Thinking about trying a batch next summer. Is it the skins that make it black? Kinda want to keep the skins from the good ones and then chunk up the rest of the tail.

NO!

Beaver tail membrane, better known as leather after the work, it does Not leach out into the fat, as a dye would, No No No, lol!
The tails leather, does hold a fishy odor like a sponge from the beaver being in the water most of its life where fish live and shed there slim, that would make a difference in your end product.

It is similar to trout render, Similar, I said, Not exactly like! Check it out on a couple big beaver tails, you will see in time.
With beaver tails High heat temps are Very important, as in trout or others the higher the better, to about 125 degree F., that is about right, don't burn it.

You'll be fine using just the secret fat chopped up.
Use the black membrane (leather) to make yourself a Real Nice Wallet.
Hope that helps you out.

That does help me out. Thank You

I beg to differ ken ive skinned the leather off the tails you end up with a amber colored oil. With very little true bto smell resemblance! I believe the leather /skin is what gives bto its unique smell and stains the oil

Have Fun Tony!

Thanks ken lol but the reason a tail wallet wont leach out color is because its been chemically altered. I do agree that adult beavers have a far superior oil versus yoy beavers. Pan rendered bto would make a good boot oil but im not using it on my trapline! Always a pleasure ken I enjoy trying to decipher your reasoning. LOL me personally I like southern tails our pollution gives them a stronger smell

hELLO TONY, DECIPHER MY REASONING?? lol, iT IS CALLED TECHNIQUE!

So you are saying that the 'fishy' smell of beaver tail oil is from beaver swimming in water where fish and other animals live, and also from garbage in the water? But not from the degradation of tissues and fats from cooking in the sun for months and months on end? Wow, I've heard some whoppers, but that's a big one....

If I put a dead coon in a 5 gallon bucket for the whole summer, would it only smell bad if it ate from a McDonald's dumpster as compared to "clean living" in the forest?

See what I'm saying? I know TONY.F must understand.

YOU GOT IT! CAROLINA!

Some can't get over this thought of being a master chef.I think it is OCD or something. You mean to tell me that this castor or that castor makes any iota of difference in catching an animal? Senneker caught,what,900 and some using snares? Lol

KEN yes I have made and do make the tar pitch bto I use it in formulation. And I do agree somewhat to what your saying. UV rays from the sun can and will change sun rendered oils colors to a extent. I can get a broad spectrum of colors while rendering skunk oil. But imho the clear is best the longer it renders the more apt to congeal it gets. I render lots of oils they make a wonderful base for lots of applications. sun rendered fish oil is still my nemesis. I can not for the life of me perfect it! but im going down with the ship till I do! Ken keep the knowledge flowing! You do make guys think regaurdless of there comments. GOOD DAY OLE CHAP!

My BTO uses the entire tail, skin and all. That's what BTO is. Anything without the skin ought to be labeled so that the unwitting recipient can know the difference.

IE: Skinless BTO, or...Plain Jane Missing an Ingredient BTO .

I agree les without the skin its just sun rendered beaver fat

And mine is sun rendered.

Viola Tony! You go for it bud, practice makes perfect.
Do Not let them fishy fish waste your time, you'll get it, one way or another!
Have Fun Tony, that's what all this is, Is Fun Stuff.

What happens if there is no Sun for a year?? lester, stays cloudy every day?? Here Comes The Sun

No such year in my world. My containers are wrapped in black garbage bags, and setting in a greenhouse.

Mine will go in the hot box! sun is nice but not needed! Ken making it is almost as fun as catching with it! Making your own and catching stuff with it gives you a more accomplished feeling! But my hats still off to the commercial guys that don't sound like fun to me!

Been reading this with great interest as I’ve made both, with the leather and without. Without the leather I got a very light colored oil and it didn’t seem to make as much oil as the batch with the leather on. To be honest I didn’t check to se if it smelled any different.

I do have another question that’s not too far off topic if you all don’t mind. What do you end up doing with the chunks of tail when it quits making oil ? I plan to make bait and I know the chunks will work fine by themselves, but this is the way I use the oil. Was planning to grind the chunks and add ....... what say you ?

I've only done one batch but didn't end up with chunks so much as bones and sludge. I mixed it with some tainted beaver meat and put in a little knox gelatin to thicken up the liquid part. I'll probably add a drop or two of skunk quill just before the season. Plan on using it when the weather starts turning cold.

Take that for what it's worth from a rather new trapper and first year lure/bait maker lol!