I have a few hooped beavers and I was thinking of having a case skinned beaver tanned for the fur pole display at our cabin. I was planning to make my own form board for drying and experiment with the size by trial and error. Any other thoughts on boarding a case skinned beaver?

We had a handful of those come thru our ITA sale. Drew lots of interest and sold for more than the regular hooped beaver, likely as a novelty item. Here's a couple pics, looks like they used raccoon stretchers but couldn't tell you for sure. I think an XL coon board would work good

I like the idea

I do too; I wonder how hard they will be to skin.

Just having done a clean skinned one I would say it was a royal pain n the _ _ _. Of course the one I did I left the feet and tail on.

My kids are begging me to do a couple like this too - tail on. It sounds like a fun idea, but we'll see how it turns out in practice...

I used to case and tan the kits and smalls for trade they make a very nice Popsibles bag. Haven't trapped a beav for 10 years or more.

I cased a small one once (pain in the butt) and stretched it on a large wire stretcher. Shipped it with my muskrats to NAFA hoping for a top lot... Darn grader caught it...

The Beaver Book by Nick Wyshinski will explain the case method.

I was planning on ringing the feet but I would like to hear if anyone (Boco) has ever tanned a beaver foot- I would think it would resemble a pork rind left on a Jonhson Silver Minnow in July upon completion.

Funny! So do you open them like a coon?

I helped a guy last year case skin one with tail on for display not too bad but he had the tanner skin the tail as I understand it the tanning of the tail was done separately then sewn back on. Not 100% on that.

I case skinned a few some years back. Did it so I could put them on my beam flesh like did coon
Once got them fleshed I cut them open nailed them out like always had. I only did a few that way just because wanted try fleshing that way. So can't say would have a real idea of if saved any work one way or other. If a guy was going to have them tanned to make a garment for them selves. Might be quicker and easier stretching drying case cut open after. Can't loose any size to usuable fur wouldn't think. Be for sure quicker that tacking out on board. Wish I would seen this sooner. Got 6 in freezer was thinking of sending to have tanned.

Mac

Always wondered if they are skinned open just for the fur trade or if it was impossible to case skin one...

Seems like it's very possible.



I want to have one tanned to hang with the fur collection. Was considering open skinning upto the neck and leaving the head cased. I did that right a red fox I couldn't pull the legs down to the feet I wanted to save. Hangs fine.


Might try it. Even if it takes longer to skin, I'm only doing a couple. I'd like another one or 2 to maybe make a possible bag to go with my flintlock rifles.

I case skinned one the other day and wont ever board one again like normal unless the prices go way up. 100% the way to go in my opinion. For your board it probably should be closer to about 8.5" wide at the bottom though. For me it was much easier to case skin it, and it takes up way less real estate which is a plus for me. I also used a raccoon board to stretch, but like I said the bottom is a little too narrow to get a good stretch on it.

Added pics, go a little easy on me guys I am fixing it up a it dries beginner trapper. However I think you could do it like this and have uniform cuts at the bottom for every beaver, just my .02 cents.

I cut all the feet off and hang by the tail. open and skin like a muskrat. The smaller ones, under medium large are easy to pull and easy to flesh on a beam.

Don't think I've ever seen anyone leave the castor on a hide before.

I case skinned a few for S&G's. After fleshing I opened then up and stretched oval. If I do it again I'll put them on a yote stretcher.

I've got a bunch of cased and tanned beaver in stock. Have 40 more this spring. Made my boards out of plywood and used an ironing board for a pattern. They come back from tannery sweet

I'm gonna do a couple upside down (split up the back) just to see how they turn out.