I’m finally getting around to getting my own fur shed, I have a neighbor that has always let me use his trapper shack, but I’ve always wanted to be able to do everything on my own property. I got a 16’ pull behind fish house for free, it leaked real bad so I put a steel roof on, a bigger 32” steel door, and I will be siding it once I get it off the trailer. I’m curious as to what guys sheds look like. I’ve only ever used my neighbors. Mine will be a bit smaller than his so I’m looking for ideas to maximize efficiency on use of space. I will be putting a 4x4 chest freezer in it (my wife made that decision after years of my furs being in our basement chest freezer) and a Woodstove. Trying to decide exactly how to set everything up.

I would go with electric heat so you can control how warm it gets and you can leave there with peace of mind. I dry my raw pelts in my attic-not heated except by the sun and big widow vents too..... My actual skinning and fleshing area of my shed is small 8 X 8 I am guessing so it heats up fast and there is no running around for stuff, everything is at hand. .Just me and that is what I use...jk

Perfect for a blue flame LP heater with a thermostat and fan to blow it around and cheap and easy to hook up.

I would second this. Also, I would leave the tin on the roof long and have a big overhang and leave the freezer outside under the roof.

I’ll have about a 1 foot overhang only. I would need some serious framing to withstand the snow here in Minnesota. I like your idea though. Maybe I’ll try to figure something out

Yep keep your heat consistant so no need to worry. Freezer takes up floor space. Your building is small. If you keep it in your building create a work space on top of it and keep it easy to get at.

Space is a premium in my shed too. I ripped a 2x4 in half and hung up two rails to hang fur on. Bought some of those hooks with a threaded screw on one end to hang stretchers from. I dont have any extra room but I manage. My trapping freezers are on my back porch.

I agree with that. The only problem is that I have a free Woodstove and about 20 cord of wood at my house being as I used to burn wood in home as well.

If you can control your wood heat for extended amount of time that would be good. Small building like that won't take much to heat.

Here is a 1”:1’ scale I drew up. What’s everyone’s thoughts? I am a carpenter by trade so this will be a fun little project with a very happy ending.

Where you going to do your fleshing? Maybe a beam that folds down from the wall. Fleshing beam also takes up quite a bit of room. Just a thought.....

There won't be enuff room for a woodstove.
Scrap that idea.
Much usable space will be taken if you do.

I agree with bucksnbears. I had a wood stove in a fish house and when you got it lit, it was too hot. An hour later you were relighting the stove because you had to let it burn out to cool it off inside. Just because something is free, doesn't make it a good idea.

Yes!
In a 10x16 uninsulated cabin we have a Ben Franklin stove. It heats very well but really takes too much space, It can easily get too warm. The colder weather it works better. Also consider the space necessary for a small stack of kindling and wood.

I’ll probably use a fold down beam that folds from the wall between the beaver boards and the winch. To be honest I don’t use a beam very much. Mostly trap coyote, fox, and beaver, all 3 I was taught to skin them clean so that no fleshing is needed. I hear the concern about the Woodstove room. We will see how it fits. I agree that they can be a little hard to regulate but I love the dry wood heat in the northern Minnesota winters. The trapping shack I’ve used all my life has a little wood stove in it and I was able to find the exact model for my own. Nostalgia I guess……

X2. A fan on low always good

sell some wood to pay for the propane heater.

I ran a wood stove for a couple years and it was really tough to regulate the heat. propane would be a much better choice