Tried Thorpes thing, skinning with no leg holes. I used a bigger kit that I got a week ago. Shapes a little funny and tight in different spots that normal. Length + width is about 43”. The rough skinning & fleshing went pretty easy, but it is a kit so. Gonna watch his video again and try it on a bigger one tomorrow.





Coulda probably shrank it down a bit more

I just got some back that I did from the tannery. They come out kinda squarish.

After watching this part on his video, he didn’t have no pattern he just kinda went by feel. Shoulda watched the video before hand. It did seem to make skinning a bit easier. I’ll find out tomorrow on a bigger one.

I'll pass that is one funny looking beaver pelt

Only question I have is why?

You will lose a few inches skinning them that way. This is good if your hooping them for crafts. In order to get them to fit on the NAFA pattern, you will have to do a little trimming. Stick with the regular method if you are selling to the hatter's market.

Retarded idea.
If you are going to sell them you will lose money on size,and if you are going to tan them you will lose workable sq inches.
If you want it hooped with no legholes,you can split out the leg holes and block accordingly after tanning.

Canadian logic ain't logical.
How are you losing size? Same amount of inches, just reshaped...and you don't have to deal with leg holes when tanning.

Experience from working extensively with fur.
It would be the same amount of inches when dried if you nailed it square after slitting out the legholes,but lose at least one size and probably two if trying to stretch it oval.
Also you will be pulling the skin tight in the neck area where graders weigh the fur and it will be loose and floppy in other areas where you will have to remove useable inches by trimming the tags.
If you dont want to "deal with legholes" (whatever that means) when tanning just slit them out when tanning.

Retarded idea slitting out legholes then trying to board oval.

This is what they look like coming back from the tannery

If I was to board a beaver with the legholes slit I would board it like this.

Tried it on a bigger kit today and nailed it a little differently. It’s got a little tighter at the back end but the upper portion was looser. Measures 47.
Pics crappy


Boco, you gotta buy the Thorpe DVD, teach ya a bit bout beaver trappin….lol

Nice, love that eagle look!

I wonder if the hide would come back from the tannery in the same shape as what it was on the board when it was stretched into an oval. My guess is no. I would think that the hide has memory and reverts to its pre-stretched shape.

It reverts back to the shape it was before boarding.

I’ll carry on skinning like normal. I had to try it. The bigger kit is a real nice one, thick & dark. Hoping his older buddies look the same.