Otter skinning tips?
#8080096
02/17/24 09:54 PM
02/17/24 09:54 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 797 Alberta
Norwestalta
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 797
Alberta
|
Just finished skinning my first otter and I'm not so sure I want to skin another. It seemed fairly ignorant the whole way thru. Any tips would be appreciated.
Last edited by Norwestalta; 02/17/24 09:58 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Otter skinning tips?
[Re: Norwestalta]
#8080146
02/17/24 10:52 PM
02/17/24 10:52 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 46,404 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 46,404
james bay frontierOnt.
|
Hang them so the back legs are a bit higher than your waist.Once you get them skinned around the back legs and tail you can use your fist and upper body weight to push the skin right off up to the front legs. Sort of curl the skin around your fingers as you make a fist then punch it right down.Then a few cuts with the knife then use your knee to push the skin the rest of the way to the ears.
Last edited by Boco; 02/17/24 10:53 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
|
|
|
Re: Otter skinning tips?
[Re: Norwestalta]
#8080544
02/18/24 01:50 PM
02/18/24 01:50 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,097 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,097
Wisconsin
|
When your skinning the tail start your cut at the very tip of the tail. It's a lot easier to maintain a straight line up to the vent.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
|
|
|
Re: Otter skinning tips?
[Re: Norwestalta]
#8080818
02/18/24 08:18 PM
02/18/24 08:18 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,868 lewis county,new york
newfox1
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,868
lewis county,new york
|
I tried the opening tail cut on the otter, I didn’t like it going against the hair, I did it base to tip.
NW, when you get to the front legs, it’s hard to know were to cut between them on the chest, with a ballpeen hammer you can gently pound the hide down so you can poke your finger under leg, release the legs and then continue with neck and head. The Beav is who taught us.
|
|
|
Re: Otter skinning tips?
[Re: TrapprChris]
#8080876
02/18/24 09:34 PM
02/18/24 09:34 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 797 Alberta
Norwestalta
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 797
Alberta
|
And after skinning, you have the fleshing to look forward to! Thats always fun, the tail especially Lol. I know. All that for $40. Good money. Lol
|
|
|
Re: Otter skinning tips?
[Re: Norwestalta]
#8080929
02/18/24 10:25 PM
02/18/24 10:25 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,795 100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,795
100 Mile House, BC Can
|
Skin and put -up otter like a mink. Keep the fur damp/moist while skinning and fleshing, NOT WET. It may also be boarded mildly damp. ------To facilitate ease in fleshing the tail, slit and cross hatch the beads of fat being careful not to cut the leather.------ Keep the tail a natural shape when boarding. Rather than pinning out the tail use ¼ inch wire mesh or cardboard to hold in down while drying. Dry Otters slowly in an area that is away from heat. Proper drying temperatures range from 40°f–60°f in an area with good air circulation.
Last edited by bctomcat; 02/18/24 10:28 PM.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
|
|
|
Re: Otter skinning tips?
[Re: Norwestalta]
#8080937
02/18/24 10:49 PM
02/18/24 10:49 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 46,404 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 46,404
james bay frontierOnt.
|
And after skinning, you have the fleshing to look forward to! Thats always fun, the tail especially Lol. I know. All that for $40. Good money. Lol You can cleanskin otter. Rough skinned otter can also be fleshed over your knee like rough skinned beaver.Its easier on the delicate guardhair than beaming.
Last edited by Boco; 02/18/24 10:50 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
|
|
|
Re: Otter skinning tips?
[Re: Norwestalta]
#8081013
02/19/24 01:21 AM
02/19/24 01:21 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,097 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,097
Wisconsin
|
I've skinned and fleshed 1000s of otter In fact In a few weeks we will be at It again. I find fleshing the tail to be very easy. With your fleshing knife just take off one edge at a time. Then you can go down the middle. Newfox1 what was the problem going against the grain? Another trick to skinning the tail Is once it's opened and you have opened up both sides along the tail bone just slide you knife through to ope up a slot between the bone and the skin. Then take hold of the tail bone with one hand and the hide with the other hand and pull the hide away from the bone. Works pretty good.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
|
|
|
Re: Otter skinning tips?
[Re: Norwestalta]
#8081014
02/19/24 01:26 AM
02/19/24 01:26 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,097 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,097
Wisconsin
|
A few other tips are once you get the tail skinned out and the otter hung up cut off the tail bone so It Isn't swing around and hitting you In the face. The other tip Is to cut off the front feet just around the wrist area.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
|
|
|
Re: Otter skinning tips?
[Re: Norwestalta]
#8081259
02/19/24 12:48 PM
02/19/24 12:48 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,097 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,097
Wisconsin
|
And those with skinning machines be very careful. Otter just seem to pull In half when your using a machine.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
|
|
|
|
|