Got a few questions when I board it do I cut off the nose and wiskers or can I leave them on and just cut the lower lip pecies off?
Second do I have to nail the leg holes shut or should I leave them open?

First one I got no idea

I cut the nose and wiskers off. Others leave them on. Either sew or close the leg holes.

The auction houses measure to about 1" above the eyes, so you don't need the nose and whiskers on. It's really a matter of preferance. Always close up your leg holes.

Always close up your leg holes. [/quote]
very true

Done it both ways.......when I tan one however, I always leave it on.

I leave the nose and wiskers, cut off the hanging lips, and close the leg holes. It doesn't matter how, so long as you do so in a manner that won't cause rot.

Why does closing up the leg holes stop rot?

I've done a "few" beavers in my time, and not ONE has rotted due to leg holes not being nailed/sewn shut, or whiskers/lips being left on.

I think it would benefit the drying process of those areas, but I've never done it, and never had an issue with any of them.

The rotting will/can occur if to much flesh is overlapping-not allowing for the drying between the pieces. It is the air NOT being able to do it's job, not the other way around. So I, when nailing just overlap as little as possible so it doesn't tear out when drying...

I'm not trying to be mean....but DUH!!

I believe when you flesh, you should rid yourself of this scenario.

It doesn't, but doing a poor job closing them can cause rot. I've never had one rot, but I have seen a few put up by others that have rotted when the legs overlapped just a little.

Bear in mind...towards the end of trapping season here it can get to near 100% humidity, and steady 70s for days on end. Probably not much of a concern where you are at.



I think he meant skin on skin, not flesh on flesh....at least let's give him the benefit of the doubt that he is not talking about meat and fat left on the legs.

Believe me...leg rot can and will happen here in the south...

I've also seen a shed full of fox lose near all their hair in a day....and that probably doesn't happen in Alaska often either...

Having a military father, I KNOW the humidity in the south, and I can understand that aspect. However (in bold above) if not doing it doesn't, but doing it incorrectly can....then why even do it? Other than looks ofcourse.

definitly take the nose and wiskers off, this is because auction houses staple tags to each pelt, kinda like a barcode, for identification. with the lip it is harder for a grader to preform thids task. since they proably get paid so much for each beaver graded the harder it is to staple the tag the pelt, the lower grade you get, therefore you get lower prices.

Because it's not hard to do right. Like I said...I don't have any problems....then again, I had no problem selling them with open leg holes either.