I received this tip from one of the best in the industry at a mini seminar.
First off: When skinning small mammals like fox or yots, skin the feet completly out WITHOUT making a cut in the skin. You CAN turn the skin and completly invert over the foot. No cuts, no sewing.
After tanning is complete and it is time to turn the feet fur side out use this cool trick>>> Start turning the foot and push the paw into the skin (this will start to form a tube). This is normally the point where you start to think, 10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound leg. Now the trick. Fill that tube (inside the skin) with water. Seal off the top of the tube and gently squeeze the water towards the foot of the animal. Don't force it. If it acts stuck release the pressure massage the foot and then try again. Within a couple of squeezes the foot will pop right out. Presto! Turned foot. Jean Roll gave us this tip and it works great! As long as you did a good job skinning without holes in the foot, this will work slicker than snot.
Doug
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To the toes without cutting hide? I have never been able to do that.
Yeh Tenb's
It's not hard to do. I do it on all of them that I do. Just takes a little work with the right tool to help make that turn.
Doug
Been doing that for nearly 50 years now, but like Tenbears said, SOME animals that just don't work on. The rear feet of a yote are such because of the toe placements and the beefed up foot pad. Then when you consider that you're going to have to eventually cut that pad anyway to get the mounting bolt in, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to take the extra time in casing it out anyway, does it?
50 years. Man you are an old fart. You may have been doing it for 50 years, but there are some people that may have no idea of this technique and I never said it works for every animal. People can apply it to the applications that work for them. As for making sense to do something one way or another, it depends on what you are going for. I don't like to sew. If I can save sewing and having to hide a seam in a leg, then it makes sense to me to case the leg out. It doesn't take much to cut a hole in a pad for a mounting bolt or wire.
You know, here is a perfect example of someone posting a HELPFUL hint targeted at the new guys, and the season vet coming along to thump his chest to say been doing that forever and it doesn't make sense to use that technique. I know you wrote the book on the best ways to do things in the field of taxidermy, but give it a break. You don't have to knock every technique or hint posted just because you been doing it for 50 years and it doesn't make much sense to you. ARRRG! I have read so much good stuff from you and an equal amount of negitive stuff, but the difference here is your negitive replies are usually regarding a lack of homework (orange button) on the part of a new guy. I don't know, maybe I just took your response as a negitive when all you were doing is pointing out your preferences.
Doug
No George, I didn't think this up by myself. I gave credit to Jean Roll for passing this technique along during a mini seminar that she was doing. She was relating a story from working with the guys at the Smithsonian. She use this technique on a animal she was mounting there and, I can't recall the guy's name, thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. He went around and showed it to the rest for the taxidermists there.
Lets see, you been doing it for 50 years, Jeanie is 62, so she was only 12 when you started using that little trick. I would have to credit you with the invention. You da man!
Doug
seems like it would take a tremendous amount of water pressure,especially if the claws start"snagging"during the process.Needlenose pliers work fine for me and I never have to cut the skin.Just keep tugging on it with the pliers,and make sure the skin is still a little damp.
LT, You will be surprised at how little pressure it takes. You are just squeezing with your hands. The water lubricates and stretches the skin. You will not pull hair or pull a nail out. Try it once and I am sure will like it.
Doug
George your post makes no sense. You said you have been doing it that way for 50 years. Then you say you need to make a hole for the rod anyway. You also said it makes no sense to do it that way. Well, if it makes no sense why do you claim to be doing it that way for 50 years? Why would you do something for 50 years if you felt it made no sense? You come on here and brag and try to impress everyone. You must be a fool. By the way, that was a good tip. Thanks Doug! As for you, George, go back to that J.W.Elwood School of Taxidermy you graduated from and quit making yourself out to be smarter than everyone else.
And thanks!
Tony J.
You tell him doug, and thanks for the tip[ gonna give it a try on my next critter
Pompous replies, or whining children with piss poor reading comprehension.
Yes, thats an alternative, albeit common, method of inverting feet. We all do this. Jean is the type of taxidermist who always shares her excellent techniques. Thats why we like her so much. George pointed out that this is a common method as well. He then reiterated what tenbears mentioned, that this method works on some species, but not all. Having said that, George then gleaned from all the pros and cons and deduced for anyone interested and not too offended, that its still almost putting you further ahead to just make the small incision in many cases.
Yes, if you wanna read things as such, it does sound like the so called seasoned vets in here are just know-it-alls with too much time on their hands. Just like it often sounds like the newer guys are whiny little girls. Strike a nerve? Works both ways, fellas.
Sometimes opening the leg a bit makes shaving the paw pads easier, plus setting the toes and filling them while mounting easier too. But yes, on many species those feet are tapered enough to slip them through without cutting. Its like that finger trap toy from way back when...if you pull, it binds and your finger wont budge. Relax it and it slides right through.