Post by Scott McCray on Apr 16, 2006 16:52:36 GMT -5
I had a helper in this one which was my 12 year old son, and I think he did a good job for skinning his first beaver.
OK, first of all, I use a V board set up on some saw horses to hold my beavers. I have done it without a V Board, but I am here to tell you it is a great help to have the V board.
Step 1 in open skinning is to remove the feet. I usually cut mine with my knife, but you can use a pair of clippers if you want. If you cut just at the base of the Heal on both the front and back feet you will see that the joint is right there and will "snap" apart very easily.
Step 2 is to cut around the tail (some cut it off, I like to leave it as it gives me a handle) and then you split the skin from the base of the tail strait up and split the chin.
I cut both sides of the vent but some guys cut stait through it.
Then I start the skin off the body by pulling it from both sides to get it opened up a little so I can work with a knife without damaging the belly.
Once I get it pulled open a bit, then I start using the point of the knife to cut/peel the skin away from the carcass.
Once I get to the feet, I make a small incision from the inside out between the leg and the skin to start to seperate the skin from the leg. I then pull the leg bone through the hole towards the inside of the skin.
After I get all four legs through, then I use my knife and cut/peel the skin off down close to the back. To do this you can put the animal on its side in a V board set up and it will hold it there.
Once you get the animal done to this point, you can flip it over onto its belly, and start the back. I skin down the tail through the thick Grissle, and then you can pretty much pull up and use your knife to cut/peel the skin up to the head.
Now that you are to the head, you need to watch for the Ears, and eyes and cut tight with both of those, and then cut the nose where you first feel the cartilage and you are done.
OK, first of all, I use a V board set up on some saw horses to hold my beavers. I have done it without a V Board, but I am here to tell you it is a great help to have the V board.
Step 1 in open skinning is to remove the feet. I usually cut mine with my knife, but you can use a pair of clippers if you want. If you cut just at the base of the Heal on both the front and back feet you will see that the joint is right there and will "snap" apart very easily.
Step 2 is to cut around the tail (some cut it off, I like to leave it as it gives me a handle) and then you split the skin from the base of the tail strait up and split the chin.
I cut both sides of the vent but some guys cut stait through it.
Then I start the skin off the body by pulling it from both sides to get it opened up a little so I can work with a knife without damaging the belly.
Once I get it pulled open a bit, then I start using the point of the knife to cut/peel the skin away from the carcass.
Once I get to the feet, I make a small incision from the inside out between the leg and the skin to start to seperate the skin from the leg. I then pull the leg bone through the hole towards the inside of the skin.
After I get all four legs through, then I use my knife and cut/peel the skin off down close to the back. To do this you can put the animal on its side in a V board set up and it will hold it there.
Once you get the animal done to this point, you can flip it over onto its belly, and start the back. I skin down the tail through the thick Grissle, and then you can pretty much pull up and use your knife to cut/peel the skin up to the head.
Now that you are to the head, you need to watch for the Ears, and eyes and cut tight with both of those, and then cut the nose where you first feel the cartilage and you are done.