Submitted by Rick on 3/15/99. ( )
Forgive me if I overlooked this one but I didn't see it. I seem to mutilate deer lips when I split/shave them. Is there a certain cut direction that works best in shaving the excess meat off? Also, after I split and shave the meat, there is a line (looks like meat)along the inside of the lip. I am able to clean down to the skin on both sides but I seem to cut the lip when I try to shave this line. Is it ok to leave? Also, I've noticed that some of the deer eyes seem to pull to the back (to a point). I think that maybe if I thin the hide a little more between the eye and ear, this may help. I have tried to make sure that the distance between the antlers and eyes are ok.
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This response submitted by Keith Daniels on 3/15/99. ( arlcape@bright.net )
Rick, do your chin and muzzle fleshing from the corner of the mouth towards the nose. This way you won't tend to get your knife blade caught under to heavy butts of the wiskers, causing it to pull into the knife, which results in all those little cuts. On anything with deep rooted or heavy hair, fall bear, wild boar etc. always do your shaving and fleshing so you go over the hair roots, laying them down, instead of going under them and lifting them up.
The red line on the lips is where you ned to split them just a little bit farther. If you rub that strip between your thumb and index finger, you'll feel there's still a little "bead" of meat left. Keith
This response submitted by frank on 3/15/99. ( basswtrout@aol.com )
As far as the eyes go, yes shave them down a bit more. I shave around the eye as big as a baseball. This should give you a nice thin hide to set the skin and stop the pulling you describe.
This response submitted by Rick on 3/16/99. ( )
Thanks guys! I responded earlier but never saw it appear. I still am unsure about the lip issue. I usually shave going from the mouth corner to the lips, the 1/4 inch on each side is where I seem to have a problem. I usually cut a hole right at the hair line. Keith, I'm not sure I understood. I have been shaving the lip moving from the corner of the mouth to the nose. Would it be better to shave in the direction of the teeth (flap to be tucked)?
This response submitted by Janie on 3/16/99. ( )
Rick, When I shave down the lips I use a skife Knife I will put this
over the rounded end of a baseball bat,this works good for fleshing
nose and eyes to, also if you pickle your skins first before fleshing
makes it easier.I flesh downward on a slight angle as with anything
else it'll take some practice till you get use to it. On those eyes
pulling it would seem like you have your antlers set to far back.
,
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