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Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7610554
06/22/22 09:28 PM
06/22/22 09:28 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,831
MT (Big Sky Country)
A
Allan Minear Offline
trapper
Allan Minear  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,831
MT (Big Sky Country)
I was thinking back to when I was starting out similarly to Bobby is now , I asked a local long time trapper and fur buyer about how to flesh muskrats in a hurry he suggested using a old ringer from a old washing machine or better yet a hand crank one if you can find one , just a thought .


Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7610577
06/22/22 10:03 PM
06/22/22 10:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,113
Manitoba
N
Northof50 Offline
trapper
Northof50  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,113
Manitoba
Allan one would be great but those McKenzie muskrats have been under the ice for 8 months and are just the fattest rats going.

Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7610615
06/22/22 11:10 PM
06/22/22 11:10 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,263
NWT
Ryan McLeod Offline OP
trapper
Ryan McLeod  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,263
NWT
[Linked Image]
One of my friend got this one this past season. I got one about 12 years ago


If you take care of the land the land will take care of you
Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7610713
06/23/22 06:54 AM
06/23/22 06:54 AM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 785
Labrador, Canada
C
crosspatch Offline
trapper
crosspatch  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 785
Labrador, Canada
Tks for posting blond 'rat Ryan. First ever heard and seen one. Learn something every day.

Question to people in other areas. Black 'rats seen to be, although rare everywhere (except maybe Maryland?), widespread. That true - rare but widespread?

How about blond 'rats? How widespread are they? Presume scarce regardless.

Re: Life in the delta [Re: crosspatch] #7610722
06/23/22 07:23 AM
06/23/22 07:23 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,113
Manitoba
N
Northof50 Offline
trapper
Northof50  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,113
Manitoba
Originally Posted by crosspatch
Tks for posting blond 'rat Ryan. First ever heard and seen one. Learn something every day.

Question to people in other areas. Black 'rats seen to be, although rare everywhere (except maybe Maryland?), widespread. That true - rare but widespread?

How about blond 'rats? How widespread are they? Presume scarce regardless.


The same question came up when we collected blond and black phase of some Red Squirrels, seems the coat colour is a genetics where a chromosome is flipped. Thirty years later observed some squirrels with the same pelage so it was in the local gene pool.

Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7610909
06/23/22 11:48 AM
06/23/22 11:48 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,831
MT (Big Sky Country)
A
Allan Minear Offline
trapper
Allan Minear  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,831
MT (Big Sky Country)
I've only caught muskrats in southeastern MT but I've never seen a rat that color some like a few of our beaver are " silver dollar's " and look as if they were chrome ha ha

The ringer was just an idea to run the muskrat hides through to get some of the fat off them quicker , I've never had the chance to try it or any big numbers of rats at one time .


Re: Life in the delta [Re: Allan Minear] #7611036
06/23/22 03:24 PM
06/23/22 03:24 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,263
NWT
Ryan McLeod Offline OP
trapper
Ryan McLeod  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,263
NWT
Originally Posted by Allan Minear
I've only caught muskrats in southeastern MT but I've never seen a rat that color some like a few of our beaver are " silver dollar's " and look as if they were chrome ha ha

The ringer was just an idea to run the muskrat hides through to get some of the fat off them quicker , I've never had the chance to try it or any big numbers of rats at one time .


I prefer clean skinning everything I catch besides wolf and sometimes wolverine. They can go on the beam. Other than that I find it’s easier in the long run to clean skin. Then when that last flick of the knife separates the nose from the carcass you know it’s ready to board.


If you take care of the land the land will take care of you
Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7611205
06/23/22 07:28 PM
06/23/22 07:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
Only caught one black rat in my life,and also only one white one.
Never trapped large numbers of rats in any season.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7611214
06/23/22 07:36 PM
06/23/22 07:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,801
Beaman Iowa 55
M
Mike Cope Offline
trapper
Mike Cope  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,801
Beaman Iowa 55
I have used the Ringer Washer in the past. It will push the Fat off of the hide, May require a small amount of touch up on the stretcher..That being said; You need to make sure that there is no folds or pockets in the hide as you Wring it. If there is any the fat will pop through the hide like the innards from a Zit..

I mostly use a cheap fleshing knife and go from the skirt tward the nose under the armpits, then fro the nose tward the skirt for the rest and do a crappy job on purpose if going to the market..Heavier hides grade better in this area. If it will dry leave it on the hide, LOL

Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7611750
06/24/22 12:28 PM
06/24/22 12:28 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,157
Maryland's Eastern Shore
M
mud Offline
trapper
mud  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,157
Maryland's Eastern Shore
Think it was me referred to from Maryland. Where I am, I’m blessed with a high percentage of black rats. I can’t speak for the Chesapeake Bay guys as I trap mostly the coastal bay guts that feed into the coastal bay. Some of those guts, I won’t catch a single brown rat, but my overall numbers are nothing compared to the Chesapeake guys. Some guts I may only catch 15 rats or so, but as I say, for Black rats , I’ll grind. They are some kind of pretty. I’m grateful for these but jealous of you guys with the black beaver.

D0BDA2CB-1ADB-4FF2-A698-B8EF5DF04A53.jpeg5AE23B55-D790-4460-B4B8-C1E05C850FE8.jpeg4EBEEE66-EA03-477E-B295-CD871CA4F2F0.jpeg0787F719-689D-427A-83E8-3F8C6F673007.jpeg

April is autism awareness month. Nearly 1 in every 100 children are born with an autism spectrum disorder.. 1 in 100. Stop and think about it...please
Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7611797
06/24/22 01:10 PM
06/24/22 01:10 PM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 785
Labrador, Canada
C
crosspatch Offline
trapper
crosspatch  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 785
Labrador, Canada
Tks for posting Mud. Interesting info.

Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7612843
06/26/22 05:03 AM
06/26/22 05:03 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,263
NWT
Ryan McLeod Offline OP
trapper
Ryan McLeod  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,263
NWT
Those are some nice black rats man that’s awesome. So far I’ve got my one black rat out of thousands. My cousin Doug’s daughter shot a black one this spring too.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

The end is in sight for finishing the rats. We were working quietly this evening and out of the blue Bobby said “you know what Dad? I sure like doing stuff like this” Proud quiet moment for me to hear my boy say that. Charlotte Mighty Mouse McLeod came out too and watched for about 2 minutes before she asked if she could help. I got her stringing rats for a while and then she pulled a few tacks. Morgan went to sleep early or she would’ve been helping too. Should be easy to get 500 done once all 3 of them can handle more. Sure is good to have the help though. 3am right now and I’m just stopped for a smoke. Back to skinning and stretching muskies shortly.


If you take care of the land the land will take care of you
Re: Life in the delta [Re: mud] #7612844
06/26/22 05:10 AM
06/26/22 05:10 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,263
NWT
Ryan McLeod Offline OP
trapper
Ryan McLeod  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,263
NWT
Originally Posted by mud
Think it was me referred to from Maryland. Where I am, I’m blessed with a high percentage of black rats. I can’t speak for the Chesapeake Bay guys as I trap mostly the coastal bay guts that feed into the coastal bay. Some of those guts, I won’t catch a single brown rat, but my overall numbers are nothing compared to the Chesapeake guys. Some guts I may only catch 15 rats or so, but as I say, for Black rats , I’ll grind. They are some kind of pretty. I’m grateful for these but jealous of you guys with the black beaver.

[Linked Image]
What do the bellies look like on your black rats?


If you take care of the land the land will take care of you
Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7612848
06/26/22 05:22 AM
06/26/22 05:22 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,263
NWT
Ryan McLeod Offline OP
trapper
Ryan McLeod  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,263
NWT
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
Now I’m just stalling. Few more from spring hunting and the last time I seen my geese camp a few weeks back. Ice took out a bunch of willows the past two years. Water has also touched the bottom of the 2x6 floor but luckily no flooding back to work for real this time


If you take care of the land the land will take care of you
Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7612852
06/26/22 05:35 AM
06/26/22 05:35 AM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 785
Labrador, Canada
C
crosspatch Offline
trapper
crosspatch  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 785
Labrador, Canada
Interesting question on the bellies of black 'rats. Have had them like the one above but also have 2 on hand now that have black backs and bellies like the ordinary 'rats. Not sure what the graders will do with that. Backs are, no compromise, jet black backs but bellies ordinary colour. Assuming/hoping black backs is what is most important and they will grade black.

In the freezer now. Can get 80 (two rows of 40 packed head to tail, one row on top of the other) in some fold out boxes got on a Costco trip years ago. About the best way can get them in a freezer without crushing. Got to hold til next January. How you holding yours Ryan? Access to a walk in freezer would be sweet. Gonna need freezer space next fall for moose and caribou so soon as turns freezing, and the bugs stop, they come out and go in the shed.

Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7613179
06/26/22 01:54 PM
06/26/22 01:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,113
Manitoba
N
Northof50 Offline
trapper
Northof50  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,113
Manitoba
That is a wack of rats in the boat, looks like a good trip.

Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7613233
06/26/22 03:23 PM
06/26/22 03:23 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,383
Central Ohio
LT GREY Offline
trapper
LT GREY  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,383
Central Ohio
Originally Posted by Ryan McLeod
[Linked Image]
My boy made the paper




That's a lot to be proud of !

Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7613360
06/26/22 05:52 PM
06/26/22 05:52 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,157
Maryland's Eastern Shore
M
mud Offline
trapper
mud  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,157
Maryland's Eastern Shore
Originally Posted by Ryan McLeod
Originally Posted by mud
Think it was me referred to from Maryland. Where I am, I’m blessed with a high percentage of black rats. I can’t speak for the Chesapeake Bay guys as I trap mostly the coastal bay guts that feed into the coastal bay. Some of those guts, I won’t catch a single brown rat, but my overall numbers are nothing compared to the Chesapeake guys. Some guts I may only catch 15 rats or so, but as I say, for Black rats , I’ll grind. They are some kind of pretty. I’m grateful for these but jealous of you guys with the black beaver.

[Linked Image]
What do the bellies look like on your black rats?


The blacks here have a more orangeish brown belly. You can kinda see it in one of the pics near the throats of them. They’re interesting to see. Last season I had 80+ grade black in the lg-3x lot. And I can tell you they missed a few. I kept them separate until I shipped them, separating them as I fleshed them and had over 110 black out of 230 rats.

I don’t envy the graders trying to spot them if your belly side is on the longer side on the stretcher. And usually there’s a few brown guard hairs right along the opening cut on the blacks which I’m sure causes more than a few to end up in the regular lot.


April is autism awareness month. Nearly 1 in every 100 children are born with an autism spectrum disorder.. 1 in 100. Stop and think about it...please
Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7613396
06/26/22 06:18 PM
06/26/22 06:18 PM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 785
Labrador, Canada
C
crosspatch Offline
trapper
crosspatch  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 785
Labrador, Canada
Thanks Mud and exactly what I suspected re. grading and brown colouring on the belly on many of the blacks. That is why I tag them for the grader. That is one spectacular ratio of black to brown at almost 50%. Must make for some great averages. Ryan does it on volume not colour lol.

BTW great pic's again Ryan.

Last edited by crosspatch; 06/26/22 06:19 PM.
Re: Life in the delta [Re: Ryan McLeod] #7613630
06/27/22 01:40 AM
06/27/22 01:40 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 490
Fairbanks AK
Aknative Offline
trapper
Aknative  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 490
Fairbanks AK
Man that's awesome!


Rumors of my assimilation have been greatly exaggerated.
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