Fleshing Woodchucks!!!

[Bakes168]

For those of you familiar with fleshing and tanning your own pelts/hides...HOLY COW!!
I just got done fleshing a woodchuck right after I skinned it and fleshing is hard. It takes lots of time, patience and skill. That was only the second thing I have fleshed, the first being a squirrel and I'm hoping it's just that squirrels and woodchucks have tough skin cause if it's like this on every animal then I'm not so sure I want to keep doing this. I have a few books on the subject but they don't help much.
When I would try to scrape the fat and flesh off, the knife would just roll over it because of the fat oils, and if I pushed too hard then I would cut through the skin. I have it tacked and drying on a board in my room right now, it's not too bad but I don't think it's worth tanning cause the skin is kind of haggard.


If anyone has any experience with this sort of thing or any tips or anything, PLEASE SHARE!!! I really want to do this cause it would be sweet to have my own tanned pelts and skins but that woodchuck was crazy!

Thanks,
Bakes
 

[woodslinger]

You haven't fleshed anything until you do an otter! The woodchuck and squirel can be fleshed fairly easily and quickly with the right set up and scraper. Check out this link and look at the fleshing beams and the fleshing tools.   http://www.fntpost.com/Categories/Fur+Handling/  

I would sugest the muskrat board and the four sided scraper. This is the scraper I use for all my fox, mink and muskrats. If you are serious about learning to flesh talk to some local trappers or fur buyers and they could show how its done.

[Bakes168]

Thanks woodslinger! That's a great site.
Bakes

[trapperDave]

ya need to let em cool and let the fat set up before fleshing,makes it much easier  

[pintail_drake2004]

been doing alot of my own hides for years. I like to let them cool after i skin them out-with the beaver i trap, we actually partially freeze them-the fat thickens up and fleshes off alot easier. A good 1 handles fleshing knife-heavy is good. 1 side razor sharp, the other blunt. Chucks shouldnt take but a few minutes to put up. Save the brains to tan the hide when you are done.

[woodslinger]

Bakes,
Go to this site and download the fur handling book. Good information on the proper way to skin and handle pelts.

http://www.furharvesters.com/magazine.htm

[Jerry Jeffer]

Try getting as much off while skinning. Then you need a nice sharp tool for the rest; wether it's a fleshing tool or knife.  Once you get it pretty well fleshed, stretch it and scrape it down until it is white. I like to use a shoulder blade bone or leg bone that has been cut at an angle to have an edge. Don't scrape down to the hair follicle. The you are ready to tan. Yep, it is a bunch of work. If done correctly, the rewards can be great.

[Drew]

If you plan on doing a lot of animals...I'd invest in a good Necker fleshing knife and make a fleshing beam.

It just takes practice to find the right touch, find a trapper in your area and ask for some help.  If you don't have any luck in your area...your welcome to stop by my place this winter for a lesson.

[Doc Nock]

Never tried to flesh a hog hide...used some years ago for fly tying and just boraxed them after a good hand scrape to get the worst of the fat off.

I'd think this time of year, any 'hide' would be more difficult being it would be "thin" and harder to flesh without damaging the hide.

[Bakes168]

Thanks a lot guys, this is all very helpful. This is definitely something I want to get into...which is also bad because I barely have time or money for bow hunting    :(  .

Bakes