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Post by ecgreen on Mar 11, 2013 12:30:14 GMT -5
Well, I did two beaver with my 600 this weekend. I gotta say, it was better than my cheapo knife, but it is not the cat's meow. I wonder if I am doing something wrong. It was less work, but I still had to reach for my beaver knife a number of times. I even had to push hard with the sharp edge just like I would have with the dull side. I'll mess with it for a few more beaver, but then I may just buy something sharper.
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Post by Itrapny on Mar 11, 2013 16:27:01 GMT -5
There's no magic to fleshing beaver....it's plain hard work ;D Just like on a 'coon, the area between the shoulder blades is tough and right around the tail...You can't push it us but have to literally shave the fat & gristle from the pelt. The angle of the knife is important here and it takes practice and you'll even make a few holes until you get the knack of it
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2013 18:43:40 GMT -5
Sean - three years ago I almost threw my beaver away. Had to have buddy flesh them. It was miserable. Then I started the down and sideways motion that they call shaving... Two years later, I look forward to beaver put-ups....
It just takes practice My 600 is over 6 years old and fleshes everything from rats to beaver to yotes..... I've barely touched the blade since I've purchased it.....
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Post by trappermac on Mar 12, 2013 4:45:33 GMT -5
Then I started the down and sideways motion that they call shaving... . That motion is the key.....you get that down and the Necker shines. Slice where you have to, push with the dull side when you can.
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Post by ecgreen on Mar 12, 2013 8:07:20 GMT -5
Down and sideways...I'll give it a shot. I have another question for you beaver experts: When I am done fleshing and I board it, there is always some white fatty looking stuff in the center of the pelt. NOw, this disappears as it is drying. Its not like when I accidentally leave some fat on a coon and it forms a "puss-like-blister" full of fat. IS this normal or should I flesh more?
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Post by silentnight on Mar 12, 2013 14:23:39 GMT -5
ill vouch for the down and sideways motion....though im no professional and put a few extra holes in my beaver pelts once you get the hang of that motion and figure out where you gotta shave and what you can push off it goes much better...beavers were the first pelt i tried to put up that required shaving and i didnt think i was ever gonna get it but once i was shown how and kept practicing that motion it became much easier...and no doubt there hard work....
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Post by ecgreen on Mar 12, 2013 16:28:09 GMT -5
When I first started I learned how to clean skin right off the bat, so I never really needed to flesh at all. However, as I got more beaver this year than I could process due to time restrictions, I had no choice but to skin and freeze them. Any thoughts on my question above with the fat?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2013 18:58:37 GMT -5
Sean I notice the same thing when I don't get all the fat peeled off.. After a few days on the boards, it seems to melt away..... I'm with ya on the beaver... I've trapped them since I was 11 years old, but have only been putting them up for a coupe, so I'm still learning too.... It's good stress therapy!!!!
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Post by jimd on Mar 30, 2013 17:11:06 GMT -5
the best flesher I've used on beaver and bear has been the grizzle getter. This blade is razor sharp and glides right thru beaver nice and fast
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Post by artie on Mar 31, 2013 7:47:42 GMT -5
How many time do people have to be told a necker knife is not the answer to beaver !!! Wake up and get a good knife like post or a caribow or a sheffield knife for beaver and your struggle will be over
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cooper67
#2 Newhouse
oswego county trappers ,nysta,jefferson county
Posts: 2,554
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Post by cooper67 on Mar 31, 2013 10:03:00 GMT -5
or young dwarf beaver trapper a zeph will shave just as good get what you can afford then as you get a head with money try different models.
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Post by artie on Mar 31, 2013 15:08:33 GMT -5
yes coop i forgot bout the zeph
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Post by jimd on Mar 31, 2013 16:08:08 GMT -5
Neckers work fine. Like everything else, it just takes practice.
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Post by milkie62 on Mar 31, 2013 21:31:10 GMT -5
Sean - three years ago I almost threw my beaver away. Had to have buddy flesh them. It was miserable. Then I started the down and sideways motion that they call shaving... Two years later, I look forward to beaver put-ups.... It just takes practice My 600 is over 6 years old and fleshes everything from rats to beaver to yotes..... I've barely touched the blade since I've purchased it..... I could not flesh beaver to save my hide 2 yrs ago.My beaver looked more like road kill after I got done fleshing.There is no way around damaging some during the learning curve.I use a necker 600 along with setting my fiberglass beam to my perfect height without having to bend at the waist.I think that was just as important.And the fiberglass beam helped me also.I kinda look forward to doing beaver now.
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Post by ecgreen on Apr 1, 2013 4:58:03 GMT -5
HOw long is it taking you guys to flesh one? I can clean skin in about an hour, fleshing is taking me a little longer than that.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2013 6:16:57 GMT -5
We fleshed 6 and boarded 5 of them in 2 hours last week.....
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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 Apr 1, 2013 8:48:21 GMT -5
Sean I notice the same thing when I don't get all the fat peeled off.. After a few days on the boards, it seems to melt away..... I'm with ya on the beaver... I've trapped them since I was 11 years old, but have only been putting them up for a coupe, so I'm still learning too.... It's good stress therapy!!!! Stress therapy!!! I like that. It certainly is!!!! I play some good relaxing music and go at it with my necker. After doing a few , you develop your own rhythm and timing. Its all good
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Post by ecgreen on Apr 1, 2013 12:15:34 GMT -5
I am sure the speed will come, racoons use to make me all sorts of flustered and now they are a really quick job. Still, I would much rather clean skin if I have the time!
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Post by proratman on Apr 1, 2013 18:16:15 GMT -5
I have not done a lot of beaver. But it takes me an hour to skin one, an hour to flesh one, and about fourty minutes to nail up and trim one. All total, just under three hours.
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cooper67
#2 Newhouse
oswego county trappers ,nysta,jefferson county
Posts: 2,554
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Post by cooper67 on Apr 1, 2013 21:27:02 GMT -5
when you get use to it it takes me 20 to 30min depends on the beaver , you get a to know when to push & when to shave, i know a fur buyer that makes it look easy can probably do 5 a hour but rockwood has been doing it for many years & put up more beaver a year than i will catch in a life time.
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