Re: Otter tails!
[Re: son-of-grizz]
#6723365
01/10/20 11:46 AM
01/10/20 11:46 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,905 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,905
Wisconsin
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Here's how I do It. You need to take off each edge separately. Then once the edges are done take out the middle. If you try and do the whole tail at once well you know how It turns out. Once you get It figured out the tail Is the easiest part of the otter to flesh.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Otter tails!
[Re: son-of-grizz]
#6723414
01/10/20 12:29 PM
01/10/20 12:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,905 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,905
Wisconsin
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Lay the tail out on the beam. I also use a Necker .
Take the knife and just use 6" of the knife blade right next to the handle. By doing this you have better control and can exert more pressure. Know with the bevel up and the blade at a slight angle make the initial cut as you do this flatten the knife so Its just about flat and slice straight down while exerting pressure against the beam and away from the center of the tail. Then do the other edge. Once both edges are done you can go down the center and take off that area.
I know It's hard to explain but once you get the feel for It It's easy peasy.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Otter tails!
[Re: son-of-grizz]
#6723648
01/10/20 04:09 PM
01/10/20 04:09 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794 100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
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Before fleshing the otter tail take a knife with a sharp blade tip or a scalpel and split and cross hatch the beads of fat. This will greatly help with the tail fleshing procedure. Be careful not to cut into the leather, just the fat.
Last edited by bctomcat; 01/10/20 04:13 PM.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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Re: Otter tails!
[Re: son-of-grizz]
#6724000
01/10/20 09:41 PM
01/10/20 09:41 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,648 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,648
james bay frontierOnt.
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Split the beads on both sides like tomcat said so the tail lays flat on the beam,then throw a handful of sawdust on the tail and flesh it with a two handed fleshing knife or a beaver skinning knife.
Last edited by Boco; 01/10/20 09:43 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Otter tails!
[Re: son-of-grizz]
#6725600
01/12/20 02:32 AM
01/12/20 02:32 AM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 371 North, MS
TrapperCarl78
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 371
North, MS
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I have never used my fleshing knife on the tails. I always put down the two handled knife and grab my beaver skinning knife. Normally Victorinox Beef Skinner. I get the base of the tail started. I put one push pin at the very tip of the tail into the fleshing beam. ( i have one pin hole in my beam that gets used over and over) I flesh down one side of the tail at a time before fleshing the middle. When fleshing the sides I kind of flesh from the middle shaving out towards the side edges of the tail. Once you find what works for you and you do some more it will be easier.
TC
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Re: Otter tails!
[Re: backroadsarcher]
#6729131
01/14/20 08:34 PM
01/14/20 08:34 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794 100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
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I use my beaver knife to get a lot of the membrane off then lay the tail down the beam and use the dull side of the fleshing knife. I haven't done that many but that's how I have done the ones I have done. If there is a better way I to would like to learn it.!! Go back and re-read mine and "Boco's" post.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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Re: Otter tails!
[Re: son-of-grizz]
#6729135
01/14/20 08:37 PM
01/14/20 08:37 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,648 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,648
james bay frontierOnt.
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Another way is to semi clean skin the tail with a round end sharp beaver knife like a post or zepf.Then it will lay flat on the beam and you can finish it easy.You are leaving most of the fat on the tailbone.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Otter tails!
[Re: son-of-grizz]
#6729172
01/14/20 09:11 PM
01/14/20 09:11 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 610 pa.
jarentz
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 610
pa.
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I want to thank you guys for the free info!
jarentz
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Re: Otter tails!
[Re: son-of-grizz]
#6729398
01/15/20 12:10 AM
01/15/20 12:10 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,905 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,905
Wisconsin
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Your going to have a very hard time removing the gristle with the dull edge. I wouldn't worry about singe.
I find the easiest part of the otter Is the tail.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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