Nice job Dave. I have a bunch in my freezer to do during the summer. As if I don't have enough projects to do already. Anyway, you make that look a lot easier than I remember doing my last ones.
Oh wow I didn't know tails can be used to but makes sense I'm getting ready to do my first trapping I am 100%country and not scared to do anything trapping hunting fishing now I'm doing my first trapping I already know how to skin just now learned one can skin the tail thanks
Good Job Dave i never did one but i know some trappers who did skin the tails years ago i think the HBC was buying them at the time i am not sure about that though. i think the price was $1.25 it was a long time ago.. but if you could find some place to sell with all the beavers you catch could be worth it. i think you did an excellent skinning job it looks like the ones i have seen before. have a good day!!
Once you get the tail opened up remove and save all that fat and bone to render down into oil or lard. It can be used as scent, lamp oil, cooking oil, and combined with dried and powdered meat to make pemmican.
Off the topic just thickness of the tail skin ok Dave.....Roast it over open fire till charred, then peel the charred skin off like you would a baked potato, see the white, greasy flesh underneath. Boil itl over the fire in water for an hour or more, or until the flesh is tender and easy to cut. Enjoy with salt and pepper, or a little ketchup or mustard. imo that's the best thing to do with it esp with the prices on the market today ahahah.
I trap nuisance beaver and coyotes in Alabama year round. You can take the fat and bone out of the tail and put it in a jar outside in the hot sun. Maybe 3-5 tails worth. The beaver tail oil will seperate and be on top. Skim off the oil and throw out the settled stuff. Add beaver oil sacks, beaver meat ,beaver castor and beaver blood or deer blood. During your trapping season you can catch beaver blood in a clean bucket and save it. My friend Tim Robert makes this mix with deer blood if you dont have any beaver blood. You can make your own mixure with measurements of each ingredient depending on how much ingredients you have. Put it in a blender or processor make a paste with it for Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, and other predators. Use it in dirt hole type sets. Everything likes to eat beaver especially coyotes and bobcats. Here in Alabama I catch alot more coyotes on Tim Robert's of Pennsylvanias "Slammin Beaver Lure" which is a true beaver otter only lure and this mix of tail oil, sack oils, castor gland and beaver meat mix than any coyote lure on the market. If you coyote trappers need another free lure that catches the heck out of coyotes that are trap shy or real skittish when they hit human scent , then this type mix will pull coyotes hard. Dont use beaver tail oil in your beaver sets. Hope this helps someone.
Knife sheaths are what I use them for and I sell the leather to knife makers and bowiers for the grips on long bows ..it’s such a odd looking leather it has many uses
You can make a pritty good knife sheath from a beaver tail you dont need to do something "special" with it but do it like with animal hides,just dry it.My grand father had a one from a beaver tail that hes dad made it lasted him for about 35 years,hes dad gave him a duck call that was made in 1934 amd now it mine,as a reminding of my granddad.
Hi Dave, I trap above the Arctic Circle and am headed back up to the line tomorrow for a week. I appreciate your videos and I have absolutely no criticism for your beaver tail skinning tutorial. Looks like the best way to me. Was wondering if you have a nice fisher that hasn't been shipped yet that you would like to barter or sell to a fellow trapper of the far North? Also after watching your videos about raven destroying your coyotes I thought I'd share something nearly as tragic from my line. I found a wolf that had been dead in one of my snares for a while and discovered that something-another wolf or maybe a lynx-had chewed off the ears right to the bases. Will have to use that one for ruff or mitts. Keep up the good work and hug the Bug for me. God bless you and your family. Dave
Thanks David. It was probably a wolf. I have never seen anything other than a wolf touch another wolf. Even the ravens don't touch them. i don't have any fisher left but I can check with a guy for you.
I don't think there is a wrong way unless it ends up tearing the skin. I split mine all the way around about a half inch and the bone with a bench vice. Peel slabs off and then clamp to a beam. Then use my fleshing knife to clean it off. If you have any ideas about a tanning solution I'd love to hear. Tried out several methods and still not getting a "leather" texture. I've done about 50 tails and have been able to sell them to hobbyists for bow handles, key chain leather, and even a bill for a hat. But still tying to get the supple leather finish. Any ideas would be welcome!
I have never sold them. There was a person buying them from southern manitoba but not sure who it was. I think Shoal Lake or somewhere around there. I have a wallet made from beaver tail.
Well im starting to kill them off and have tons, just shoot one last night and have full skin from head to tail, so if you just want to buy tail leather then im sure I can fulfill your order. As well as any one wanting to buy the fur. hehe RandMcNally84@gmail .com
I saw somewhere that would buy them but they had certain specs on the width. I just don't remember. I bet that bit of worthless information was a help.LOL
It is a point system that they go by. You get points if you are a helper, or a relative, how much fur you have been producing, and a few other criteria.
Well let me tell you what you can do with this tail after tanning you bring led sinkers and measure and draw a shape of a pear on the hide . doing so you have to take in consideration the size of the sinkers vs how much you need for the needle yes we are going to sew the hide so you don't want to run out hide (space) stitches on the inside so you sewing hide face up and then folded inside-out it is the shape of the pear but when you cut you make sure you create a handle ,so it is a shape of a pear yes but with a long nose . this handle could be made by milted led or a bone shank or from wood but it has to be adjusted to the shape . this is going to be at the end like a bonker... a fish bonker but abit shorter there is a nick name for it but I just can't remember it it starts or it has "jack" in it ; slipped out of my mind , guess I am getting old it is for knocking somebody on the head to get him off you or to make him unconscious yes it is a weapon . there is a lanyard so you can have it around the rest . I know it is illegal to have in Canada but in the state I don't know
Not sure where to sell them. There is a guy in southern Manitoba that was paying 4 bucks but I am just doing a few to stock pile. I will put a post on the facebook page to see if anyone knows a buyer.
Do you think the skin could be tanned? Looks like it's just right for making mitts, wallets. Sure enjoy all your postings and trappers talk with your posse'
