| Skinning game is not an art exactly, but it does take | | | | between the bones, or cutting the bones when |
| practice, a certain amount of skill, and most importantly | | | | necessary. |
| the right knife. | | | | A hunter should also have access to what is called a |
| What is the right knife? The right knife is one designed | | | | sharpening steel. Working on certain types of hides |
| specifically for skinning, appropriately called a skinning | | | | can dull even the best of knives and being able to |
| knife. The blade of the skinning knife is thinner, allowing | | | | sharpen your knives in the field saves a lot of time. |
| for slight bending for working the hide. The skinning | | | | Are you unfamiliar with how to properly use steels? |
| knife also has a curved tip, as opposed to a pointed tip, | | | | Make a trip to your local butcher and tell them that you |
| to keep it from accidentally puncturing the hide or | | | | want to be able to sharpen your knives in the field. |
| damaging the meat. | | | | Ask them if they would show you how to properly |
| Over the years, knife makers have tried to meet the | | | | sharpen your blades against the steel. |
| desires of hunters by producing tougher knives. They | | | | It sounds like a lot of stuff to be carrying around with |
| have created super tough knives of stainless steel and | | | | you, especially when you are also carrying you're your |
| surgical steel. According to Doug Holcomb of Northside | | | | rifle or bow. Just think about how much time and |
| Fishing in Hillyard, Washington these knives are great | | | | money that you can save yourself by being able to |
| when you have them first sharpened, but once the | | | | field dress that big buck you just brought down, by |
| edge starts to dull, it is very difficult to re-sharpen them. | | | | doing everything yourself. Not to mention all the weight |
| Doug has professionally skinned both large and small | | | | you do not have to pack out. |
| game. He prefers a "good carbon steel blade" that he | | | | As we mentioned before, skinning well takes practice. |
| can sharpen himself in the field if necessary. Of | | | | Try your hand at skinning smaller game until you are |
| course, in the end, it is a hunter's preference. | | | | more proficient and feel comfortable with the process. |
| For the hunter that desires both the hide and the meat, | | | | The last thing that you want to do is mess up in the |
| it is best to have a good field knife as well as a | | | | field. |
| skinning knife. The skinning knife is not meant to get in | | | | |