Best way to flesh a rat (2024)

J

spoon here too, on wooden boards that are shellacked and then waxed. No need for belly boards. BUT I have a lot of old wire stretchers and that Idea of Nimzs looks good, might try it......jk

Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free. What's supposed to be ain't always is. Hopper Hunter

R

With all due respect to all, Nimzy has probably caught and put up more rats in his life than anyone on this forum. Looking at the stretcher I can see the benefits, and I use wood.

Chippewatrapper - I used a cheap plastic ice scraper for years worked great, but I now have the Wiebe one linked and it's just a bit easier. It took a couple of rats to quit pushing too hard when switching to metal. I also made a fleshing board out of plywood, same size as my boards for scraping on.

Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.

W

Last edited by walleyed; Yesterday at 01:18 PM.

"Provisional/Interim" member of NYS Trappers Association
Jefferson Co. Fur Harvesters

I Support Non-Resident Trapping

C

So is this fleshed enough?

WTA
NTA
Chippewa rod and gun

B

Yea that'll dry.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.

S

Thank God For Your Blessings!
Never Half-Arse Anything!

Resource Protection Service

M

I did rats on a reversible board,.stationary base and flipped board ,.no turning of hide,.a simple and quick.
Taught to me by an established fur dresser . A slim propane bottle cut and and handled with a dowel proved very effective.
This method served well with thousands of hides.

N

B

How well do the pins hold in that plastic when the pelt dries.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.

N

Very well. Coroplast has 2 sides. When you get too many holes throw a piece of duct tape over it. Pinning is way nicer thN those hooks.

W

Last edited by walleyed; Yesterday at 09:46 PM.

"Provisional/Interim" member of NYS Trappers Association
Jefferson Co. Fur Harvesters

I Support Non-Resident Trapping

N

Nafa sizes. Yellow is xl and orange lg and black is small

M

Thanks for your posts Nimzy,..many will benefit from it.

N

You’re welcome!
I was brought up tight lipped. Spent too many hours chasing marshes and muskrats. Figured most everything out the hard way. And still learning. such is trapping.

W

"Provisional/Interim" member of NYS Trappers Association
Jefferson Co. Fur Harvesters

I Support Non-Resident Trapping

N

W

"Provisional/Interim" member of NYS Trappers Association
Jefferson Co. Fur Harvesters

I Support Non-Resident Trapping

L

Great thread!

Eh...wot?

Use the broad you will stretch the pelt on, or if using wire for rats use a small rat board to flesh on. Pull the pelt on so that you can flesh the side and then flip the broad to do the other side. Then straighten the pelt out so you are ready to tack the pelt on the board. Then finish the belly and back, leaving the saddle membrane on the pelt, except mink if it has a lot of fat under the saddle.
A curved small pelt (stirrup) flesher is the ideal tool for the fleshing of rats, mink/marten and other small animals when using their forming boards in the fleshing process.
[img]https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2024/03/full-12152-210667-001_copy.jpg[/im

The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.