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Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: Family Trapper] #3750194
04/08/13 07:31 PM
04/08/13 07:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
smalltimetrapper Offline
small greenhorn
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Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Stiff fur is not true IMO. But if I were to make hats in the future again it would be from otter hands down. Wears much better than beaver. Especially if your some one that wears goggles. Just pulling them off repeatedly will pull your forehead guard hairs out over time. Never see that on otter.


I think plucked beaver is in style now, could even shear it before hand and not have to worry about guard hairs.

Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3750233
04/08/13 07:54 PM
04/08/13 07:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Family Trapper Offline
trapper
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Homer, Alaska
The last hat I made and lost in the Anchorage Airport was a plucked and sheared beaver belly fur for the inside lining and leather out side with the traditional beaver V in front. My next one when I ever get it done is the same except otter fur on the outside front V. Beaver appears too long against the leather IMO. Nothing finer to wear on a cold day in my opinion. Comfort, Warmth, and good looking.
My dream is to match it with some otter mukluks as well. On my bucket list. ;0)
I have the chrome tanned otter and beaver for the job. Just need the time.
LIke Ken all I have ever made and worn were beaver. But when I started making hats for my kids I turned to otter as it was much shorter and they didn't look like they were wearing a football helmet. I really took a liking to it. But was too busy keeping them in cloths to ever get mine done. ;0)

Found this photo of my kids and I years ago putting on a fur fashion show. ;0)
My youngest at the time, Libby, in a beaver parka. Jenna (in red) sporting beaver mukluks. Both Jenna and Garrity in Otter hats with plucked beaver insides.
And my hat described above with the leather outside and plucked beaver inside.
Only way I was able to take my kids out on the line with me for any length of time was to dress them in fur.



Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3750294
04/08/13 08:22 PM
04/08/13 08:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,735
SW Alaska
otterman Offline
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SW Alaska
Land Otter is considered one of the most durable furs in the world with Seal actually being even a bit better but for warmth and softness nothing beats sea otter with sheared beaver a close second.
Spek I would be sad if most of my beaver ran in the mid to low sixtys here they tend more to be on the large side of things 66-72 we call them large but that is what I catch the most of. I have a couple every year in the 74-78 inch class but have yet to stretch one 80


We get out of life only as much as we really want and work hard enough to achieve
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3750391
04/08/13 09:01 PM
04/08/13 09:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Family Trapper Offline
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Homer, Alaska
Man I wish we could get the natives here interested in taking a pile of sea otters. We are over run with the darn things. That is a fur that I would love to have some day. Maybe they will delist them some day and have a season on them.

Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3750518
04/08/13 10:03 PM
04/08/13 10:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,046
Homer, Alaska
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Spek Jones Offline
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Homer, Alaska
Otterman, I was happy as a clam until you said that, now I'm all down in the dumps. Lol. You have bigger beaver there sounds like, wonder if it's feed related, genetics, or maybe predation related? Only the very old ones here, with the tough, scarred up hides, ever go over 70 inches. They are pretty rare, which is fine, since my wife doesn't particularly like them for sewing.

Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3750533
04/08/13 10:09 PM
04/08/13 10:09 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,735
SW Alaska
otterman Offline
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SW Alaska
Spek, I wonder if it is a feed thing or do they get pressure from other people as well as you? I have noticed that the tundra beaver here run slightly smaller than those in the river eating bark rather than lilly roots. They also tend to have more beaver in a house on the river vs the tundra ponds and creeks.


We get out of life only as much as we really want and work hard enough to achieve
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3750550
04/08/13 10:18 PM
04/08/13 10:18 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,124
McGrath, AK
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white17 Online content OP

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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McGrath, AK
It's rare for me (ok ok, Barb) to take a beaver under 70" on my line. I attribute that to low pressure from us and low densities of beaver. That's just a guess.


Mean As Nails
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3750676
04/08/13 11:22 PM
04/08/13 11:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,046
Homer, Alaska
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Spek Jones Offline
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Homer, Alaska
OM, They have lot's of feed here, and no one else traps them anywhere near me. Bears do lay into them though, blacks and browns both. But it may just be genetics, because the few old ones I do get seldom will stretch to 70 inches.

Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3750742
04/09/13 12:10 AM
04/09/13 12:10 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336
Alaska
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piperniner Offline
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Alaska
X3 - regarding otter for hats rather than beaver.

Imho - One of the best looking hats is a seal baseball cap with otter bill. Not very practical for the trapline though.

Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3763681
04/16/13 09:56 PM
04/16/13 09:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 65
AUK,Alaska
A
Ak-49 Offline
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AUK,Alaska

Had fun went to manumick and across flattop no jackrabbits though, must all be over there by kuzi.


Pile fur
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3764661
04/17/13 01:57 PM
04/17/13 01:57 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,979
Alaska
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Hupurest Offline
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Alaska
my next hat I am going to try something different.

Instead of skinning the beaver the "normal" way, I am going to cut down the back and leave the belly "whole".
Leaving it intact will allow the sewer to have a bigger piece of belly fur to work with.
that way I will have all that nice soft belly fur with none of the long guard hairs or having to pluck it.


the hat i have now is super warm, but those guard hairs poking in te ear or frosting up on the front are annoying...


Originally Posted By: Malukchuk
I'll take wolves over idiots any day.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: Spek Jones] #3764665
04/17/13 01:59 PM
04/17/13 01:59 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,330
Fairbanks, Alaska
Pete in Frbks Offline
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Fairbanks, Alaska
Originally Posted By: Spek Jones
OM, They have lot's of feed here, and no one else traps them anywhere near me. Bears do lay into them though, blacks and browns both. But it may just be genetics, because the few old ones I do get seldom will stretch to 70 inches.


Pull harder.....! wink

Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: Hupurest] #3764707
04/17/13 02:33 PM
04/17/13 02:33 PM
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Posts: 2,365
Billings, MT
Wolfwoman Offline
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Billings, MT
Originally Posted By: Hupurest
my next hat I am going to try something different.

Instead of skinning the beaver the "normal" way, I am going to cut down the back and leave the belly "whole".
Leaving it intact will allow the sewer to have a bigger piece of belly fur to work with.
that way I will have all that nice soft belly fur with none of the long guard hairs or having to pluck it.


the hat i have now is super warm, but those guard hairs poking in te ear or frosting up on the front are annoying...


That is why, when I make beaver fur hats, I position the earflaps along the edges, no poking. See, if you'd used me, you'd not have had that problem. wink

Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3764720
04/17/13 02:44 PM
04/17/13 02:44 PM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,365
Billings, MT
Wolfwoman Offline
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Billings, MT
Originally Posted By: smalltimetrapper
Was thinking of making a beaver hat, but someone here told me that beaver gets stiff when it's really cold, unlike some other furs. Anyone have any comment on that?


I've made a few 100 beaver hats over the years and never had anyone complain of them being stiff. However, that depends on the tanning job!

Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3764839
04/17/13 04:16 PM
04/17/13 04:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,735
SW Alaska
otterman Offline
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SW Alaska
Hup The use of belly fur from kits is even better particularly for inside the ear flaps nice and soft winter caught kits are best as the leather is thicker and not subject to ripping


We get out of life only as much as we really want and work hard enough to achieve
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: Pete in Frbks] #3764883
04/17/13 04:51 PM
04/17/13 04:51 PM
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Posts: 1,046
Homer, Alaska
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Spek Jones Offline
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Homer, Alaska
Originally Posted By: Pete in Frbks
Originally Posted By: Spek Jones
OM, They have lot's of feed here, and no one else traps them anywhere near me. Bears do lay into them though, blacks and browns both. But it may just be genetics, because the few old ones I do get seldom will stretch to 70 inches.


Pull harder.....! wink


Pete, I stretch them by the 51 rule.

Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: otterman] #3765003
04/17/13 05:57 PM
04/17/13 05:57 PM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,365
Billings, MT
Wolfwoman Offline
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Billings, MT
Originally Posted By: otterman
Hup The use of belly fur from kits is even better particularly for inside the ear flaps nice and soft winter caught kits are best as the leather is thicker and not subject to ripping


Yup, yup, yup!!!!

Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: otterman] #3766010
04/18/13 01:29 AM
04/18/13 01:29 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,979
Alaska
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Hupurest Offline
"Andy S wannabe"
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Alaska
Originally Posted By: otterman
Hup The use of belly fur from kits is even better particularly for inside the ear flaps nice and soft winter caught kits are best as the leather is thicker and not subject to ripping


If only I could get me some unborn seal skin..... That would be the softest...


Originally Posted By: Malukchuk
I'll take wolves over idiots any day.
Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3766018
04/18/13 01:48 AM
04/18/13 01:48 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,349
Interior Alaska
smalltimetrapper Offline
small greenhorn
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Interior Alaska
Hup, I thought of doing that down the back skinning for the same reason you mentioned. Seems it would give you a nice piece of soft stuff to work with.

Bonnie, I may be contacting you when I get stuff back from the tannery! My wife says she would sew one for me, but hasn't done anything with fur yet.

Re: The Almighty Alaskan Thread #6 [Re: white17] #3766025
04/18/13 01:59 AM
04/18/13 01:59 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Family Trapper Offline
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Homer, Alaska
Quote:
Instead of skinning the beaver the "normal" way, I am going to cut down the back and leave the belly "whole".
Leaving it intact will allow the sewer to have a bigger piece of belly fur to work with.
that way I will have all that nice soft belly fur with none of the long guard hairs or having to pluck it.

From my experience it isn't needed. I saved my intact bellies for other projects.
When I made a hat I cut out mirror images of the belly for the left and right. So you end up working from the middle to get matches anyway.
Now if you were going to use two kits for your hat using a whole kits belly per side would be a good ideas. If you try to make the inside flap out of one side of a kits belly you will get too far into the back and the underfur is not nearly so thick.
Now if you were going to pluck the belly whole bellie on a large beaver you would have a great piece for one side of a pillow. !!

Last edited by Family Trapper; 04/18/13 02:23 AM.
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