Cosmoline
Member
I use a VERY sharp knife to make the initial cuts. Squirrel hide can be exceptionally tough--much more so than the hide of far larger animals. I usually start at the chest and get under the skin, carefully cutting down from there to avoid opening up the gut sack. This makes it much cleaner. Make sure you remove the male's scent glands! They have a very distinct musk and will make everything around smell like squirrel.
The red guys up here outnumber people about fifty to one, but only the females are good eating. The older males, however, have exceptional hides that make great patch material or to bolster the backs of gloves to ward off the devil's club.
I use a surplus Swiss wash basin to stretch the hide. I also like keeping the leg sections of hide intact for use as anchor points. They can then be removed and you have a very tough rectangular hide.
The red guys up here outnumber people about fifty to one, but only the females are good eating. The older males, however, have exceptional hides that make great patch material or to bolster the backs of gloves to ward off the devil's club.
I use a surplus Swiss wash basin to stretch the hide. I also like keeping the leg sections of hide intact for use as anchor points. They can then be removed and you have a very tough rectangular hide.
.
