Fox Hunting Info

This section will offer you instructions on how to correctly skin a fox:

•  Hang from a hind foot, using a gambrel or a strong cord. Next thing to do is to cut around each hind foot, just above the pad. Afterwards, make a cut from one foot to the other, just in front of the fox’s anus. Then you will need to make two cuts on either sides of the anus, connecting the cuts in front of the animal’s tail. Using your knife, you must cut the hide free of the fox’s feet. Once you have done so, you should be able to pull the hide off the hind legs and the belly.

•  If you have killed a male fox you will need to cut around the testicular area. You will notice the animal’s penis, you will need to pull the hide down to the end of it and afterwards you will cut it free. Continue pulling the hide around the tail’s back. You must work your fingers between the back and the hide until you will break through the opposite side.

•  After completing the previous step, you will need to take your knife and place it upside down into the tail’s top and very carefully draw the knife towards you. By doing so, it should give you a 4” cut along the tail’s top. Now, you must pull on the hide near the fox’s tail. While you are doing this cut along the tail’s underside (you should observe a white line). You will do so in order to prevent tail hairs from being pulled out. You might as well continue doing so until the entire tail is skinned out.

•  After completing all these steps, it is basically a matter of force to get the rest of the hide off. Pull down until you reach the animal’s front legs. Now, work your fingers in under the shoulder (between the hide and the carcass). Once you poke through, pull down on the hide as far as possible. Using your knife, cut around the feet area.

•  With the knife, pull and cut down towards the fox’s head ( but be careful not to cut the hide ). If you want to prevent accidental cuts, cut on the whitish lines closest to the fox. The moment you have reached the skull, look for the two white lumps of cartilage that mark the animal’s ears. You should cut them off close to the skull. Now, continue to pull until you have found the eyes.

•  After doing so, you will need to pull down to the nose and make a cut at the base of the cartilage. Many of these animals don’t need much scraping. Now it is time to place the pelt on the boards oriented eyes up and scrape downward. It is advisable to be gentle and don’t use too much force as they will rip very easy. Continue scrapping until all the excess flesh and fat is eliminated. Place the fur side in on a wire stretcher and make sure that it is centered.

•  Place the stretcher hooks into both of the hind feet and the other in the tail, pull until taunt. If you are using a wooden form you must place the pins in hind legs on one side of the board. To get the pelt tight you should cross the legs. Tack the tail out all the way to the end as it will make the tail look full and bushy. Put a belly wedge in if you are using a wooden form. After about 24 hours, the hide should be turned fur out.

All in all, skinning a fox isn’t a very hard thing to do but some rules must be followed in order to complete this procedure correctly.

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