How to Skin a Badger

Badger trapping occurs in several states. A case skinning technique normally is used to skin the badger and properly remove the hide. Case skinning is used on badgers and most other fur-bearing animals, except for beavers. Badger pelts can be sold or used as decorations in homes.

Things You'll Need

  • Gloves
  • Sharp knife
  • Rope
  • Hanging equipment
  • Fleshing board
  • Fleshing knife
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on gloves to protect your hands during the skinning process. Make sure your knife is very sharp; this makes removing the pelt easier and prevents damage to the fur due to excess cutting.

    • 2

      Hang the badger at shoulder length to make the skinning process easier. The easiest way to do this is to attach a snap hook to the tendons of each leg and to tie those ropes to overhanging rafters in a garage or barn. Hanging the badger will make cutting easier and lower the chances of making a bad cut.

    • 3

      Cut around the hind legs of the badger below the hock with your sharp knife. Cut the skin from the rear pad of the left back foot and up the back of the leg. Continue cutting to the base of the tail, then cut down the other leg to the rear right foot. Work the pelt off of both hind legs. Remove the tailbone by making a cut from the anus to the bottom of the tail along the underneath portion of the tail. Peel and work the pelt free from the tail as well as the hind legs.

    • 4

      Cut entirely around the front legs of the badger, starting a couple of inches below the elbow. Pull the pelt downward until you reach the head. Cut the ear cartridge off with your knife near the head. Be careful not to cut through the pelt and create holes. Skin carefully around the eyes, do not cut the eyelids, and only leave eye holes in the pelt. Cut the inside of the lips, not the fur, to loosen it from the mouth, and cut the nose cartilage to completely loosen the pelt. Pull down the felt since it will be free now.

    • 5

      Place the badger pelt on a fleshing board to start removing all of the flesh, fat and gristle. Use a fleshing knife to scrape the hide from the face toward the tail. Do this slowly and carefully to make sure the pelt is not accidentally cut. Once the fat, grease, gristle and flesh is removed, the hide can be wiped with a towel and washed if necessary.