I picked up some wire stretchers & 2 sizes of boards. Those using boards---is it reasonable to think owning 2 different sized rat boards is wise? I wonder if wire stretchers are easier.

A buyer I sold round carcass rats to suggested I use wire.
I plan to use both methods & get in rythm with what works best for me.
Coon Creek's where I had bought the wood stretchers (the larger "standard" 1 is the size the manufacturer recommended I use most:
https://www.cooncreektrappers.com/product-p/muskrat.htm ). Their boards are high quality by the way.

I use 2 sizes of wood boards. My small rats go on Duke wire. Why Duke wire because they are junk and you can bend and re bend to make them fit. Sorry Bill. LOL

In my opinion all commercial made wood rat forms are to wide in the neck and shoulder area. This width will shorten up your rats. And the length of your rats makes a difference In your pay day. And the other thing Is there no way that you can square up the skirt on that rat with wire forms. Well you can add wood to them but then you might as well have wood to begin with.

You would be surprised In what a 1/2 Inch In width can do to your over all length.

I had all my boards made to my specifications.

The other night I sold my rats and a buddies rats to groney. The first thing Guy said to me was I can't believe you went to wire. My buddies rats were on wire.

I know Groenewold prefers wire. I'm not sure about other buyers.

But he won't dock you for It.
Well that's what he said. LOL

WIRE=if they go on a scanner you will loose more than your shirt on them being sold. Back when they paid good money, you could have bought wooden forming boards for what you lost in the sale. A member on here can testify to that.


Beav care to say what those rats went for lately?

Northof50 are you calling The Beav out? LOL!!!

I've sold rats twice this season and I was a few cents off of a $4.00 average on both sales (In the country) Not selling at auction this year.

I'm surprised you're not selling at auction this year, Beav.

I'm exploring my options this year for auction sales. Does anyone have a link to their pickup routes? I won't be near their facilities anytime soon. I think Beav said they have facilities in Cambridge & Stoughton. Maybe I'll look into mailing them some pelts if that's a reasonable option.

no not The Beav, just another Manitoba trapper that happened to him. That's why I left several spaces between the post.

Mr Peterson I know you cant teach old dogs new tricks at my age.

I have some rats on the wire stretchers right now. How long would you leave them on the wire? I think I've heard between 2 and 6 days, based in differing opinions. That's a very broad range. I'm looking for some advice. Thanks

Until the lips are dry.

Ok. So I suppose it depends on the temperature and humidity in my garage

Yes ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Once the rat is on the stretcher, does it matter if I put it near a window where it will get more sun exposure than, say, in the middle of my garage?

5 days later you really have to worry about not drying fast enough especially if they were damp going on the forms. Take your finger to thump and tap them like a drum...got=a=dry thud and the thumb cannot go into the lip area they are close to dry. Sunlight does not really effect them, we hang them when in the bush on willow trees.
Now if there is a lot of heat it blisters the leather, like putting it near a fire, then your finger tap is like a tang song. or a shake it is like crumpled paper song.

How dry do they need to be when they go on the stretcher?

The question baffles me???? The pelt goes on the stretcher immediately after fleshing. No letting it dry somewhat before boarding. If it's the fur referred to, it should be dry before skinning.

I'm talking about the fur.

Sorry missed your post AJE.
The rats should be as dry as you can get them before they go green belly, Beav like to use his wet-dry vacuum to get down the moisture.

If they go on wet haired the hide seem dry but the mould can form inside on the hair.

a quick test is to roll them in some newspapers and unroll, after a minute if the paper is damp they are still wet is a good test.