada
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You do not have to skin absolutely clean. A bit of fat or little bits of meat are very easily removed with the one hand fleshers. The very first picture of what appears to be "clean" skinned has a bit of fat and bits of meat on it yet. Less than five minutes with the one hand flesher and it is clean.

For me I have tried every way with beaver. Clean skin, rough skin, and case skin. Always go back to clean skinning with tidy up with a one hand flesher as it is being boarded.


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Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4892866
02/02/15 02:08 PM
02/02/15 02:08 PM
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Wisconsin
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But If you learn to rough skin and flesh on a beam you don't have to go back and spend 5 min cleaning up.

I have tried and tried to get clean skinning down but It's not going to happen. 6 Min to rough skin and 10 min to scrape clean with my Necker.
But It took me awhile to get to that point.

I think most guys struggle because of how they position the hide on the beam.


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Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4892876
02/02/15 02:12 PM
02/02/15 02:12 PM
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james bay frontierOnt.
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I agree with Ron,when clean skinning you can leave a few streaks of fat and meat on the hide,it doesn't have to be completely clean,unless you want to skin it that way.
It seems that the bigger the pile of beaver on the floor,the less clean your skinning will be.This is not a problem as a few swipes with a scraper after boarding cleans them up pretty good
If frost scraping you can clean skin real fast,and leave quite a bit more "stuff" on the pelt as it is easy and fast to clean off.

Last edited by Boco; 02/02/15 02:13 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: Boco] #4892884
02/02/15 02:19 PM
02/02/15 02:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,997
Kelowna BC Canada
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Beav nothing wrong with your method at all. There are many trappers who rough skin and beam flesh, and faster than most clean skin and board. A lot is dependent upon how you learned and how many beaver you have put up in that fashion are my thoughts.

I have a good friend who clean skinned and put up 100's of beaver. He was very good at it and his product was superb. He completely changed to rough skinning and beaming them.

It is best to try a couple of different ways then choose the one you are most comfortable with. Form there it is just a lot of practice and experience. Do not expect to put up your first beaver in under an hour or maybe even your tenth one. You will get better and shave minutes off your total time through practice.


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"It's what you learn after you know it all that really counts."
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: Brooks Trapper] #4892980
02/02/15 03:11 PM
02/02/15 03:11 PM
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Posts: 11,134
Armpit, ak
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Armpit, ak
Originally Posted By: Brooks Trapper
Does everyone remove the ears? I've only done six beavers, but never removed the ears.

Does a frost-dried beaver (or any species) get a damage grade? Frost dried is just another term for freezer burn, correct?


My guess is that you are concerned that you did something wrong. No, you will not get docked for excessive ears on your pelts.


Who is John Galt?
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4892984
02/02/15 03:15 PM
02/02/15 03:15 PM
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Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
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james bay frontierOnt.
No downgrade for ears as long as they are not rotting.
A couple more reasons to remove ears,they are usually the last spot to dry and if removed you can free up your boards a day sooner.
Pelts stack better with no ears sticking out.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4892991
02/02/15 03:19 PM
02/02/15 03:19 PM
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Armpit, ak
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Armpit, ak
One reason; dry quicker. Those huge beaver ears don't effect stacking around here. smile


Who is John Galt?
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4893000
02/02/15 03:28 PM
02/02/15 03:28 PM
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Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
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Ya beaver ears just dry up and pretty much disappear.

I have my boards stacked On 4 wheel carts built just for my beaver boards. The racks are slotted and I can just slide In a board. I keep a fan blowing air on them 24/7 and I like to turn my boards every day. Turning your boards so the nose Is up every other day will get them to dry a lot faster. The tail end of your beaver will be the last to dry because of the heavy gristle In that area.


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Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4893011
02/02/15 03:36 PM
02/02/15 03:36 PM
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Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
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You are supposed to remove the heavy gristle,lol.
Beaver ears stick up about an inch,stack 50 and press for bagging and the head end sticks up quite a bit more than the tails.
Ears removed for flat stacking and fast drying.

No "gristle on tail"

Last edited by Boco; 02/02/15 03:45 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Beaver Boarding Tutorial (hvy picture) [Re: trapper ron] #4893015
02/02/15 03:39 PM
02/02/15 03:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,134
Armpit, ak
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Armpit, ak
There was that one time I reached down to remove a Beaver from a Duke 330 and almost poked an eye out on a Beaver ear. smile


Who is John Galt?
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