Big beaver
- Thread starter ivorytip
- Start date
Nice plew! Yes, you can... they are delicious! There are actually quite a few recipes if you Google it. Enjoy!
mnhoundman
Veteran member
Did you weigh it? Been some caught around here between 50-60 lbs. Thought I heard of one pushing 70! But we have lots of beaver around here! Lol
About 20 years ago I trapped a 68, and a 73 pounder in northern Wisconsin out of the same house.
If you trapped it out of a creek, or river it'll likely taste good, but if it came out of a pond with no water flow in our out, I'd pass on eating it.
Congratulations on a great beaver!
If you trapped it out of a creek, or river it'll likely taste good, but if it came out of a pond with no water flow in our out, I'd pass on eating it.
Congratulations on a great beaver!
packer58
Very Active Member
Yep, that's a good one for sure. I've caught dozens of beaver when i trapped in the 70's and yes they are good eating.
Beaver+crockpot=Fine dinner, just skim of the fat like you would bear roasts in a crockpot.
Beaver+crockpot=Fine dinner, just skim of the fat like you would bear roasts in a crockpot.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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I have personally caught 2 beavers. Bother were with snares in Pennsylvania when they first legalized them. a 42 and a 52 pounder. I had to carry them out 1 mile in snow 2 feet deep. Then I scraped and fleshed them for 8 hours because I had no idea what I was doing...I then tanned them with some of that tanning solution that is in the orange bottle. They are on the wall and I decided that was was the end of my beaver snaring. lol
I was out deer hunting a couple weekends ago and seen some otter so I ordered a dozen 280's. Never used these traps before but I can tell you this much... a mistake would definetley break your fingers at a minimum....Jesus...these are powerful traps.
I figure once I catch one I will get it stuffed on the wall and that will be the end of my otter trapping days too because they are about a mile from the road as well...lol
I was out deer hunting a couple weekends ago and seen some otter so I ordered a dozen 280's. Never used these traps before but I can tell you this much... a mistake would definetley break your fingers at a minimum....Jesus...these are powerful traps.
I figure once I catch one I will get it stuffed on the wall and that will be the end of my otter trapping days too because they are about a mile from the road as well...lol
CrimsonArrow
Very Active Member
They're alright. Really fatty and rich. I would smoke the meat for several hours, then finish in a crockpot or roaster
Thanks guys, after watching videos of skinning one properly I figured I could do it just as fast, haha yeah right! But those Eastman outdoor edge knife set worked great! I was just being very careful as to not mess up pelt. I didn't wiegh it, I wish I would have but I'm guessing 50-60 LB.
hunttrap
Active Member
They are delicious, you can quarter them out pull the little back straps, and treat them like a roast. Put them in a crock pot for a day with potatoes, onion, and carrots. They taste a lot like a beef roast. Use the castors for lure or for bears. Make some mittens out of the beaver hide, because they are not worth a whole lot.
Ha! Yes you can eat beaver!
Smoker pelt you will have off that thing. Congrats! You should post some pics of your set up.
Smoker pelt you will have off that thing. Congrats! You should post some pics of your set up.
Its been well below freezing the last several days so I've felt safe taking my time. I'm waiting on a flesher, any tricks to fleshing this thing without an actual fleshing tool? In thinking about pulling the pressure washer out, but like I said, its cold! 10 out right now. I'm thinking about some gloves for son and I.
To flesh a beaver well takes a lot of practice. The sides and belly are relatively easy with a fleshing knife and a beam. Removing the gristle from the neck/shoulders and lower back is much more difficult. I'd recommend you buy a beaver knife and carve the gristle by hand. You can get one of these knives at a trappers supply store such as Minnesota Trapline Products. They have a rounded end blade that works similar to an ulu and they're not expensive, about $14.00. You can actually "clean skin" an entire beaver with one of theses knives and not even need to use a fleshing knife. It's a much slower method but it is very effective and a little easier to prevent slicing big holes in the hide for someone with no experience using a fleshing knife and beam.
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Thank you. Sportsmans surprisingly had it all there. And I almost bought that beaver knifenypur talking about, even had it in my basket! But settled on double handed and single hand blades. Ha, shouldn't have cuz they are not working well. I was getting more progress by using my fish fleing knife and poked myself good in the hand while doing so! I'm learning.
Have fun fleshing that adult beaver ivory!!! Not an easy start for a fleshing career. I guess it's better than a really old coyote....well maybe not. I usually try to clean skin about 70% which is the sides and mid back and I leave the front middle and base of the tail to shave off with the "grizzle getter" which is a sharp one handed fleshing knife like an ulu. You can shave that tough stuff with the sharp side of a two sided two handed fleshing knife like a necker, post, or caribou. It takes several hides to get a feel for shaving the gristle. Take your time. You can always take more off but can't put it back on or fix holes perfectly. I've got three big ones in the freezer that I keep thinking about taking out to finish but I put it off cuz they aren't a lot of fun.
packer58
Very Active Member
Ivory, fleshing a loose skin on a fleshing beam AND not cutting a bunch of holes in the hide does take some practice. Eventually you'll have to stretch and dry your fur so i would suggest for your first one go ahead and tack the fur to a half sheet of plywood (I used sheetrock nails). at this point you don't have to use a ton of nails, just enough to get it tight. Fleshing will be much easier for you this way. Once your done, then you can finish stretching the hide for drying. Your final stretch for drying should be tight but not too tight as the hide will shrink a bit while drying, place your nails close enough so you have a nice oval skin when your done. Don't ask me how I know, BUT do not use a heat source to speed up the drying process. You will end up with something that looks like a wrinkled up potato chip!!!