I caught a 44 lb beaver. It seemed big but when i tacked it out on a board it was only 33 x 40 inches. Does that sound right? How do you make them appear round?

Plinker

Plinker, I always used metal hoops and they do a great job of rounding them out. The size sounds about right. If you've got it pulled tight, you've got it.

That is a nice sized beaver any where, I don't know what they are selling for this year. Good job!!

That's a nice sized beaver. Up by me beaver prices, as well as most everything else, have dropped way down Doesn't hardly pay to trap this season.

http://www.fntpost.com/Categories/Fur+Handling/Stretchi.../Beaver+Hoops+Hooks/

If you get very many beaver, I recommend these.

Plinker, if it's on a piece of plywood just keep adding nails and pulling it into place if you want it round. I assume you'll be keeping it for one of your projects I'm under the impression that fur buyers want beavers oval now....it's been a long time since I had anything to do with trapping.

the chef

You want it a little more oval than round, or I suppose eliptical is the proper profile. Fur-Fish-Game magazine had an article last month on handling beaver.

quote:

Originally posted by red owl:
You want it a little more oval than round, or I suppose eliptical is the proper profile. Fur-Fish-Game magazine had an article last month on handling beaver.

Has the preferred shaped changed in the last ten years? I last sold in 1998 and my buyer seemed happy with my mostly round ones, though they may have actually been somewhat elliptical.

I tried to Google "stretching a beaver" but the results weren't really what I was expecting.

quote:

I tried to Google "stretching a beaver" but the results weren't really what I was expecting.

welcome to the internet

quote:

Originally posted by jb:

quote:

I tried to Google "stretching a beaver" but the results weren't really what I was expecting.

welcome to the internet

Thast's really funny!! Who'd a thunk?? Stretching a beaver indeer.....that's rich.

thanks!!

the chef

Yeah, one time i was going to try to carve a wooden bear so i googled bear pictures.
It took me to a "hairy men and young boys" site. Disgusting!

Anyway thanks for the other input.

Plinker