Submitted by brandon Barton on 6/29/99. ( btb@rmci.net )
Are hooks and chains absolutly necisary? Where can they be purchased?
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This response submitted by keith daniels on 6/29/99. ( )
I find them real nessecary whenever I try to drive through hood deep snow or bumper deep mud! (sorry, had to do it :)
This response submitted by Leanna on 6/29/99. ( scardeer@cornernet.com )
You have hooks on your tires Keith?! Brandon not absolutely necessary but a really big help when your skinning out small mammals. You can hang specimen over your work table and as your skinning, the weight of the skin pulls itself down off of the carcass. You can do it without, but if your a wimp like me, its really a help!!
This response submitted by Keith on 6/29/99. ( )
But hooks on the tires is a good idea! I think you're right, and he's talking about hanging to skin, but it was too fun to pass up. I know small hooks and light weight chains are somewhat popular ith some bird taxidermists, but for larger things I would suggest using braided 1/4" poly rope. Put a loop in one end so it acts like a choke collar on a dog, it'll cinch on what you want to hang and you have to lift it to back off the loop. We used to use hooks, in the form of a skinning gambrel, in the fur shed, until a pull out left one imbedded in a guys cheek bone about 1/2" from his eye. The ropes are not only safer, but actually more versatile, you can open the loop and hang the animal by any part, leg, midsection, antlers etc.
This response submitted by Mick on 6/29/99. ( MicD63@aol.com )
I've been skinning small creatures for more years than I'm willing to admit, and if memory serves me correctly, I may have owned a set of hooks at one time. Poly cord is my choice, for all the reasons Keith stated, except for the skinning hook in the face, though I once had a beaver snap a cord on me and the resulting whipping action,snapped a somewhat lower section of my anatomy, one that I'm quite fond of too, and I'm sure that the reaction that I had was quite similar.
happy trails
This response submitted by Bob P. in Nebr. on 6/30/99. ( )
When skinning birds, I find the "chain and hooks" indespensible. I now use a set I made up myself. I use 3, # 4-0 or 5-0 heavy duty fish hooks, with the barbs bent down. (In case you happen to have an accident, you don't have to worry about a hook getting imbedded in you body and can't get it out). Instead of chains, I have access to some small diameter kevlar string that I use instead of small chains. Some of the high test braided co-polymner fishing lines now on the market would also work well in place of chains. I use the kevlar string with loops in place of the hooks for larger items such as geese and turkeys. (Just my suggestion). Bob P. in Nebr.
This response submitted by Bill on 6/30/99. ( yoxtax@aol.com )
I use an old braided wire snare...the best of both worlds. Adjustable like Kieth said, and strong enough to not snap and hit what Mic had hit! Its a must for skinning turkeys, too. Just put a piece of cloth aroung the leg before you cinch up the loop. Works for me!
This response submitted by Mick on 7/1/99. ( MicD63@aol.com )
You should know that snares are illeagal in New York !
Maybe you could try clamping that critter into a 110 conibear ? The really big stuff could be held with a 330, but they're an sob to open :)
Sorry if I offended any anti-trappers with these comments (yea right I am )
This response submitted by Bill on 7/2/99. ( yoxtax@aol.com )
Thats why I use them on dead stuff!
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