So I just trapped my first beaver, yet I noticed that I didn’t have a trough to skin it. I’m not too concerned for this year, as I only trapped the one. Yet, I would like to get a trough built for skinning more next year, as I am looking at trapping more beaver. So does anyone have plans for building one? Like materials, measurements, and thickness? Thanks for reading my thread!

Thank you! That’s a very in depth video, very helpful and informative.

Truck tail gate, table top, any smooth surface big enough can be used.

Here's a 330Maniac video showing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HahAhj3NTg

Congrats on your first beaver.Nice one.

I’m just going to wip one together with 2 ends of plywood or 2x12s and a couple of 1/2” X 4 or 5”…..whatever I got in my wood pile. A few deck screws and viola. Nothing fancy, I just want to try it. 30” long give er take, 45 or maybe a little more for an angle. I got no issues with a table or the tail gate though.

Try 55 gallon plastic barrel you'll love it. Easy to work around or spin bvr on,

Plywood floor 2”x 6” sides cut at angle. Glue your joinery and consider mounting on an inexpensive boat seat swivel.

You look happy!!!!
Nice catch

Good for you young man. A great day for sure.

Good job Coon ... 2poor, I bet you wished they all looked like that one

I just took a 3' 2x4 and then nailed a 3' piece of 1x 4 to the bottom edge of the 2x4. Keep the 1x4 edge flush with one face of the 2x4. With the 1x4 sticking out toward the operator just clamp it to your beach. Now you can pull the beaver up against the face of the 2x4. as you go the hide will fall over the top edge of the 2x4 and you can keep pulling the beaver up the face of the 2x4. Works well and would be a lot easier than building a trough.

I wish I could do pics.

Have mine in a "sink" I made. Skin one side then turn it around to do the other.

Charles Dobbins book Beaver and Otter Trapping, Open Water Techniques, has a good and descriptive section on building beaver skinning troughs.

Thanks That.darn.coon for posting my video.


Here is the update video where I show how it actually works with a beaver on it.



This is one of the best things I have made to save my back while doing beavers, especially when I get one that are 60+ lbs.

Schmattz

Thank you all for the great information! I now feel like I have a good idea on how I want to build my trough. Either ways, skinned out my first beaver, and all in all didn’t feel I did too terrible at getting him all worked up.

Nice job!

The first one is always the hardest. Congratulations.

Schmattz.

Congratulations on your first beaver you've caught ! I liked skinning beaver on a old kitchen table that I raised up with some planks on the floor and two tarp straps one on each end to hook into the legs so when I got past them I could hook the straps hooks into the legs and have resistance when I pulled and skinned out the beaver .
I used a round table because that's what I had found at a thrift store .
And it's quick and easy to clean up when you're done .

I had them attached to a work bench that I'd slide the table under so to speak .it's fast and simple to clean up when done and then you can board the beaver on the table when finished .

Another though get a rubber mat to stand on while skinning it will help save your back .

Keep up the good work !!!!