How to Pelt Red Squirrels

Red squirrels are harvested for their fur particularly in the northern states and Canada where they are abundant in conifer forests. The fur market has set standards on how the pelt of each species of fur-bearer is skinned and prepared for sale. Red squirrels are skinned by the cased method. A single cut is made across the backside of the hind legs and the skin taken off in one piece like peeling off a sock. The pelt is then stretched over a wooden stretcher board to dry.

Things You'll Need

  • Pocket knife, 3-inch blade
  • Side cutter pliers
  • Rubber gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Tie a cord around each rear leg just above the ankle joint. Tie the other ends of the cords to a rafter so the legs are spread apart and the squirrel hangs head down at neck level to the person doing the skinning. Use the side cutters to cut off the front feet just above the foot joint.

    • 2

      Put on rubber gloves and make a cut through the skin and completely around the rear legs just below the cord. Poke the tip of the knife in at one of the rear leg cuts and make an incision under the skin running across the top of the rear legs to the opposite rear leg cut.

    • 3

      Poke the tip of the knife under the skin of the tail where it meets the incision across the legs. Make an incision straight up the underside of the tail, stopping halfway to the tail's tip. Free the skin around the tail, working the skin off the tailbone with your fingers.

    • 4

      Pull the remainder of the tailbone out of the skin by grasping the base of the tailbone with one hand and pushing against the tail fur with the other hand. Pull the bone while pushing the skin until the bone slides out. Finish cutting the tail skin open to the tip on the underside.

    • 5

      Use the knife to free the rear legs from the carcass. Pull the pelt away from the muscle, and cut through the membrane holding the skin to the body. Cut the pelt away in this manner until the pelt is hanging down around the paunch area.

    • 6

      Work your fingers between the skin and carcass, peeling the skin down the body to the front legs like a sock. Poke your forefinger between the front of the shoulder and the skin until the finger breaks through. Pull against the body with the forefinger and pull the skin off the legs with the other hand.

    • 7

      Peel the skin down to the head. Cut through the ear cartilage against the skull, leaving the ears on the pelt. Pull the skin down to the eyes and cut across the eye membrane so the skin around the eye holes is intact on the pelt.

    • 8

      Pull the skin down to the mouth and cut the lips loose against the jawbones, leaving the lips on the pelt. Cut through the nose cartilage where it meets the skull, keeping the nose intact on the pelt. The pelt is now free and case skinned.