Hello everyone. I am new to trapping, getting back in after a break since high school.

I have an old shed that I converted to my trapping shed, it is a small 8x10 shed with a low roof, maybe 7 feet tall. Is it possible to skin my catch on such a low ceiling or should I assume I will need to clear a space in the garage? Any time for skinning with a low ceiling?

Thanks! Looking forward to joining the forums.

If you have exposed rafters, hook as high as you can. Get kneepads. If its an option, I'd skin in the garage, put up in the shed.

Skin in our old milk house and skin on a bench horizontally.

As a kid I skinned in my parents basement. It was low and I had to make the cuts around the faces(mostly 'coon) while knelling on my knees. I would not want to do that at my age now but, as a kid, I didn't mind it much.

You asking about Coon, Canines & Bobcat?
Yes you can skun with low ceiling.
When you get legs & tail out and start to pull, just back up as you continue to pull. Just keep backing up as you go. You will be skun'n on an angle.
Keep knife within reach and finish head while keeping tension on hide and head will be where you can see to skun. All this while pulling on an angle.
No bending over, No getting on knee to peel head.

When I was a boy, I skun in low ceiling wood shed, learning to skun on an angle (backing up). Nowadays I have plenty of ceiling height, But I still skun Fox by backing up and peeling on an angle.

It’s not as comfortable but definitely doable.

Big animals can be skin horizontally.

My fur shed is not much bigger (12×16). I do all of my fur handling in it. As you can see in the picture, my gambrell is mounted at 9'1" and is on a winch. The bar that holds the chains (that hold the feet) is only 7'9" and that is as high as I can get it. With an animal hanging, it is almost exactly 7' where the chain contacts the legs.
Do I wish it was higher? Of course. I would love to be able to have a skinning machine, but.... you gotta make due with what you have.
If you dont mind me asking, where about in Michigan are you? You can PM me if you'd like.
Tony

I skinned for years in a basement with 6 1/2' ceilings. It can be done.

Shoot me a PM I make 3 different designs of skinning machines to work great with low ceilings unless you're set on skinning by hand.

I have the same concern! I just moved out of my skinning shed I’d used since 1990 to a new building. Ceiling is fairly low, but I’m hoping it will work without breaking my back. I may have to give ADC a call

Thanks for the pictures! I appreciate the feedback. I am going to look into a winch system like you have for my garage, in my shed I will consider a horizontal approach if it gets to low.

Horizontal skinning machine.

Look for the little flashing envelope on the top right of the page, I sent you a PM (private message).

I skin wolves(some pelts 8 feet long before stretching) from a low ceiling.I skin out the legs before hanging by a back foot,then once past the belly,I re- hang from a loop of cord around the belly.Once past the front legs,I sit in a folding chair to skin out the neck and head.

Skin like this

That's one heck of a machine! Would take some getting used to for me, but seems extremely efficient!

x2 - Wouldn't be cheap to build either.

A fella I made a horizontal skinner for sent me these pictures today. Says he's loving it...