Skinning Beavers
#61588
01/28/07 03:27 PM
01/28/07 03:27 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 287 Pickens, South Carolina
rodentrangler
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 287
Pickens, South Carolina
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How much time does it take you guys to skin a beaver? Do you have any tricks that you can share with me so I can speed up this CHORE.
I like beaver.
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: rodentrangler]
#61633
01/28/07 04:12 PM
01/28/07 04:12 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,263 Lakeland,Minnesota
Bogmaster
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,263
Lakeland,Minnesota
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The best way to speed up your skinning,do a bunch.You will develope a technique that works well for you. I use a loppers and remove the feet and tail before I start.Nothing special after that.One thing that helps a lot,several sharp knives--that is one major key to speeding up ,skinning. Tom
If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping. Tom Olson MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: rodentrangler]
#61731
01/28/07 05:16 PM
01/28/07 05:16 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Get yourself one of those razor knives with the hook blade. You'll never open a beaver, coon or many other critters with anything else. It works SLICK!
~ADC~
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: ]
#61742
01/28/07 05:20 PM
01/28/07 05:20 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 287 Pickens, South Carolina
rodentrangler
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 287
Pickens, South Carolina
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I had trouble getting the hide over the leg stumps? So your saying that the hide is pulled off the body instead of cutting it free?
I like beaver.
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: rodentrangler]
#61756
01/28/07 05:27 PM
01/28/07 05:27 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,263 Lakeland,Minnesota
Bogmaster
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,263
Lakeland,Minnesota
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I never skin a beaver the same day I catch it--unless temps are extremely hot.I lay them on their backs on newspaper,in a cool spot--garage floor,etc..By leaving them this way for a day or two,all the blood in the head coaggulates,thus ,no bloody mess when skinning. Another tip-When ripping from the top of the anus to the chin.Cut very shallow the first few inches--deep cut,will result in ripped castors. Tom
Last edited by Bogmaster; 01/28/07 05:46 PM.
If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping. Tom Olson MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: Bogmaster]
#61762
01/28/07 05:31 PM
01/28/07 05:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,066 Eastern NC
DanielE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,066
Eastern NC
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I lay them on their backs on newspaper,in a cool spot--garage floor,etc..By lwaving them this way for a day or two,all the blood in the head coaggulates,thus ,no bloody mess when skinning. I do the same....on their backs...on saw dust...on concrete....still get a little blood in the neck though.
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: kytrapper]
#61825
01/28/07 06:11 PM
01/28/07 06:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 939 Madawaska, Maine
Bryan Daigle
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 939
Madawaska, Maine
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Grubstake, go to the head of this page to The Gallery link and click on #12. That,ll be pauls dad charlie dobbins at work using his trough.
Life member of Maine and National Trappers Associations.
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: Bryan Daigle]
#61864
01/28/07 06:39 PM
01/28/07 06:39 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,365 East, Kentucky
KYBOY
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,365
East, Kentucky
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Ive never liked skinning trough's myself. I just lay mine on their back. Guess its just my system but a trough slows me down to much. Skinning one on its back I wont have to move it more than a couple of times. I start out with the beaver facing away from me then when I have it skinned all the way to the shoulders Ill spin it around to where the heads facing me. After that its time to flip em' over. Plenty of sharp knives and plenty of practice.
Deep in the heart of Appalachia....
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: Bryan Daigle]
#61878
01/28/07 06:48 PM
01/28/07 06:48 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Average time is about 15-20 minutes. I let them sit overnight on their backs and skin them the next day but occasionally skin them on the ice when I have a long walk out. I grab the feet and twist them at the ankle or wrist joint and then slice them off with the same knife I skin them with. I leave the tail for a handle. I use a fillet knife that is razor sharp and keep it that way by taking a few swipes on a diamond steel a couple of times through out the process.I then cut from chin to tail and around the base of the tail. Next I skin one side to the center of the back from tail to chin and then do the next side the same way. Having more than one knife would probably make it faster but I am pretty attached to the one I use. Makes short work out of cod and haddock as well as beaver and otter!
Last edited by downeaster; 01/28/07 06:50 PM.
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: Mystic Wildlife]
#63043
01/29/07 03:26 PM
01/29/07 03:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,111 Millville, Pennsylvania
Fairchild #17
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,111
Millville, Pennsylvania
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I cased skinned my first two beavers this year. Took about a half hour for a newbie. Used an axe to cut off all four feet, made a notch in both sides of the tail at the base so the beaver could be hung from the ceiling by a looped rope. Cut from sternum to base of tail and then around the tail to start. Kept pealing down from there until I was over the head. 75% of the skinning time was spent around the hips and shoulders. I got a personal lesson on how to do this by Nick Wyshinski.
Last edited by Number17; 01/29/07 03:41 PM.
Nowadays it just don't pay to be a good 'ol boy.
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: Fairchild #17]
#63065
01/29/07 03:44 PM
01/29/07 03:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,066 Eastern NC
DanielE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,066
Eastern NC
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....made a notch in both sides of the tail at the base so the beaver could be hung from the ceiling.... You mean to say the tail held the weight of the Beaver Plus the pulling while skinning??? Not that I doubt...but I couldn't get that to work. I've done them on a power skinner in a similair fashion...split from sternum to tail, around tail, cut off legs and tail, skin hind quarters, loop snare ext cable around hind quarters then pull the rest of the way. Not at all any faster that what I'm currently doing, and more moving parts. One thing that's plain as day when reading this thread...99% of it is just what works for you. I was taught differently than I do. I tried to mimmick...and it wouldn't work smoothly! So I just stuck with it, and now have my own system.
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: Dave Plueger]
#63839
01/29/07 11:55 PM
01/29/07 11:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 514 MN
wcollinge2000
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 514
MN
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I cut off the feet and cut around the tail . then tail up to chin. back to the bottom and open them up working my way up to the head. like to leave the head area intact as much as I can as the glands around the neck seem to bleed out the most. Guess what I think im building a trough soon as the knees are really hurting lately and I have never seen any one else do a beaver before. not even pictures until I got on this site. looks like it is a bit more relaxing than kneeling with the beaver on the floor . boy am I doing it the hard way.That might just give me more time to catch more .
Last edited by wcollinge2000; 01/30/07 12:00 AM.
trapping is fun chipping ice is not!
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Re: Skinning Beavers
[Re: ]
#64025
01/30/07 08:58 AM
01/30/07 08:58 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,066 Eastern NC
DanielE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,066
Eastern NC
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I don't know why you'd say something like that Daniel.....
I've caught Beaver by the tail in snares and they hang-up pretty good that way when they cinch the loop down tight. Tex...I said why in my post...I tried it on the power skinner and had a bob-tailed beaver no time. I was using a cable and ripped the tail plumb off. I just don't think pulling a hide off the front shoulders compares very well with tail snaring! Don't take my statement out of context though...if he can get it to work...GREAT.....more power to him!
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