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Re: Weasel
[Re: backroadsarcher]
#7734379
12/04/22 12:52 PM
12/04/22 12:52 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794 100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
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[quote=20scout][quote=MnJag]Thanks for all the good info so far. Anyone have any tips for skinning them? So small seems like it will be tedious. what kind of knife do you like and stuff like that. The tools I use for weasel skinning: Splitting tails is made easy with the aid of a tail splitting guide and a small fur pelting knife or scalpel. Just insert the splitting guide into the tail as far “as it will easily go”. This will be only an inch or so. Then with a “little” pressure on the guide, while lifting it up slightly, make short strokes with the knife. As the hide splits, the guide will penetrate the tail a little further with each short stroke. A more suitable splitting guide for weasel and squirrel tails can be made from an old umbrella rib. The ribs (or umbrella stays) have a groove to place tip of knife in.
Last edited by bctomcat; 12/04/22 12:59 PM.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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Re: Weasel
[Re: crosspatch]
#7734387
12/04/22 01:02 PM
12/04/22 01:02 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686 Alaska
drasselt
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686
Alaska
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Like the Old-timer Improved Muskrat knife Drasselt. Been my go to knife since 1983. Even a water stone will take them down over time and have been thru a few. Made In China now = not happy and have had a quality issue w one blade on most recent one.
A retired mink rancher gave me that knife the ground down points are the best I've used for opening cuts on any small furbearer. BC's blade looks skookum too.
you can vote your way into socialism, but you will have to shoot your way out.
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Re: Weasel
[Re: MnJag]
#7734389
12/04/22 01:04 PM
12/04/22 01:04 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686 Alaska
drasselt
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686
Alaska
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I did however quit trying to split ermine tails. They come back from Moyles intact, no slipping, and most important black tips intact.
you can vote your way into socialism, but you will have to shoot your way out.
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Re: Weasel
[Re: MnJag]
#7734403
12/04/22 01:16 PM
12/04/22 01:16 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686 Alaska
drasselt
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686
Alaska
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Short tails strip easily with just the fingers when fresh. If the tail gets dried-out from hanging around in the cold for more than a few days then it's a lot tougher or impossible to not break it unless you rehydrate it but even then not a sure bet.
you can vote your way into socialism, but you will have to shoot your way out.
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Re: Weasel
[Re: MnJag]
#7734414
12/04/22 01:38 PM
12/04/22 01:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,488 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,488
james bay frontierOnt.
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Never had trouble with stripping or splitting weasel tails. Red squirrel are tricky.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Weasel
[Re: Boco]
#7734424
12/04/22 01:51 PM
12/04/22 01:51 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794 100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
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Never had trouble with stripping or splitting weasel tails. Red squirrel are tricky. I do the same procedure for splitting squirrel tails with no problem.
Last edited by bctomcat; 12/04/22 01:54 PM.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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Re: Weasel
[Re: MnJag]
#7734433
12/04/22 01:59 PM
12/04/22 01:59 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,488 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,488
james bay frontierOnt.
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Splitting them is not the problem,the tail bone tend to rip off the body when stripping.(not the fur-the bone). I use a needle knife to split the tail with the bone still in then strip the bone out from the tip to base.I need perfect tails on them for my squirrel market.
Last edited by Boco; 12/04/22 02:02 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Weasel
[Re: Eagleye]
#7734471
12/04/22 02:55 PM
12/04/22 02:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,796 M.T.V. Alaska
yukonjeff
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,796
M.T.V. Alaska
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yukonjeff- industrious little fellow and capturing with a pic is so cool- do they cache food like a canine? I didnt think they normally cache food but he cleaned out the whole nest of eggs, so he must of been saving them for later. I dont split the tails on Ermin they tan just fine.
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Re: Weasel
[Re: bctomcat]
#7734522
12/04/22 04:36 PM
12/04/22 04:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,198 Manitoba
Northof50
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,198
Manitoba
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Never had trouble with stripping or splitting weasel tails. Red squirrel are tricky. I do the same procedure for splitting squirrel tails with no problem. Squirrel with high density numbers are always fighting and the tails have scars...a QUICK check with you fingers will show bumps in the tail and these will not finger nail extract easily
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