Beaver fur silencers for life!!!

[Chris Shelton]

#3693

Hey everyone, havent had much to say lately, but I got something I want to share with you guys. I had a first today. Been a while since Ive had a first, but I am pretty excited about it. been trapping all season, but without any major success. Untill today, better late then never, because the season for these guys ends on Monday, lol. But I snared my first beaver!!! I know it aint directly related to trad archery, but I think I will get some beaver balls from him for my bow, and I think that tail is definatly going to be made into a grip for my longbow!!!

[Patrick]

#22514

It sure is directly related considering you’re going to put him to good use on your longbow. Very cool GTA!

[William Warren]

#22915

Yeah, that tail hide will look good on a long bow for a handle. I’m glad you got one for all your effort!

[Stephen Graf]

#23380

That beaver looks suspiciously dry….

And where is all that snow you had?????

Good luck with the hide and tail. If you are going to tan it yourself, don’t take any shortcuts on degreasing the hide/tail. If you don’t get it completely degreased before tanning it, peeuuuuu!

And it’s nice to hear from you!

[Chris Shelton]

#23504

Thanks guys!

Steve, it is about gone, lol. Actually the tripod is sitting on a pile of snow, but there is really like none.

I caught him over my freinds house, the picture was taken at my house, and he was actually snared up on the bank, and was there for a little bit before I got there yesterday at about 830, that should explain the dry, lol. My buddies property is along side a small creek, it is really a river, but it is called a creek, lol

I am going to tan it myself, I have never degreased with anything other than tide, but my tanning book says to use some kerosene I am nervous about that. But I think I might just go for it. . . It is not as bad as any coon or possum I have done so mabye I wont, just a bunch more baths in the tide might do it? Mabye some dawn, lol

[Buzzard]

#23987

Congrats GTA, our season here ended Feb 28. And yes, you’ll have silencers for life. I’ve been cutting on a kit pelt i caught in ’01 for myself and friends and still have about half of it left.

[William Warren]

#24018

Chris,

Kerosene might be safer than gasoline 😯

I have seen a taxidermist use gasoline but I do not suggest you do it.

I got sprayed with grease from a backhoe once and when I got home I coated my jacket with Lemon Joy dish detergent let it soak awhile before tossing it in the washer with more Lemon Joy. It completely removed the grease with one wash cycle!

Maybe Joy will work on beaver grease?

Duncan

[Stephen Graf]

#24533

Chris,

I tried to degrease a beaver tail with bio-diesel fuel, which is supposed to be an excellent solvent. Didn’t work too well.

If it was me, I’d stick with the tide or joy. Cheaper and easier to dispose of.

I think Duncan has a good idea… Maybe when your mom isn’t looking, you could just toss that tail in with load of laundry she’s doing 😀 😀 I hope you are living on campus, cause if you aren’t, you will be!! 😯 😯

[Bert]

#24736

Nice looking critter, Chris. Cari-Bow is selling beaver handgrips for 25 bucks a pop- they sure make a good looking grip, though. I think you should make an old time trapper hat with the rest of the hide- and then attend your local PETA meeting!!- Bert
People
Eating
Tasty
Animals

[M]

#24851

I love beaver.

[Chris Shelton]

#25098

Hey guys! To update you all on my process, the tide worked good. It is in the pickle right now, which is the first step in the tanning process. I can leave it in there forever, and reflesh it untill it is 100% clean, which right about now it is about 90%, still some fat that just didnt want to come off. If it is like any of the other hides I have done it will come right off after about a day or so in the pickle.

Guys dont you know you throw that kinda stuff in the wash when she is at work:lol:

[William Warren]

#25127

Bert wrote: Nice looking critter, Chris. Cari-Bow is selling beaver handgrips for 25 bucks a pop- they sure make a good looking grip, though. I think you should make an old time trapper hat with the rest of the hide- and then attend your local PETA meeting!!- Bert
People
Eating
Tasty
Animals

BTW – beaver is an excellent meal, or so I’ve heard:D

[Chris Shelton]

#25666

Duncan wrote: BTW – beaver is an excellent meal, or so I’ve heard:D

O we are going to fine out here before long. I dont waste anything. If I dont like to eat it, I probably wont kill it, with the exception of groundhogs and carp. But in situations like this, there is only one way to find out if I like it . . .:lol:

[Bert]

#25703

Get a copy of Rick Black’s, ‘Wild Game- chilis, soups, and stews’- great recipes for everything that walks, flies or swims- plus his stories are an absolute hoot! He’s got 6 recipes for beaver- and basic prep is remove(carefully) the scent glands between the forelegs, under the thighs and along the small of the back. Strip off all the fat as it’s very strong, then cover with water, bring to a boil, adding 1 tablespoon each baking soda and black pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes, drain and add to your soups and stews.
Good eatin’!- Bert

[William Warren]

#26238

Chris Shelton wrote: [quote=Duncan]BTW – beaver is an excellent meal, or so I’ve heard:D

O we are going to fine out here before long. I dont waste anything. If I dont like to eat it, I probably wont kill it, with the exception of groundhogs and carp. But in situations like this, there is only one way to find out if I like it . . .:lol:

I’ve heard groundhog is good. Probably the young ones are best with less fat to remove. I know this is true with racoons. I’ve BBQ’d the small ones but the ‘coons over 4 pounds have too much fat for me.

Hey how’s about a “cook along”!

[Chris Shelton]

#26815

Well, when we first moved here, dad finally shot his first groundhog, it was eating his black eyed susans. He couldnt even skin it!:shock: Dad is one of those guys that will keep his knife razor sharp at all times. Of course that doesnt match up to my new gerber blade, they really make a hell of a blade. So I skinned my first adult the other day. I figured if the hide was that thick it might be worth it to use the leather. And it might be worth it, took about 45 min to skin one though! But I looked it over real good. That thing was worse than the possums I catch! and that is saying something.

FYI for you guys though, the other night I had to cook dinner for dad and I. And I cooked something “secret”, lol.
I let dad munch in first, asked what he though, he said I cooked them too long, but he said it was good. I asked what he thought it was, he looked at me and said “its chicken right”? My awnser was “nope possum”:lol:

Moral of the story is that when you fry them legs up they actually taste exactly like dark meat chicken, even the same texture! But then again we have “fluffy” possums around here, not like the nasty ones in the city! Then it might be a different story . . .

[William Warren]

#27316

The mountain folk here valued the groundhog’s fat rendered into an oil, used as a liniment for various aches and pains.
Bet that groundhog hide would make a good primitive bow string.
That possum sounds like it may be like racoon. The racoon is mostly dark meat too.

[Chris Shelton]

#27387

Duncan wrote: Bet that groundhog hide would make a good primitive bow string.
That possum sounds like it may be like racoon. The racoon is mostly dark meat too.

It could possibly be too thick? It is really thick especially up by the neck, almost as thick if not thicker than whitetail hide:shock:. I think this one is going to make a good possiblities bag? Wont know till it is done tanning really. But I want one bad, might have to go through skinning another or mabye even a few more to get more leather to work?

The possum was almost identical to the raccons I have gotten, that is why I laugh when folks throw out there grinners and keep the coons. If you skin these critters without tryin to keep the fat and membrane off the hide, you will be better off. It is alot easier to get fat off a hide than it is trying to get it off a hunk of meat, lol

[William Warren]

#28412

Yeah, if it is thick it might not work for a bowstring. I’ve always thought a groundhog pelt would make a great sporran, The bag Scotsmen wear in front of the kilt. If you had not guessed already I’m from Scottish descent. I saw a dude wearing a possum sporran with the head on (skinned of course)at the Highland games a couple years ago!

[Chris Shelton]

#28949

I can picture that, he was probably like me, just using whatever he had at the time, lol

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