Every time I skin a deer there will be about a 1 to 2 inch "line" of hair missing under the ears. Am I cutting the "Y" incision too short and pulling too hard on the ear canal area? Could I be gripping the cape too tightly when fleshing on the wheel? The "bald" areas are always in the same place so I must be doing something wrong. Any hints or suggestions?
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Seldom if ever will a good hide slip in the same area. it could more likly be the way you are folding the cape and freezing it, this area is the last to freeze and the last to thaw. Or are you washing the cape before freezing? could be that too.
You say your using a wire wheel to flesh. That in itself can cause you problems if your letting the hide get to hot during the fleshing or your getting to thin in that spot.
Also why are you gripping the ear cannal for? What are you trying to achive or get at when your grapping it?
Let us know if your doing this when your trying to turn the ears or what?
John, yes,I wash them in lysol water first, before I do anything and sometimes freeze them until I have time to flesh and turn them (reccommended on a video.)What you say makes sense about that area being the last to freeze and thaw. If I have time to go ahead and flesh them I do, but will still have the hair loss on that area. Could the water be the problem? Should I skin and flesh them before washing the blood out with Lysol? Frank, I used the wrong words. I use a fleshing machine, I've gotten so use to telling customers that say "what's that" that it's a razorblade on wheels. I try to cut as small a "Y" as possible (because I hate to sew)and then kind of "push and cut" the hide up to where I cut the ears off the carcass. That may be pushing too much on a green hide? Thanks guys for taking the time to answer, I'd like to figure this out before season kicks hard.
The lysol is probably your problem. It can raise the PH way too hogh and does absolutely nothing for your hide except make it smell different. Lysol no longer kills bacteria, read the label, as they took the phenol out. Try it without the lysol bath
Dave
Several years ago the carbolic acid (we all understand the low pH of acid) was removed from the formulation of Lysol. Stop the LYSOL and I will bet your problem stops. Another local HACK near me used it this last year and he has over 70 heads that have slipped.
Always keep your pH low.
Skinned one (youth hunt kill) today without "the bath" and had no problems. Thanks! I love this forum!