Fleshing & Stretching

[trapperguy22]

hanging them in the garage after they are dry will be fine.

[SunnySlopes]

Pelts hung in an unheated outbuilding will draw moisture and warp. I don't like this. I store rat pelts in a cardboard box. In a cool room in the house. Stand on their nose and line up belly to belly, back to back. When you fill up the box, get another. Mink I hang on a hanger in the same cool room.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not a whole lot to say other than fletching is the biggest part of taking care of the hides ... The mink looks great but the Muskrat could use a little more fletching ...removing that thin membrane is the key and getting all the fat off is key too !! Other than that it looks good 

[70sdiver]

leave the saddle on the muskrats!!!

[Machias]

Not a whole lot to say other than fletching is the biggest part of taking care of the hides ..

Does the bitzenburger fletching jig work the best for fletching furs?   

[Carp Commander]

Sounds like there are some difference of opinion reference the saddle on Mink and Muskrat. I'm leaving them on ALL the Muskrat, as I know this has been the standard from when I trapped back home in Missouri years ago. I will make a judgment call on the Mink depending on how greasy it appears.

I doubt my wife is going to appreciate having fur in the house. I have two dozen Muskrat, well dried, fleshed, rolled and frozen. The temps in the garage are a concern so I will wait until warmer temps and spend a week putting them up. I'm not taking any chances.

Thanks again for all the advise. I missed last weekend and it's been a tough week at work. I have the next four off and well have traps out by dark tomorrow. I am well on the way towards my goal of 100 rats. Need to figure this Mink thing out as I only have one and set a goal of 6 for the season. I devised a few creative Mink set designs and I'll be sure to share.

Happy Trapping

Doug

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not a whole lot to say other than fletching is the biggest part of taking care of the hides ..

Does the bitzenburger fletching jig work the best for fletching furs?   

  I think I may have old timers by the time I hit 50  My spelling is getting bad !!! 

[SunnySlopes]

If you got enough room in the garage for a bunk, you may want to consider moving the wife out there till you get your pelts shipped out in the spring. I guess you could let her sleep in your truck in the garage if theres no room for a bunk.

[Carp Commander]

Just suggestion that would guarantee it wouldn't be an issue next year, because I wouldn't be living there anymore!

[3nails]

Carp- Good luck this weekend. Keep the thread going with updates! I'll be hitting it the next 3 days real hard too. Got my 10th mink this morning!

[onetrapper]

Nice job on the mink...how many cages out?

[BOWHUNTER45]

When does it end ...? Trapping is also a blast but I am not into the life trap thing ...but once you got set up it would be fun to do 

[Humptulips]

When does it end ...? Trapping is also a blast but I am not into the life trap thing ...but once you got set up it would be fun to do 

Trapping season is 5 months long, Nov.1 to March 31.

[3nails]

Nice job on the mink...how many cages out?

2 but only have them out about 50% of the time.

[hardkorrhunter]

Re; Fleshin and stretchin, ive been through this sight all over youtube even tried ebay i cant find any how to/ or dimension/ or templates for building my own stretching boards. I want to build a beaver board and some boards for raccoon,otter,coyote,marten, and bobcat if anyone can either post a website where i can order templates or even post a few dimensions that would be awesome. I do recall reading some where that bobcat and coyote should not be stretched any more than eight inches.Thanks Jessie.............