Marking marten boards

For handling question - I probably lost quite a bit of $ last fall by not getting full length out of my marten. I didn’t want to over stretch but I feel I under stretched quite a few. Like 25. Do you just make a like on the board? Base of the tail the measuring point? I was talking to the ATA folks at the Shownand they turned me onto length being important.

Second question, before I switch them due side out, I waited about 4 hours. Seem right?

Thanks for any advice, trying to learn as I go.

I probably do it wrong but I just pull them tight and make things as uniform as I can. Good straight cuts help. Don't skimp on the push pins.

As far as time before flipping the hide it depends and how warm the area is. Some times I'll turn mine after 45 minutes. I usually judge by the feel of the head. If it isn't tacky or sticky I'll turn it. Don't let them get too dry or they are easy to tear.

Mark you boards with the size grade lengths. Then to obtain maximum pelt length grip base of tail, with thumb and forefinger, pull tight and pin at center of board and tail a bit over the line it comes to then square butt off to that center tail pin.

Mark the sizes on your boards.Pin where the skin hangs.You want to pin them in between the size lines.If the skin hangs right on a size line,pull it so it is an inch past then pin like BC said.

You can only stretch a thin skinned animal like a marten so far. Skin will pull away from pins if you stretch too much. I always gave mine a good stretch as long as the pins held. Could be said that over stretching might make a fur look thinner, but I always got good prices and had few grade poorly.
mt

I've been weighing mine to figure size with a digital fish scale.
Sorry but cant get scale off the metric scale so bear with me.
600-700 grams = large marten ; 18-21 inches
1000- 1150 xl ; 21-23 inches
1200-1350 =2 xl; over 23 inches

I have no experience with the two smaller sizes of marten.

X2