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Otter tails
#8361719
03/10/25 06:11 PM
03/10/25 06:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
beaverpeeler
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
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I notice most otters I see at the sales out west have tails that are stretched fairly narrow, and/or stretched with just a few nails as if it's not an important part of the pelt. Wanted to show you how I stretch the tails and why. One of the main markets for otter pelts in the west is the pow wow trade where they're being used for hair ties. They cut the pelts into 1.5 inch (aprox) strips and charge by the linear inch. Longer strips are desired. Therefor, with a wide tail they can get at least 2 or 3 longer strips off that pelt. One of our main buyers has stated that tails (as I do them) are worth at least $15 more than narrow stretched ones. Often times he doesn't even bid on the narrow tail ones. My otters are almost always the high bid otters on a sale or tied for high bid. ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/03/full-698-251312-59ce600e_833b_40a4_9493_82e487c59c50.jpeg) Nailing it out. Notice I pull the ankle notch over as far as I can to the edge of the board. ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/03/full-698-251313-29a3e436_e557_4a3d_9982_4637e299f2c8.jpeg) And the finished product ready to dry.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Otter tails
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#8361720
03/10/25 06:13 PM
03/10/25 06:13 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
beaverpeeler
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
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Should have mentioned that pleating the tails that was once a fad is definitely not wanted. Long and wide.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Otter tails
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#8361723
03/10/25 06:18 PM
03/10/25 06:18 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
beaverpeeler
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
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We as trappers should always pay attention to the wants of the current market. Just like the Nevada stretch for bobcats is now the norm.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Otter tails
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#8361756
03/10/25 07:10 PM
03/10/25 07:10 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,235
Maryland's Eastern Shore
mud
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,235
Maryland's Eastern Shore
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I had 5 in GF. My tails are similar to BP. We will see how they did again this year.
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
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Re: Otter tails
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#8361784
03/10/25 07:40 PM
03/10/25 07:40 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,235
Maryland's Eastern Shore
mud
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,235
Maryland's Eastern Shore
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I’ll add one to BPs beauty.
Last edited by mud; 03/10/25 07:41 PM.
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
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Re: Otter tails
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#8361807
03/10/25 08:03 PM
03/10/25 08:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
beaverpeeler
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
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That's the stuff mud. Pretty otter! Our buyer likes the darker furred ones so I think you'll do good with yours, as usual.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Otter tails
[Re: Deuce2]
#8361813
03/10/25 08:07 PM
03/10/25 08:07 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
beaverpeeler
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
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Just what is considered the Nevada stretch ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/03/full-698-251322-a41866af_b889_40ae_911e_0a325ca4f279.jpeg) Mainly it's leaving the front legs on the pelt all the way to the paw and slipping coat hangers in there for drying them. It shows off the beautiful dark bands on the underside of those front legs.
Last edited by beaverpeeler; 03/10/25 08:08 PM.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Otter tails
[Re: Deuce2]
#8361829
03/10/25 08:25 PM
03/10/25 08:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
beaverpeeler
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,753
Oregon
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Ok , thanks, lol been doing that for years I think most do now, especially in the western states. But it wasn't always that way.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Otter tails
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#8361919
03/10/25 09:49 PM
03/10/25 09:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,609
Co.-Wy. part time AK.
wy.wolfer
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,609
Co.-Wy. part time AK.
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I notice most otters I see at the sales out west have tails that are stretched fairly narrow, and/or stretched with just a few nails as if it's not an important part of the pelt. Wanted to show you how I stretch the tails and why. One of the main markets for otter pelts in the west is the pow wow trade where they're being used for hair ties. They cut the pelts into 1.5 inch (aprox) strips and charge by the linear inch. Longer strips are desired. Therefor, with a wide tail they can get at least 2 or 3 longer strips off that pelt. One of our main buyers has stated that tails (as I do them) are worth at least $15 more than narrow stretched ones. Often times he doesn't even bid on the narrow tail ones. My otters are almost always the high bid otters on a sale or tied for high bid. Nailing it out. Notice I pull the ankle notch over as far as I can to the edge of the board. And the finished product ready to dry. Great job Carl, good composition, and you prove the old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words! You probably made the folks that are paying attention good money!
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Re: Otter tails
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#8361930
03/10/25 10:01 PM
03/10/25 10:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,859
Aliceville, Kansas 45
Yukon John
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,859
Aliceville, Kansas 45
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Got any belly pics of those otter? I've tried stretching the tail base wide, but hated the way the belly looked.
Act like a blank, get treated like a blank. Insert your own blank!
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Re: Otter tails
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#8361970
03/10/25 10:44 PM
03/10/25 10:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,115
Snow Hill, MD
JoMiBru
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,115
Snow Hill, MD
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Great post. I used to pleat, had a guy that worked at NAFA tell me a funny story once. Said a Chinese buyer picked up an otter at a sale, flipped it over quickly and the tail caught him just right in the face. Said the otter was thrown back down and the buyer was upset lol. After that , he started pleating the tails. Great fur handler too, I learned a lot from him.
I got the itch to do some water trapping this spring, my daughter and I set out a line for rats and otter. Hadn’t trapped them real hard in a few years, and it was obvious. Didn’t take me long at all to reach 10 ( our limit in MD). I skinned and froze them all, with plans on shipping them to the tannery, but now I’m debating on putting half of them up to sell. Always enjoy otter trapping, and the fur handling as well. A lot of work but they’re beautiful on a board. Great put up peeler and mud.
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![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2025/03/full-698-251337-23a4da0d_9fb8_4dfd_b3e2_ac04023fe9b3.jpeg)
