Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: Graham]
#7770858
01/13/23 01:47 PM
01/13/23 01:47 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,972 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,972
williamsburg ks
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Use the dull side of the knife on coons and keep practicing. You watched other people drive for years but you still had to do it yourself to learn how
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: trapdog1]
#7770870
01/13/23 01:54 PM
01/13/23 01:54 PM
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Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 27 Ontario
Graham
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 27
Ontario
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Did you check for burrs or mud clumps? Oh my gosh, I totally forgot about this step. I know you are supposed to brush it out heavily. Thanks so much, totally rookie mistake. Most of the work on a coon is done with the dull side of the knife, just pushing off fat. It looks to me like you're overly aggressive with your knife. Take your time and keep after it and you'll get a feel for exactly how much pressure you need. Definitely should not have started with the sharp side, that is for sure. Thanks for the tip.
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Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: Graham]
#7770882
01/13/23 02:10 PM
01/13/23 02:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960 Northern Nevada
Bob
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
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Yeah don’t use the sharp side unless you absolutely have to. Most of you’re fleshing will be done with the dull side. On coyotes, foxes and bobcat I never use the sharp side. On coon you usually only have to use it on the back of the neck and top of the shoulder area. And you’re not trying to shave most of the fat off, you’re just pushing it off. Dull side down, a little pressure and push.
Clean all the debris out of the fur. Having a burr in a pelt is a sure way to tear a hole while fleshing. Be extra careful around the nipple area. If you catch a nipples wrong it’s gonna tear.
Fleshing is one of those things where you’re just gonna tear up a few hides before you figure out how much pressure to use on what areas, where to use the sharp side, how to use the sharp side, etc. so don’t worry. You’re just on the steep side of the learning curve. We all shredded a few hides in the process of figuring it out.
"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
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Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: Graham]
#7771021
01/13/23 04:00 PM
01/13/23 04:00 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,616 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,616
james bay frontierOnt.
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Put a towel over your beam for a little padding.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: Graham]
#7771035
01/13/23 04:15 PM
01/13/23 04:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,873 Pennsylvania
patrapperbuster
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,873
Pennsylvania
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inspect your fleshing board occasionally for any knife nicks or roughness. use sandpaper or sander to smooth things out
TILL THAT DAY.....
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Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: Shakeyjake]
#7771274
01/13/23 08:07 PM
01/13/23 08:07 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,705 Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,705
Oakland, MS
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I got the Wiebe Elite and the dull edge was razor sharp! I used a cheap pvc fleshing knife on my first coon, but that was after doing some beaver and I knew how sharp that knife is. I used an 8” board that narrows at 5he top, sides are rounded a bit. Caribou knives come that way too. I guess it's to allow you to choose which side you want sharp. You need to dull the side you don't want sharp.
~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
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Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: Graham]
#7771277
01/13/23 08:10 PM
01/13/23 08:10 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,388 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,388
Firth, Nebraska
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My wiebe knife was razor sharp on both sides too. I actually “dulled” one side a bit and it worked a lot better. Jim
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: Graham]
#7771281
01/13/23 08:16 PM
01/13/23 08:16 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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You definitely need help but I just don't know what kind. I think a first step would be forget about a trapping career.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: Graham]
#7771282
01/13/23 08:17 PM
01/13/23 08:17 PM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,244 Ky
jbyrd63
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,244
Ky
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Don't try to flesh on the sides of your board. That's looks like why the tears on each side. Spin the hide and do it all in the middle of the board.
Last edited by jbyrd63; 01/13/23 08:28 PM.
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Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: Graham]
#7771310
01/13/23 08:38 PM
01/13/23 08:38 PM
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,703 lewis county,new york
newfox1
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,703
lewis county,new york
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We’ll the good news is there’s only one way to go from there, up, next one will be better, sharp side on back of neck, push the rest, goes better if you refrigerate the hide for a day . The fat gets stiffer, good luck.
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Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: HobbieTrapper]
#7771375
01/13/23 09:55 PM
01/13/23 09:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,234 Kansas
Pawnee
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,234
Kansas
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Get yourself another coon and try again. X2
Everything the left touches it destroys
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Re: First time fleshing, lots of holes, tips?
[Re: bctomcat]
#7771376
01/13/23 09:56 PM
01/13/23 09:56 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,761 Iowa
trapdog1
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,761
Iowa
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You definitely need help but I just don't know what kind. I think a first step would be forget about a trapping career. And a great example of why some people don't ask for help around here.
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