Just bought a beautiful Ash fleshing beam and I'm wondering if I should seal it with anything before I start using it ?

Thank you

I thought about this before, but found that all the fat that gets on it from coons does a decent job sealing it.

like mentioned before skin a few greasy coons on it first and then wipe it down. The wood will look like you oiled it properly. I have an old Maple one i built (horrible design and i cuss it daily) that i will sand bumps out of and rework from time to time and you would never know it has nothing on it but coon grease and beaver fat.

I'd rough it up some with sandpaper then with a soft rag wipe it down with turtle wax paste I do the same thing to my wood stretchers I won't say how long I've had them but they are still working great for me.
Allan