Here is how I skin a gray fox. I do it a lot faster when not trying to make a video I promise. I may still be slow, but I haven’t ever skinned but 2 of them so y’all bear with me. Oh and if you use a hook bill razor knife, it works better the flatter you lay it.
Opening cut for me.


This is just to show how I ring the legs and try to keep my knife sharp.


This is how I gambrel critter. I use #72 or #96 tarred nylon fishing twin. It grips the flesh very well and if I were to cut the tendon using a hook gambrel I would be out of luck.


It pays to keep your knife real sharp. A dull knife will cut you faster than a sharp one as you have to add so much pressure to make a dull one cut. I am using a Chicago Cutlery 4” boning knife and a Dexter/Russell Skin all to remove the hide. I try to keep them both as sharp as possible. But they both are old and need changing out.



This is the cheater I use. I try to say my hands with every process.



At the end you see I make one cut, in real time, I pull the nose off and then cut the bottom lip off at the base of the pelt leaving the lip on the carcass.

Buzzard the next to last video is just for you. Yall all tell Buzzard what he is missing by not having high speed. LOL

Great Post

thanks for the videos tony, now if i had high speed internet, i could watch them and they would help me since i plan on catching my first one this weekend, lol.

Sorry James. I was feeling bad when I made this video cause I knew you and Buzzy could not watch it. I will see if I can find someone that will let me skin their fox this week and see if I can make a dial up speed video for ya.

good video and I mean both of them.you are helping a lot of young and OLD trappers a lot with them.do more

I think Buzz is on high speed now.

M Howard. On my gambrel, I used a couple choker chain dog collars. They make a loop real quick, and will grip tight even on a slimy coon leg. Plus, I can really pull on a hide if need be, and they don't break.

I tried watching the second video and it comes up with some ad stuff that I can't close out of. Says my computer is infected with a bunch of viruses and I need to download this program, but the 3 anti-virus programs I'm running now (which are all updated) say differently.

Is this something new with photobucket?

That is odd! I use Mozilla Firefox as my standard browser but also have Safari as a backup. I have pop-ups blocked on both programs, but always get the stuff on Firefox and don't get it when I try to open the videos in Safari. Talk about odd!

Good videos though!

wtg howard..................

thanks M. Howard. Awesome videos.

I can see it take time to make your videos. I think all your video are a wonderful for the trapperman. young and old. Thanks.

Even if Buzzard gets high speed he will still be slow. Old age!


I have one like that also, but the chain does not bite like the tarred twine to me. If your referring to how much pressure you can apply when pulling with chain verses twine, those two twines are rated at 900lbs. I make then knotless so I get the full strength out of them. It is a endless loop the way I wrap them around the gambrel. I know it will support all I can pull with the wench.


I tried logging into photobucket this morning and got the same thing. How did you get it to stop? I have viruses protection also and don’t need that pop up mess.


Todd a gray fox is like paper even when green. Their leather is so easy to tare and will if I use the wench. I use the wench to set my height so I am never working below my belt line. The O2 level here in Louisiana is not that good below my belt line for some reason so I try to stay up right as much as possible. I have thought of using a snorkel when I bend over to tie my shoes. Do yall have that problem up there? Also, thanks, the gut is feel 100% today. I am now ready for some hot gumbo from Paces Seafood today.

Looks like Photobucket has the site cleared up.

I will make a post just for you.

very good post MH

Hey cuz, I think you need to invest in a light in that shed. If I ever make it over there for my fleshing demo I will need some more light on the subject. My eyes are getting too old. LOL Good job on the instructional videos.

Good Vids MH!


I hate it when I get down to the head and the blood is running down the hide. An old rag makes it a lot easier to grip the pelt at that point. I know that you know this but I just thought I'd add that for others.

Well thank ya. I will try to make them in the day light from now on. The lighting works very well, the camera does not work well in the lights.