Boarding Marten

[uke hunter]

Hey guys,

Set 108 marten sets on the trapline this past weekend. Checked part of the line yesterday and picked up 2 marten. My first marten ever as a trapper....must be doing something right!

Question I have is: I know in the manual it says to use a belly wedge for the initial drying before turning it fur side out for the final drying....but it doesn't say if the belly wedge is needed after you turn it? As well, I fully tacked the tail flat for the initial drying...when I turn it do I need to fully pin it again or will it stay flat from the initial drying before turning and just pin it at the bottom to keep it straight?

Thanks!

[357xp]

I use the belly wedge both ways, if not, you're in for some fun. As for the tail, I pin it both ways as well. But it would depend on how long u dry before turning. I dry just long enough that it's not tacky any more then turn it.

Iam sure lots of more opinions to come....

[braggadoe]

yes, use a wedge after flipping.

doesn't hurt to fully pin the tail after flipping. but you don't need a bunch of pins.


post a pic

[Marten1576]

braggadoe x2

[tomcat]

Yes use the belly wedge before and after turning. Rather than pinning the tail out use wire mesh:

[uke hunter]

Hey tomcat,

Looking at your picture it looks like you split your front legs and pin them? I though you just dry them sticking out then keep them tucked in when you turn it? As well, it looks like you pin your back legs half on the front of the board and half on the back? The manual says to pin them on the belly side?

Thanks,

[braggadoe]

tomcat, wondering if they use the tails? for what? i'm guessing they do.

great tip with the wire.

[tomcat]

Originally Posted by braggadoe

tomcat, wondering if they use the tails? for what? i'm guessing they do.

great tip with the wire.

From what I understand the tails are used for fine paint brushes.

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by tomcat

From what I understand the tails are used for fine paint brushes.

You got it.
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The front legs don't have to be split. Some split them others don't.
I never did.

The others are right, use a belly wedge for both flesh out and fur out.

The hide shrinks as it drys and although you may get away with not using a wedge stick for a while, sooner or later you'll get a hide that won't come off the board because it shrank too much.

You really don't want to go there. It's not fun.

[tomcat]

Originally Posted by uke hunter

Hey tomcat,

Looking at your picture it looks like you split your front legs and pin them? I though you just dry them sticking out then keep them tucked in when you turn it? As well, it looks like you pin your back legs half on the front of the board and half on the back? The manual says to pin them on the belly side?

Thanks,

You don't have to split the front legs, I just fine it easier to skin when they are split up to the elbow. I do that on fisher, lynx and others also. I pin my legs half on the belly and half on the back side based on a suggestion from a marten fur grader from Western Canadian Auction many years ago. He told me all he wants to see is fur when he graded marten. If it looks good it is graded quickly and if not so good they often look a little harder for defects.

I also wrap the legs of fisher and lynx around the board edges as it gives them a nicer appearance also.

[tomcat]

Fisher and lynx with legs wrapped around board edges.

[northerntrapper]

Originally Posted by tomcat

You don't have to split the front legs, I just fine it easier to skin when they are split up to the elbow. I do that on fisher, lynx and others also. I pin my legs half on the belly and half on the back side based on a suggestion from a marten fur grader from Western Canadian Auction many years ago. He told me all he wants to see is fur when he graded marten. If it looks good it is graded quickly and if not so good they often look a little harder for defects.

I also wrap the legs of fisher and lynx around the board edges as it gives them a nicer appearance also.

I do that too. I feel it makes the back fur a bit thicker, as you're not pulling the legs to the front to pin. Just me.