Elk hunter Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Field Skinning A Fox. I was up in the borders at the weekend deer stalking and Saturday was glorious but windy. Came through the trees onto some clear fell and something caught my eye. A fox in full winter coat trotting through the brash. Quickly lay down and dropped a 6.5 round into it, let's say he stopped abruptly. Good size for up north. Coat almost as good as my dog. He was a beauty and was not going to waist it and I carried it back to base. I got out my Tavel Taxidermy set that I made from the van. As the weather was warm I decided to have a go outside on the grass. I've been dying to do this on an animal in the open for a while now. Just had to try. To start with a couple of measurements were needed, eye to nose and across. After this I could set about capping off the skin. I wanted the skin removed like a glove so I did not have an stitches or cut line showing on the finished mount. Cut all the way round it's torso and lower front legs. As it was so fresh the skin came away easily, but still had to be carful no to nick the skin. Peeled it up over it's forehead and under round the neck. Measure twice. Cut once. Took minutes to get this far but stopped at the eyes. More care has to be taken here onwards as it's very difficult to patch up around the eyes, need to keep all the iner eye lid intact. Down around the lips and over the nose, again care taken as its very thin and hard to correct later if an unwanted hole is here. Almost there. Like a glove. When the skin was removed a took the old converted table knife. This is used to split and part the ears, the result is enabling them to be turned inside out. The first ear went to plan inside out all the way to the tip. but the second I managed to push to hard and fast with the knife resulting in a small rip at the back of the ear. Something to remember but fixable with care. Me old knife In all the hole prosess took no more than 30 minutes to do, so I then capped the rest of the skin off including the tail. Looking forward to mounting it and I feel a David Crokett hat coming on with the rest of it! Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Fascinating! will be great to see the finished mount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxwell Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Yes and the hat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Very interesting and unusual post look forward to seeing it finished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Amazing and yes a bonnie lad too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telf Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 very interesting,and as said look forward to seeing the next instalment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Stinky, rather you than me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Stinky, rather you than me. I remember back in late 60s- 70s they fetched £20 per pelt, but like you said, smelly job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAYBURN Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 As above fascinating, looking forward to the finished product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil w Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 As above fascinating, looking forward to the finished product. You watch carefully mate. At least you could make a bunnet.With a little help from Freddie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mighty Prawn Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 Don't let the police catch you with your 'portable taxidermy kit' as you'll look like a serial killer! Nice work though, keep us posted how you get on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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