FEET?

[bluedog250]

Ok, Let me show you how new I am to doing this skinning and tanning thing here! Don't laugh too loud!
What do you do with the feet? I shot my first bobcat last weekend and skinned it out at least down to the feet where I cut them off at the last joint before the foot, What do you do from here? Cut them off? Somehow skin them out? I wish I had thought before I shot and skinned this cat what I would have done if I got one! I would not have skinned it out, I would have loved to have maybe at least some kind of head mount from it,I seen pictures of some of the pedastal head mounts that look rather nice! Oh well too late for that! He is salted down waiting for me to figure out what to do next.....................Hoping maybe you fellas can point me to my next step!?

[REM223PA]

Hi bluedog250
first nice job on getting your fist cat.

yes skin them out , if you can
if not when you take to the taxidermist let him do it. not a big thing. ask him to go over it with you on how to do the (feet) you did the hard part. you called it and killed it.
you need to get your mesherments. befor you skin is the best . nose to butt (down the spine) around the chest and take photos off your cat.
I am not taxidrmist or a traper but her what i do.
i hang the cat where its esey to work on i never gut it.
i then cut across the back legs from the heel of one leg to the other leg(right up the backof the leg ascross the butt and down the ether leg then skin it off like a sock
work your way over the front legs and down to the nose
or just leave the head and feet on .i do the feet with a scalple. then fold the skin back up(skin to skin) and freez it. do not salt if your going to freez .if your going to get the next one done take the hole cat to him every taxidermist has his own way of doing things.. if you like to skin for a do it your self rug
cut the in side of the leg up the cest up the inside of te other leg and take the cape off send to a tannery to be tand thay will clean the cape.

good luck. remember thay can fix just about any thing

big GEORGE

[Bobcat]

If you are going to have it mounted, most taxidermists would rather have you just freeze it and bring to them.

Here is a pedestal mount. I really like them...

[TommyJohnson]

Bluedog, if you plan to ever pay the bucks to mount one, the skinning is already figured into the price. So if you do it, your only saving the taxidermist money.

Feet are simple but very time consuming. You did right by cutting off the legbones. Now you have the nubs to deal with.

Cats: on the hind legs they have 4 toes that are all on the feet. Using a scalpel, you slowly work down to the toes. Its meticulous so go slow. Start on one outside toe, it doesnt matter which, and work it until you get to the claw. Once there you want to find the division between the last digit and the claw. Take a heavier knife and just seperate it. Once youve done one you know how it goes. It is actually a joint and you'll see that.

On the front legs they have 5 toes but one is located on the inside higher up than the lower four. It acts kinda like a thumb. Watch for this when you are skinning. Simply take your knife and seperate it the same.

It takes me about 20 minutes per foot so dont get frustrated.

Hope this helps.

[bluedog250]

You bet it helps!
I just wish I had thought of mounting it before I skinned it out and got rid of the body! I'll get another some day and won't make the same mistake again! This one will make me a real nice thing to just look at and remember my first cat! So that's OK too!
I just got to get me one of those fine pedestal mounts done someday!

[HeadHanger]

BlueDog,

The next time you harvest a kitty (after the photo session is done), simply bag it and get it in the freezer pronto. Don't put a knife to it at all. Get it to your Taxidermist as soon as possible so he can get it skinned and tanned quickly to avoid freezer burn. The majority of Taxidermists are probably working on a 9 to 12 month turnaround on their work, so the sooner you get it to them the sooner they'll get it back to you. Happy Hunting!

HH

[Duane]

Bluedog250,
If you do decide to freeze it and take it to a taxidermist,either let it cool before you bag it or put it in the bag but leave it open so the body heat will be able to escape or you'll risk hair slippage by trapping the body heat in by sealing the bag right away,when its froze then close the bag.Goodluck!