Putting up some Beaver with Jim Comstock

Jim Comstock, of Comstock Cages, has been trapping since the mid 60’s. He began as a fur trapper in New York, while running traplines in Virginia, Alabama and California up until 1990. Returning home, he continued with fur trapping for a short time, making the best catches on beaver ever seen in his area. In time he made the switch to Animal Damage Control targeting beaver. Up until about 12 years ago when Jim invented, patented and built a complete line of wire trigger, powered door, live cage traps, Jim skinned and put up all of his fur, including thousands of beaver. In this video he shares his methods of putting up fur quickly and easily in tight quarters.

[@morganillsley94]

As a new trapper with not a lot of space. This video just helped me put it to better use. Thanks!👍👍

[@QuietCornerWoodsman]

Lots of knowledge shared in just a few minutes. Thank you sir! Nice setup.

[@JamesComstockCages]

Thank you. When I first got into fur trapping seriously with Thorpe in the mid 70's in Virginia, good ol' Johnny said, "if we going to Virginia you are gonna have to do the scraping," which didn't bother me one bit. Told him, "Sure will." The only way to get proficient at anything is to do a lot of it. In the 3 years we trapped together I scarped all 800. By the end of 3 years putting up beaver was no problem. In the next two years while trapping alone I scraped another 450 and lots more since. I guess I could skin, scrape and stretch, take the castor on 2 blankets in an hour, but not now. Feel the age, but I still feel good about doing a few here and there. Glad I don't have 140 in the freezer.

[@scottk0623]

Nice tour, thanks Jim.

[@JamesComstockCages]

You are very welcome

[@bigpat2679]

You the man.

[@BatColonyEvictor]

Good stuff Jim!

[@JamesComstockCages]

Thanks!

[@stephencutting2865]

Thanks for sharing have you got a video for tanning a soft hide I done one last year and it was still a bit stiff any tips would be appreciated

[@JamesComstockCages]

Tanning is an entirely different endeavor, something I only tried once. I can say, I am very happy to send fur out to get tanned.

[@dimakharitonov9883]

what brand of fleshing knives do you reccomend ?

[@JamesComstockCages]

I use a dull Necker double handled knife for the bellies and small ones and a Sheffield double handled knife for the backs and butts of the big ones on a wide beam.