Rabbit ear

[Tubbsy2]

I just mounted my first cottontail rabbit but was not sure what to do with the ears.  It seemed impossible to turn them all the way so I got them as far as I could but only got about half way up the ear.  I ended up cutting a milk jug for some make shift earliner so there was something in the ear to help it stand. 

Should they be turned all the way?


What do you do with them?

[RTtaxidermy]

They should be turned all the way and I use 2 to 5 min epoxy

[boarhunter67]

Although I've never tried it, I've heard one can inject water in them and push it to the edges thereby turning the ears.

[George Roof]

I've never bothered to turn them.  If you're tanning, the thin membrane over the thin cartilage will tan right through.  If you're dry preserving them, there's no meat to remove other than the ear but.  Trim the ear butts away and when you mount,replace it with clay. Then card the ears EXACTLY LIKE WE DO FISH FINS.  The ears will dry and last just as long as the skin on the rabbit will.

[DragunzGirl]

Although I've never tried it, I've heard one can inject water in them and push it to the edges thereby turning the ears.

yep what i do is after i skin them * not sure if this is best way but works for me * I dip the hide in dawn water for a few mins than rinse off very well.. Than i take a syringe with needle and suck up water and from ear but area get my needle very carefully into the ear an inject water slowly. NOT to fast... You can suck some of that water back out of the ear, go more into ear and do more water and so on, Than i take a flat metal object *i sue a small end of a small metal shoe horn thing* and push up into the ear, I work it all the way to tip. This way has always worked for me and I have tired a few ways

[Shawn73]

I haven't done a rabbit in a long time but I use a BB and work it between the ear skin form what I remember it worked fine. Ill try water next time, that s if I get one which I hope i don't ...lol

[ginevive]

I've never bothered to turn them.  If you're tanning, the thin membrane over the thin cartilage will tan right through.  If you're dry preserving them, there's no meat to remove other than the ear but.  Trim the ear butts away and when you mount,replace it with clay. Then card the ears EXACTLY LIKE WE DO FISH FINS.  The ears will dry and last just as long as the skin on the rabbit will.

Would the same thing apply to squirrels' ears?

[George Roof]

Squirrels, muskrats, and possums