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problems stripping fox tails
#6729462
01/15/20 01:08 AM
01/15/20 01:08 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,035 wyoming southeast
danvee
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,035
wyoming southeast
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So trapping the high country above the ranch for cats and coyotes, picking up some nice dogs and one good cat. I have never trapped that elevation before this time of the year but on snow machine its fun and no completion. What has surprised me are the amount of Red fox up there. I have caught 3 now and they are awesome heavy fur and dark red for this county. Ok problem is the first fox was frozen in a snare and got back thawed it and when I stripped the tail the last third just fell apart. Ok thought it was frost bit and that is why it happened. The next was snared by the hind legs and alive, stripped the tail same thing, last 1/3 of the tail just came apart. Today got another and I have seen a bunch of fox but this one blew my mind biggest darkest and heaviest fox I have ever seen 8,300 foot elevation. I thought this one is going to the taxidermist, 1st day catch very alive in a foot hold very little paw damage. Went to skin it same dang thing on the tail!! No indication of frost bite, tail was limber and I kept it in a canvas bag in the sled. Paws still limber when I began to skin. The only other thing I can think is the tails are so heavy, at least half again as a prairie fox the tail stripper is not working right. Any ideas or thoughts, I have put up at least 1000 fox in 50 years and it has got me stumped and upset.
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Re: problems stripping fox tails
[Re: danvee]
#6729469
01/15/20 01:20 AM
01/15/20 01:20 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,263 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,263
james bay frontierOnt.
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I've seen that on late season overprime fox.The fur is so heavy and the skin is so thin on the end of the tail like tissue paper that the tail just falls apart,seems to happen on the end 3rd of the tail.Never seen it in a December fox,usually mid to end of february or some years starts end of January. You will usually have half or 2/3rds of the tail left and they look good and wont be downgraded.
Last edited by Boco; 01/15/20 01:25 AM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: problems stripping fox tails
[Re: danvee]
#6729936
01/15/20 02:33 PM
01/15/20 02:33 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879 Central MN, sort of old
MnMan
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
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Good question since I just had it happen to me for the first time ever on a fox I took last week. I lost about 4 inches off the end of the tail and that was the white tip. The rest of the tail looks fine, though. I thought maybe the hole I was drawing it though was a little too big (or too small?) I draw it through the hole on a pair of pliers and open or close it accordingly. I have never had a problem before with this with any critter.
I'm just happy to be here! Today I'm as young as I'll ever be and and older than I've ever been before!
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Re: problems stripping fox tails
[Re: danvee]
#6729961
01/15/20 03:01 PM
01/15/20 03:01 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 630 rochester nh
don403
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 630
rochester nh
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that will not hurt the value of the fox they dont use the tail.
24coyotes,4 coon 3 grey fox,118muskrats,4 mink,6 fisher 23 beaver , 10 otter,4 bobcat
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Re: problems stripping fox tails
[Re: danvee]
#6730761
01/16/20 02:12 AM
01/16/20 02:12 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,153 Alaska and Washington State
waggler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,153
Alaska and Washington State
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That used to happen to me on occasion with Cascade red fox, usually late season, no fat on the animal. I think they actually start to "consume" their skin when they become nutritionally challenged.
"My life is better than your vacation"
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