Skinning game for rugs

[russm86]

Just looking for clarification on how to skin game (bears, wolves, etc) for rugs. I have read several different insturctions and talked to guys about doing it and they say to split the hide up the "back" of the legs but what exaclty do they classify as the "back"? Do they mean the back as in towards the rear end as if it were standing normally, like up the back of the "calf" muscle etc. or do they actually mean the inside of the leg? Is this the same for both the front and hind legs?
Thanks for any help.

[Caveman]

Hope this helps!

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c247/cavemn94/fieldfigure1.jpg

[sarg]

here are some video i watch on skinning ,no bad vidoes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDKZ8J66Uaw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTRWf1luDSU&feature=related
sarg

[willyqbc]

On the back legs go from the arse up to the back of the heel, on the fronts go from the armpit up to the center of the pad

Chris

[BiG Boar]

To make it easier, always start at the centre of each pad and work down the leg towards the point you want to end up at.

[russm86]

Thank you willyq, that was the exact detailed instruction I was looking for. Thanks for that tip too Big Boar.

[quackquackbang]

Great replies. Its not hard I went buy the diagram Caveman posted and done my first bear this spring and it was very easy.

http://i56.tinypic.com/w7iphk.jpg

[russm86]

What do you guys do to separate at the joint? Is cutting the cartiledge at the joints with a knife enough to separate like the ankle joints and spine at the neck or would you have to get in there with a bone saw and try not to cut anything else?

[lilhoss]

What do you guys do to separate at the joint? Is cutting the cartiledge at the joints with a knife enough to separate like the ankle joints and spine at the neck or would you have to get in there with a bone saw and try not to cut anything else?

A knife will work fine on the ankle joints,and if your "lucky" you can find the vertabrae joint on the neck,but a saw works quicker on the neck bone.I take the hide right up to the base of the skull and then cut the neck,meat and bone slightly back from there.Leave the rest for the taxi-derm.

[russm86]

Thanks lilhoss. Good information.

[srupp]

hmmm on bears for rugs find the anal opening go 4 fingers width forward towards the head..make a small "nick" then start at the center of one rear leg going straight towards the "nick", and repeat on other leg.

This ensures the cuts are even and gives maximum length to the hide .

srr