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Otter tails! #6723321
01/10/20 10:59 AM
01/10/20 10:59 AM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 372
northern indiana
son-of-grizz Offline OP
trapper
son-of-grizz  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 372
northern indiana
Ok I have done 2 otters so far and I have what I would say have pretty much ruined the tails. First one turned out better than the second. So I am wondering how you guys are doing it and not get cuts in them?

Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6723365
01/10/20 11:46 AM
01/10/20 11:46 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
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T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Here's how I do It. You need to take off each edge separately. Then once the edges are done take out the middle. If you try and do the whole tail at once well you know how It turns out.
Once you get It figured out the tail Is the easiest part of the otter to flesh.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Otter tails! [Re: The Beav] #6723383
01/10/20 12:08 PM
01/10/20 12:08 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 372
northern indiana
son-of-grizz Offline OP
trapper
son-of-grizz  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 372
northern indiana
Do you do it down the middle of your fleshing beam? Also does the knife make a difference? I have a necker knife.

Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6723414
01/10/20 12:29 PM
01/10/20 12:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Lay the tail out on the beam. I also use a Necker .

Take the knife and just use 6" of the knife blade right next to the handle. By doing this you have better control and can exert more pressure. Know with the bevel up and the blade at a slight angle make the initial cut as you do this flatten the knife so Its just about flat and slice straight down while exerting pressure against the beam and away from the center of the tail. Then do the other edge. Once both edges are done you can go down the center and take off that area.

I know It's hard to explain but once you get the feel for It It's easy peasy.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Otter tails! [Re: The Beav] #6723497
01/10/20 01:58 PM
01/10/20 01:58 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 372
northern indiana
son-of-grizz Offline OP
trapper
son-of-grizz  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 372
northern indiana
Thanks beav

Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6723648
01/10/20 04:09 PM
01/10/20 04:09 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
Before fleshing the otter tail take a knife with a sharp blade tip or a scalpel and split and cross hatch the beads of fat. This will greatly help with the tail fleshing procedure. Be careful not to cut into the leather, just the fat.

Last edited by bctomcat; 01/10/20 04:13 PM.

The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6724000
01/10/20 09:41 PM
01/10/20 09:41 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
Split the beads on both sides like tomcat said so the tail lays flat on the beam,then throw a handful of sawdust on the tail and flesh it with a two handed fleshing knife or a beaver skinning knife.

Last edited by Boco; 01/10/20 09:43 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6725600
01/12/20 02:32 AM
01/12/20 02:32 AM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 371
North, MS
T
TrapperCarl78 Offline
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TrapperCarl78  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 371
North, MS
I have never used my fleshing knife on the tails. I always put down the two handled knife and grab my beaver skinning knife. Normally Victorinox Beef Skinner. I get the base of the tail started. I put one push pin at the very tip of the tail into the fleshing beam. ( i have one pin hole in my beam that gets used over and over) I flesh down one side of the tail at a time before fleshing the middle. When fleshing the sides I kind of flesh from the middle shaving out towards the side edges of the tail. Once you find what works for you and you do some more it will be easier.


TC
Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6729090
01/14/20 07:52 PM
01/14/20 07:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,820
Frazee, MN
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backroadsarcher Offline
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backroadsarcher  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2012
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Frazee, MN
I use my beaver knife to get a lot of the membrane off then lay the tail down the beam and use the dull side of the fleshing knife. I haven't done that many but that's how I have done the ones I have done. If there is a better way I to would like to learn it.!!

Re: Otter tails! [Re: backroadsarcher] #6729131
01/14/20 08:34 PM
01/14/20 08:34 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
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bctomcat  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
Originally Posted by backroadsarcher
I use my beaver knife to get a lot of the membrane off then lay the tail down the beam and use the dull side of the fleshing knife. I haven't done that many but that's how I have done the ones I have done. If there is a better way I to would like to learn it.!!
Go back and re-read mine and "Boco's" post.


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6729135
01/14/20 08:37 PM
01/14/20 08:37 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
Another way is to semi clean skin the tail with a round end sharp beaver knife like a post or zepf.Then it will lay flat on the beam and you can finish it easy.You are leaving most of the fat on the tailbone.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6729172
01/14/20 09:11 PM
01/14/20 09:11 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 585
pa.
J
jarentz Offline
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jarentz  Offline
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Posts: 585
pa.
I want to thank you guys for the free info!


jarentz
Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6729210
01/14/20 09:36 PM
01/14/20 09:36 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,820
Frazee, MN
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backroadsarcher Offline
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Frazee, MN
When finishing the tail or otter pelt. Should a person push the fat off with the dull side or are you still using the sharp side of the fleshing knife? I have heard the comment if a otter hide is worked to hard you can singe the hair?

Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6729398
01/15/20 12:10 AM
01/15/20 12:10 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Your going to have a very hard time removing the gristle with the dull edge. I wouldn't worry about singe.

I find the easiest part of the otter Is the tail.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6730079
01/15/20 04:39 PM
01/15/20 04:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 245
Alberta, Canada
T
The Spruce Offline
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The Spruce  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 245
Alberta, Canada
I will post a few pictures of how I flesh a tail this evening. I use sharp side of knife, cutting at an upward angle. Like others have said, I work one side then the other, middle/cleanup last.
Doesn't take long this way, and cleans up tail nice. If you have any dark area on tail after, you haven't fleshed enough (or otter is not prime if entire animal is grey, grey/black).

Spruce

Re: Otter tails! [Re: The Spruce] #6732663
01/17/20 05:23 PM
01/17/20 05:23 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
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bctomcat  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
Originally Posted by The Spruce
I will post a few pictures of how I flesh a tail this evening. Spruce
Where's the photo's??


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6735275
01/19/20 01:26 AM
01/19/20 01:26 AM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 371
North, MS
T
TrapperCarl78 Offline
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TrapperCarl78  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 371
North, MS
Yea Spruce need pics.....lol


TC
Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6737756
01/20/20 08:36 PM
01/20/20 08:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 245
Alberta, Canada
T
The Spruce Offline
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The Spruce  Offline
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T

Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 245
Alberta, Canada
Forgot smile doing another one either tonight or tomorrow..I'll take a few

Spruce

Re: Otter tails! [Re: son-of-grizz] #6802630
03/15/20 06:50 AM
03/15/20 06:50 AM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
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AJE Offline
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AJE  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
Still waiting for the pictures Spruce.

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