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Post by crabbait on Feb 17, 2013 19:18:59 GMT -5
I see on youtube and even several people on here do not use gloves when handling fur and/or skinning. Whats the deal? Is it safe to do? I myself wear nitrile gloves when skinning, but after fur is dry use bare hands often. Just wondering what you do. Thanks.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2013 19:23:01 GMT -5
My Mom was an RN and some guy she was taking care of in the hospital died from tulermia from skinning rats without gloves.
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Post by oldtimer on Feb 17, 2013 19:23:13 GMT -5
gloovs are insurance why not be safe/? also helps from getting cut.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Feb 17, 2013 19:25:31 GMT -5
gloves needed for skinning? yes gloves needed for setting fox traps on location? no too many trappers have those priorities backwards
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Post by crabbait on Feb 17, 2013 20:03:38 GMT -5
Do any of you get the rabies pre treatment shots? Never knew there was one until recently. Seems like cheap insurance. Don't know much about it though.
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Trapper Jack
life member nysta,alaska trappers assn,nta, foothill trappers
Posts: 523
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Post by Trapper Jack on Feb 17, 2013 20:18:18 GMT -5
I wear gloves always while skinning. First thing I do when I get in shed is to put them on. I also use nitrate gloves. I like them. I use a cheap pair of cotton gloves for setting. I buy the 20 pack at Tractor Supply. Always have and probably always will. Just my way. Agree with it or don't. I also have gotten the shots. Insurance will not cover it. It is $$ and you have to usually order well in advance from your primary Dr.
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Post by 160andup on Feb 17, 2013 20:27:53 GMT -5
Do any of you get the rabies pre treatment shots? Never knew there was one until recently. Seems like cheap insurance. Don't know much about it though. I believe this only helps if you know you've been exposed, and you still have to get a shot(s) post-exposure... just gives you a little time... I think
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Trapper Jack
life member nysta,alaska trappers assn,nta, foothill trappers
Posts: 523
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Post by Trapper Jack on Feb 17, 2013 21:05:23 GMT -5
Pre exposure rabies vaccine is given in 3 doses. 1 the first day.1 on the 3rd day and 1 on the 21st day. This gives a degree of protection against unapparent exposure(saliva,blood) to the virus. If you are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal and you have the pre exposure vac, you only have to get 2 more shots. 1 right after exposure and 1- 3 days later. All shots are given in the arm. If you don't have the pre exposure vaccine, you will go thru the complete series of shots which will include 5 shots starting at exposure site(where bit) and the Rabies Immune Globulin shots. Insurance will cover shots after exposure . Over 100,000 people worldwide die of rabies. Pre exposure cost me approx $250.00 in the past out of pocket .
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Post by silverfox on Feb 18, 2013 7:02:41 GMT -5
always!!!, $8.00 for a box of 100 (50 pair) is worth the investment, also prevents/retards bacteria growth on "delicate" hides (K9's) reducing the chance of slippage during tanning process
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Post by herm on Feb 18, 2013 8:24:05 GMT -5
I do not wear gloves when skinning ,but I surly am not going to tell others there is no need to wear gloves.I have received rabies shots since 1994 when the rabies hit my area.When I get a shot it is covered by my insurance.Another thing,if you do not have insurance and can not afford the rabies shots and you are not allergic to eggs and have a way,such as a friend who does not live in NYS, to get the rabies vaccine,the same vaccine that we give to dogs is just fine for humans also.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Feb 18, 2013 8:38:59 GMT -5
rabies exposure is one minor reason for gloves. If skinning muskrats or beaver, tularemia and a host of other rodent-borne illnesses are just as bad and much more prevalent than rabies. If skinning coon, most of them carry round worms and hook worms which are both easily passed to humans. Bare hands = lots of bacteria and pathogens in cuts, cracks thru skin and beneath fingernails to cross-contaminate the household and other residents as well. I wear latex gloves for handling everything and find it easier to grip slippery surfaces than bare skin used to be. Simple matter to strip them off and put a fresh pair on between breaks of fur handling. The peace of mind knowing I ain't carrying and spreading stuff to Holly and others around me is reason enough to rubber up before grabbing knives
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Post by mexicantrapper on Feb 18, 2013 9:31:55 GMT -5
I wear gloves while skinning and fleshing. Not usually while boarding. Much more conserned with the bodily fluids than what's on the skin, other than ticks of course. The gloves and an apron also greatly reduce the chances of a tick getting on you as well, harder for the little buggers to hold on. I don't handle any fur or critters without an apron until after they're stretched and dryed, especially turning fox and fisher.
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Post by trappeur on Feb 18, 2013 13:00:13 GMT -5
Regarding fleas, ticks... it is good to put the animals in a plastic bag and to spay it with "Raid". I personally leave them in the sealed bag for about 24 hrs.
Most of these bugs won't survive. I too put on gloves when handling fur. It's just another good preventive measure.
Trappeur
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Post by meathook on Feb 18, 2013 13:18:49 GMT -5
I always wear two pairs of latex gloves when skinning anything. I wear platex rubber dish washing gloves when gutting deer. While the chances are slim you will catch something it only takes once.
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Trapper Jack
life member nysta,alaska trappers assn,nta, foothill trappers
Posts: 523
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Post by Trapper Jack on Feb 18, 2013 18:00:32 GMT -5
I do not wear gloves when skinning ,but I surly am not going to tell others there is no need to wear gloves.I have received rabies shots since 1994 when the rabies hit my area.When I get a shot it is covered by my insurance.Another thing,if you do not have insurance and can not afford the rabies shots and you are not allergic to eggs and have a way,such as a friend who does not live in NYS, to get the rabies vaccine,the same vaccine that we give to dogs is just fine for humans also. Herm. Are you in a occupation that requires you to get the shot? I was told by 2 health insurance companies that the pre exposure shots were not covered. I have always paid out of pocket. They state that if I worked at a vet or my job dealt with animals it would be covered under the employers insurance. Since I'm just a lowly old trapper they state it is not covered. All after exposure is covered though.
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Post by proratman on Feb 18, 2013 19:08:26 GMT -5
I have this DVD here called "Practical Fur Handling" which is sold on E-bay. It is a five hour DVD course in which this man skins and fleshes many different species and all the time he is not wearing gloves! However, he points out all the other important stuff.
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Post by rufus on Feb 19, 2013 6:51:32 GMT -5
I wear the gloves, Rabies being my least worry. As Austin said our raccoons are infected with worms, a study I read a few years back showed that about 80% of NYS raccoons are infected with round worms. You easily can contract it by touching fecal material. Where are your hands when you strip the tail? Even if you don't touch fecal material non-visible amounts are on the fur.
I was one who skinned hundreds of animals as a kid without gloves, with no problems. But why take a chance.
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Post by herm on Feb 19, 2013 6:53:56 GMT -5
Trapper Jack,I guess you can say that I am. I tell the doctor that I trap and he has always agreed that I should have the shot. Not sure how it would work for every one,but my thinking is if the doctor orders a shot because he thinks there is a need for some one to get it,the insurance should cover it.
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Trapper Jack
life member nysta,alaska trappers assn,nta, foothill trappers
Posts: 523
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Post by Trapper Jack on Feb 19, 2013 9:21:17 GMT -5
I need a new Primary Physcian I think. Mine knows I am a trapper, but stillI pay.I pay.I pay. Thanks Herm
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Post by nightwish on Feb 20, 2013 2:10:33 GMT -5
Waste of time...if you slip with the knife, its going right thru the latex anyway. I wear them on the line for fox because i dont want to get my hands dirty
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Feb 20, 2013 5:51:47 GMT -5
Waste of time...if you slip with the knife, its going right thru the latex anyway. I wear them on the line for fox because i dont want to get my hands dirty if you do or don't slip with the knife, it still keeps worm eggs, bacteria and viruses off your hands and beneath your fingernails. The cleanliness is not only for yourself... it also prevents cross-contamination thru your household to everyone else you have contact with. I wear skinning gloves more for the sake of Holly, her boys and our company who visits than I do for myself. The older I get, the more selfless my train of though becomes
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Post by andyt on Feb 20, 2013 6:01:21 GMT -5
I use gloves for gutting deer skinning animals cleaning fish. Its cheap insurance
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Post by crabbait on Feb 20, 2013 6:06:01 GMT -5
Austinp, good point, the safety and wellfare of our families is at the top of my list of concerns, That being said, what do you (or anyone use), to disinfect your equiptment, or the area you use to process the fur? I am asking these questions, and there will be more, because I skin in my garage right now, I don't get to do a lot because of family and work commitments, but I want to know how to keep my family and myself from getting an illness. I appreciate all input that you guys and gals give. Thanks.
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Post by silverfox on Feb 20, 2013 6:21:10 GMT -5
mehuntem, ive consistently worn gloves as discussed, in addition i keep a large container of purell close by my work area, up until this season i did all my skinning in the garage as well and alot of fleshing in the fourier of the house (finally built a shop/fur shed) and all my taxidermy work in the house since 1995, i do all my skinning with a scalpel and disposable blades so after a day of skinning the blade is discarded and i simply wipe scalpel handle with paper towel and purell (as well as fleshing beam ((pvc)) and fleshing knife) also as stated above a rubber apron is invaluable when workin with critters, at the risk of jinxing myself, me or my family have never had a health issue caused by workin on/with critters (knock on wood), between gloves, purell disinfectant and keeping work area clean thats about all a guy can do
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Feb 20, 2013 6:41:20 GMT -5
I spray down my work surfaces with one of those generic bleach-based cleaner solutuions found in any household cleaning section of stores. I also use that to spray green belly or sour heads on various hides to kill bacteria in the drying process.
When my knives, sharpeners, etc get too grimy, I soak them overnight in water and bleach. Next day they are fresh and clean, but high-carbon steel blades will surface rust quickly so don't do that with expensive blades. I skin everything with those $2 apiece reground-blade knives retired from meat-packing houses sold at conventions. Been using them for years, love 'em for everything.
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