I'm no expert by any means, I just did my first ones last year. I cut the feet off above the elbows with a side cutters, front and back. Make a cut from the base of the tail on the belly straight to the chin. Cut around the tail. Peel the skin off. Stretch flat. I sent mine to Moyle's for tanning.

Thanks. I was planning to send some rats to Moyles anyway.

Thanks for the update.

Hi seniortrap. if you'll send me your phone number I'll send you some photos of mine. Or if someone can explain how to post pictures on here I will post some. Digger1

Drasselt, Do you have a fur shot of the hooped squirrel?

Nail them to a board like above,and paste tan them.
When you take them off the board they will be ready to hoop after brushing up the fur.
The leather will dry stiff,(no need to oil)but they will be preserved and wont get eaten up by bugs.

Plenty of hooped rats, I would like to see a square one. Do you have any square one's Wetdog?

A square muskrat?? Not sure if a muskrat pelt is a shape that would make a square. Would be interesting to see some one try.

If anyone can pull it off it would be Wetdog.

Cut the feet off. Cut from chin to tail. Cut around base of tail. Remove hide just like beaver. Flesh and tan with orange bottle tanning solution. Stretch on board till dry, no need to breakthe hide to soften.. Cut willow stick long enough to make hoop. Once hide is dry, punch holes for lacing and ace with what ever you want. Pretty straight forward project.