i have gotten in my first beaver ever and i was hoping to get any tips on skinning or salting and weather or not to use the tail or a replica tail. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
ryan
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As anything else. The feet are a little more of a pain in my opinion. Just make sure you flesh it well and the salting is no different either. I would highly recommend an artificial tail. Mainly due to the fact that a beavers tail is just about all cartilidge.
Todd B
If you don't want to smell like beaver or your breath to taste like beaver, wear rubber gloves. TWO PAIRS. That castor gland will leech through your skin and you will not be a welcome guest around your family if you get sloppy.
Even if you decide to use a replica tail when you mount your beaver the real tail is good for making into really neat looking raw hide. Just split, flesh and tan like you would for any skin. The fleshing is hard because like Todd mentioned it is mostly cartilidge. Or if you don't want to deal with it at all you can eat it, I wouldn't recommend it though.
Are you sure you are talking about the same animal that Todd is?! This is a "G" - rated forum you know!
I would reccomend getting the beaver skin tanned reasonably quick. Beavers during the summer will grease burn rather quickly even when fleshed well. Artificial tail highly suggested.
Chris
how's the beaver going?
did one this wk end and it's in the pickle now
what a pain to skin and flesh
never new an animal could get SO FAT eating tree bark
the fur is beautiful and I'm excited about the finish product.
must have gotten lucky , didn't encounter the gland problem Goerge mentioned