Skinning an animal

[El gran J]

I've skinned an animal or two, in my life, both domestic animals and wild game, but I've often seen people do it different ways.  How do you do it, and why?  Easier, Habit, It's how you were shown?  Curious to know?

[pintail_drake2004]

Skin deer with a truck, rabbits by hand-no knife needed, coons/yotes with a winch, fox/mink/muskrats/skunks with a knife cuz they are easy, and beaver I just take my time with my knife so I dont have to flesh them. Some are trial and error, others were because its easier and faster.

[MnFn]

Alltime favorite thing to clean is ruffed grouse.  Put one foot on each wing, (belly up) and pull the legs.

[reddogge]

I skin deer by hanging head down and use a knife. A B&D cordless Sawsall makes some of the leg and bone cuts quick and easy but if I don't have that a hacksaw with a coarse blade will do.

[Rob W.]

I always skin deer head up. Lets me remove all quarters easily and keeps anything nasty that still maybe around the pooper down away from everything.

Also I make a small knife hole when rolling down hide and place a hardwood dowel through to pull down.
Rob

[JimB]

It all depends on what type animal,whether the skin is to be used and where I have to skin it.

Furbearers going to fur market are skinned according to what the fur buyers want.Most are cased but there are exceptions.

Antelope and deer that I can get the truck to and lift myself,I put on the tailgate and skin one side,roll it over,skin the other,gut and haul to the butcher whole.

Bears and other stuff taken back in the hills,I skin on the ground.Skin one side,roll,skin the other,then quarter for hauling on a pack frame.

Animals meant for taxidermy may be skinned differently,depending on the situation.I prefer large animals cut down the belly and smaller animals cut dorsally.

[Shawn Leonard]

I skin deer both head up and head down, I prefer head up as I think it is easier to get around shoulders and legs joints that way. I use a knife to do the fine work on all small critters! Shawn

[TxAg]

We skin deer/hogs head down. Don't gut them either. A few cuts and we're still able to get the loins without all the mess. I use a knife for everything except for snapping the leg and neck bones (use limb loppers for that).

[sawtoothscream]

deer i hang up by the back legs. then i cut around the ankle area in th ehind legs and cut all the way up the leg. after that just pull and cut until its to the head and then cut the head off

[sawtoothscream]

on squirrel i cut around the body mid section  then cut the tail and around the legs. then i step on the tail and pull up then i grab theother half of the skin and just pull it and cut the head off.

[shortstroke 91]

I do it the same as TxAg. When you're done there's nothing but skin, half of 4 legs and a ribcage with all the guts inside.