I've got 2 beaver hides drying on plywood and they are turning black and are hard. They have been pinned for a week, i notice the hides on the videos i watched are a light brown am i missing a step?

If someone could give some pointers that be much appreciated thanks

When were the beaver trapped?

Pelts taken during the “off season” will have dark (almost black) Leather.

Middle of august

This is what they look like

In my opinion, that is what the Leather will look like on an August caught beaver. Leather will be lighter on a winter caught pelt.

You might want to invest in a set of beaver patterns. They will help you get a more uniform stretch on your pelts

Okay sweet thanks for the help. I will definitely be getting a beaver pattern before winter 👍🏼

There's a bit of a learning curve handling beaver.More than some other pelts.
Good to practice on no value pelts(summer)like that one.
Winter pelts will be creamy white on the leather,and fall pelts will be light gray.
Like wissmiss said,summer pelts are very dark on the leather.
A standard oval pattern is a good start.
If you have any experienced beaver men in your area it would be good to learn from them so you dont get fur handling mistakes ingrained,which happens when you try to learn on your own.

Boco, what book is that?

Wild furbearer management an conservation in North America.
Thats the section on fur grading.

The other thing that needs to be addressed are those light spots. Those areas haven't been fleshed correctly. You have left to much fat or gristle behind. The tail end of the beaver has a very thick layer of gristle and needs to shaved down.

Good practice run on that beaver.
May want to pay attention when you make your first opening cuts from chin to butt. Try to have it in the center equal distance from both legs.
As The Beav says that rear area is a hard to remove the grissle from and will turn white because of the fat in it.
Watch some of Jackie's Worths youtube clips that has come out. Too bad he is Bossman on the colony now, that's your best Alberta person to look up to.
look at some of Northern Trappers youtubee clips

A simple way to get a straight line opening cut on beaver is to use a horse comb that basically has small nails for teeth then pick the line made by the teeth on the comb starting at one end or the other .

Then I'd cut around or ring each foot then the tail removing the feet the joint is easy to find with practice I didn't cut the tail off because that was the handle for dealing with the carcass after its skinned.

NAFA had a great beaver pattern that covered a 1/2 of it a dull pencil worked great to trace out the pattern in a few dash marks until you got the lines marked on the plywood, flip the plywood and repeat the process on the other side then drill a 1/2" hole so you can hang them just for good air circulation.

Allan

Another simple and effective way to get a straight line opening cut on beaver is to use a tail splitting guide and slip it under the lower lip and under the hide down to the vent then make your cut with a sharp knife down the grove of the tail splitter; the bottom tool in picture.

The next thing I'll be hearing Is to use a chalk line. LOL Eye ball It It's not all that hard.
But to make things easier Is to get yourself a box cutter and put a hooked carpet blade In It. That makes opening any critter a lot easier.

No, but another plus for the tail splitting guide is that the use of it avoids the occasional to deep a cut which opens the belly up.

Thats a good idea, BC.I dont like those hooks,they get plugged up with/cut fur,and often on small beaver open the gut making a watery mess.
I use a drop point paring type knife or I stick a plastic quilt pin ball on the point of my filleting knife.That works slick.One quick swipe from cloaca to lip.

There are 2 settings with the box cutter very shallow and deep. Takes about 3 seconds to open one with that system. And with a twist of the wrist you have the hide cut around the tail. After 15 or so beaver take out the blade and turn It around and your back In the game.

I use the box cutter to open them up too. Nice and fast. In the south it is always open water and there are lots of beaver. Faster is better when it comes to skinning them.

You have to leave them a least a day before skinning. Otherwise you will have a bloody mess.