Beaver

[Plott]

Looking for some expertise. First year beaver trapper here with some issues with skinning and fur. #1 while skinning I came across these little black thorn like objects that went thru the hide and into the beaver. While fleshing they pulled thru and left little holes in the pelt. Any ideas? #2 it was one muddy critter how do you clean the fur. I cleaned it 4 times and it definitely is cleaner but not as good as I would like. Clumps in the fur and such. Any suggestions?

[rgw]

never flesh anything without brushing it to get mud balls, thorns etc. if you dont you will get holes every time

[traphound]

If I catch a real muddy or one that has a lot of silt,I take to cleaner water and let it soak in the current if you can.  I have tried to wash them with a hose but that didn't seem to work for me.

[Plott]

Ya I filled up a tub with water and slopped him around till water was brown dumped tub and rinsed tub and beav and did that 4 or 5 times until water stayed clear. But some of the fur is still stuck together. Thought bout using some of da wifes tresseme.lol. Just not happy with the fur. But it may be the best it gets.

[Kype]

if i remember correctly   "Johnson&Johnson" makes a de-tangle spray. always found it was easy to get burrs out of fur and other knots. either mix it in with the wash or buy the spray form and use a dog brush. like traphound said, i have rinse many fur bearers in a local stream to get most of my work done. its amazing how much mud and muck a swift moving stream or even creek will wash out mud and other debris. many times i have checked traps, put dispatched animals in streams and on my way back from checking other sets, i would pick them up. once i got home, i would have minimal brushing before the fleshing process. good luck

[Plott]

Have to try it next time

[tinemaster]

 

those lil bumps are teats or boobs they both have them male and female scent glands after a while you will learn where they are once the beaver is off the board rub borax in to the fur side only and push it in and around with your hands than blow the fur side out with a air compressor will clean and shine up the fur

[Buck154]

Clumps in the fur that don't come out with water sound to me your beaver came from a area with pine trees. When I trap in the pines and see the pine tree chewed most of the time they get sap balls in the fur. It is a pain. I usually take my time a pick the sap apart with a pick and comb it out. You can probably use some type of chemical but have to watch cause you dont want to take the shine off the fur. A dull fur is not appealing to buyers.