Norman89 2016/2017 season

[Humptulips]

Kit beaver are pretty easy to flesh and you do not need a very sharp knife, in fact a dull was is probably better.
I start at the head go down the back, them center the beaver and flesh outward and keep turning. Put the legs over the end to flesh around the leg holes, easy peasy.

Bigger beaver another story, I clean skin mine but have fleshed a few. Almost think you need to different knives, sharp for the back and duller for the belly.
I hope others chime in because like I say, clean skinner here.

[Norman89]

I tried clean skinning on the first few and did "ok " at it, nut I discovered since I plan on eating them, its easier on the butchering side if I rough skin them. That leaves FAR less trimming to do on the meat before cooking seems there isn't a happy median haha I also went with rough skinning so that I can use all the fleshings for bait but im open to trying clean skinning again if it makes fleshing easier! I know its a steep learning curve for a first timer! Looking forward to an article in the fur shed on clean skinning haha

[Humptulips]

The real trick to clean skinning is just experience. Back when I was about 14 I sold my fur to Fred Hjort. He bought a lot of fur in the round and had a big freezer so he was always skinning beaver it seemed long after the season had closed.
Of course I thought if I watched him close and pestered him with questions I too could clean skin a beaver in under an hour and have it look good.
I will always remember what he told me "The first 100 are the hardest". I was only catching 8 or 10 beaver a year in those days so I imagined I would be an old man before I caught on.
I don't think it takes a 100 but it does take practice.

[Machias]

I have a very sharp fleshing knife for the middle 10 inches or so.  Once I get to the sides I switch fleshing knives and just push the fat off.  I actually like to flesh my beaver hides after the come out of the freezer, while the flesh and fat still have some ice crystals in them.  Fleshing is much easier IMO.  Watch those nipples under the front legs, you'll pop a hole in the hide every time if you're not careful.  The belly is very easy to tear.  Then when you get down to the lower back, right above when the tail is a really sharp fleshing knife makes that so easy to shave off the thick gristle and fat.  I'm not speadster but by the end of the season I usually flesh a big beaver in about 20-25 minutes.  Lots of guys are WAY faster, but that is about how long it takes me.  I'm a rare person, as I enjoy fleshing beaver, therapeutic!!! 

[Norman89]

I think I worked the hide maybe 30 minutes? And it looks ok I think but my fleshing knife really isn't sharp at all I felt I was pushing way to hard for the amount of cutting I was getting on the fat I think that's why I tore the belly in one spot maybe ill try to sharpen it some and see how the next one goes

[Humptulips]

I figure for me to semi-clean skin on average plus getting the castors out is about 20 minutes. Then I spend another 5 to 10 minutes with the fleshing knife.
I know I have done a dozen in 6 hours with some short breaks. Hard on the back!

[Norman89]

I have heard how hard it is on the back that's why I built my fleshing beam real tall and I was very pleased with how it did no real back problems after working the hide cause I was standing almost straight up the whole time

[Humptulips]

For me the "hard on the back" came from the skinning. Skin more then 6 in a row without a break and you'll figure out why.

[Norman89]

Oh I agree!  By the second one I found it easier to sit at a table to to the majority of the skinning!

[Turner89]

I have a very sharp fleshing knife for the middle 10 inches or so.  Once I get to the sides I switch fleshing knives and just push the fat off.  I actually like to flesh my beaver hides after the come out of the freezer, while the flesh and fat still have some ice crystals in them.  Fleshing is much easier IMO.  Watch those nipples under the front legs, you'll pop a hole in the hide every time if you're not careful.  The belly is very easy to tear.  Then when you get down to the lower back, right above when the tail is a really sharp fleshing knife makes that so easy to shave off the thick gristle and fat.  I'm not speadster but by the end of the season I usually flesh a big beaver in about 20-25 minutes.  Lots of guys are WAY faster, but that is about how long it takes me.  I'm a rare person, as I enjoy fleshing beaver, therapeutic!!! 

I'm sick also fred    I really enjoy putting up beaver.

[Norman89]

Best day on the line yet! 47 and 31lbs and a bonus rat

[jasnt]

Heck ya

[JakeLand]

Nice job ! Who's the photo bomber

[bear hunter]

Hell yeah......? I love doubles

[Cultusman]

You really should skin those things before ya throw em in the fridge.
Nice Catch