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Post by spencer on Nov 20, 2008 15:07:25 GMT -5
Got a nice fox, I helped a friend skin the feet on one of the other ones, but want to attempt to do it myself without screwing it up. Does anyone know of a tutorial link I can print out or watch so I do not screw it up??
Thanks
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Post by trapperdon on Nov 20, 2008 16:42:18 GMT -5
I believe the Practical Fur Handling video covers this. It's inexpensive and very informative.
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Post by Itrapny on Nov 20, 2008 19:05:35 GMT -5
Rob, It's not real hard, instead of cutting the fur at the ankle joint as usual, just take your time and skin down the other way towards the feet and cut off the toes at the last joint with a pair of wire cutters.
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Zagman
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,186
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Post by Zagman on Nov 20, 2008 20:31:25 GMT -5
I hang the animal by one back foot instead of two.
Then, with a skinning knife, I start at the bung as usual and go up as far as I can on the leg hooked to the gambrel.
Then I do the same on the loose leg, but with that leg I go right through that dew pad above the paw and then right dead center through the main pad.
I then skin out the ham and loose leg as usual, but I actually have the paw facing me. I then switch to a razor knife/box cutter. Once I get the hide loose around the knee and shin, I use my sharpening steel, inserting it between the shin bone and leg hide and pull towards me.
This gets the hide right down to the dew claw.
You need to cut that with your wire cutters. Now, pull down again all the way to the paw.
You will start to see the individual toe bones. Keep working it down, using your razor knife, until about half of each toe bone/finger is showing. Now, cut each with wire cutters.
You may need to cut a couple tendons with your razor blade knife.
Now, hook the "skun" leg up to the gambrel and take the unskun leg down and repeat.
On the front legs, with the paws facing me, I put my skinning knife right into the pad, slicing it in half, and in the same stroke, going all the way to the elbow.
With your razor knife and fingers, work the forearm skin close to the elbow of all the way in a circle, so you can insert your finger between the loose skin and forearm meat.
Use your sharpening steel again, gently pulling towards the paw. You will get it down to the dew clay and pad again, repeat process with dew claws and the rest of the paw as above. Once loose, I pull the leg towards the elbow and body until the elbow meat pops through. I then lop off the unskinned leg, but you dont have to do that. On a tight red fox with thin skin, I dont risk pulling that thin hide over the unskun toe bones and such.
If using borax like I do, rub it deep into all exposed leather, including the individual toes and pads. Dry as normal.
Harder to type than do.....have done it hundreds of times. Hate doing it, doubles the skinning time, but sometimes it has to be done.
Good luck
Zagman
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Post by Itrapny on Nov 20, 2008 20:41:44 GMT -5
Great explanation Mark, thanks!! ;D
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Post by spencer on Nov 21, 2008 13:21:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the tutorial Mark.
I assume for a hide to sell it IS worth it to skin out the pads. I am going to do it regardless for the practice, but i assume it adds a monetary value, or am I off base?
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Post by Itrapny on Nov 21, 2008 13:23:40 GMT -5
If you're skinning for taxidermy or want to get it tanned, you skin it out to the toes, otherwise, it adds no value at the time of sale.
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Zagman
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,186
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Post by Zagman on Nov 21, 2008 14:38:34 GMT -5
what Wayne said..........
MZ
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