They come off slick at the start. That’s why you remove the hide. Fur comes off easy and doesn’t tear into the meat.
You then hang it up and wait for hair to slide out like a sleeve. Occasionally hair grabs hold. Knives gets dull.
Meat shreds. Frustration sets in. Why?
Using Skinning Pliers for Cleaner Results
Why Skinners Need Mechanical Advantage
Because so many hunter don’t use skinning pliers. They put too much faith in pocket knives, they don’t know about that mechanical advantage offered in the pliers. Some hunters love ’em.
Others call them gimmicks. The truth is somewhere in between where hands stay steady. Two things is working against you in traditional skinning.
On one hand, you want to remove hide from the muscle without severing the meat. Precision are needed for this process. On the other hand, you must do it with leverage.
Your finger offer leverage, but they don’t protect your hands from a knife. Likewise, a knife offers precision, but not much leverage. That’s where pliers come into play.
Choosing Quality Skinners Tools
They grips the skin and pull it back as blade cuts through the connective tissue. It takes some skill to make it work. The correct set of pliers make all the difference.
There is various brands such as Leatherman and Bobby Garland found in shops. Quality versus knockoff is seen in sharpness of blades and tightness of the spring. The tighter the spring, the more that jaws snap open when you’re done.
It keeps you on a rhythm. A dull blade will tear meat apart. Find one you can get comfortabley with; one that fits into your palm but doesn’t cramp your grip.
Proper Skinning Technique and Leverage
It becomes like an extension of your hand. If you’re accustomed to using a knife, the approach will be unexpected. You don’t pushes forward.
Instead, you pull towards yourself. The jaws grips the hide firmly. As you do so, blade slips between meat and skin.
That’s important because the jaws protects your blade from the meat. Likewise, pulling the hide taut keeps the blade from touching the hide and protects it too. It’s a bit like peeling an orange, only with much greater resistance.
The trick is to keep the hide taut. If the skin is loose, then you’ll make ragged cuts. When it’s taught, you cleanly separate two.
A lot of people attempt to use their pliers to skin the whole animal. They’re not meant for that. Pliers is most effective in hard-to-reach areas.
The shoulder area, the belly and the legs are problematic because a knife simply won’t cut it; pun intended. These are the areas where the hide’s stuck to the muscle like glue. For wide-open, easy access areas, go ahead and use your knife.
When it gets tough, break out the pliers. This combination will speed up the skinning process. And less of your precious meat will suffer.
Essential Maintenance and Cleaning
The other thing folks forget about is maintenance. Fat and blood accumulate on the blade and the jaws. Let it sit dirty and it’ll seize up.
The spring lose tension. The blade rusts. After every use, a quick wipe down with a damp rag and a drop or two of oil can go a long way.
Keep it clean and it’s ready to go again on next hunt. Otherwise, what started out as a helpful tool becomes a pain in the butt. It’s definitely a learning process.
Building Muscle Memory Through Practice
The initial several times you do it, it’ll probably take longer than just cutting it with a knife. You’ll struggle with grip. You’ll cut off more of the hide and/or leave excess membrane on meat.
That’s ok. It takes some time to get the muscle memory down. Take a couple of animal and practice on those before trusting yourself to get all of your meat off.
Cost Versus Value of the Tool
It’s better to go slow and learn than to rush and mess up that prized rack of ribs. The price tends to be the deal breaker though. Good pliers aren’t inexpensive.
Heck, good pliers are a lot more expensive then a run-of-the-mill pocketknife. That price point makes some hunter hesitate. They don’t think about all that extra meat they’ll salvage.
The cleaner skin equals more edible meat. Less mess to clean up afterwards. A nicer finished product.
In the end when you consider how much less waste you produce with them, they pay for themselves in long run. It is not just mental. It’s not just mentally easier either.
Ergonomic Benefits for Hunters
Using pliers lets you stand straighter then you can when you’re skinning with a knife. Holding them in front of you keeps your center of gravity stable. Your body doesn’t have to bend at awkward angles constantly.
That means less stress on your wrists and back. It is less work for your body. It makes the task easier, which is especially important if you are older or have joint problems.
Final Thoughts on Field Results
Quality means the better job done on the hide, the less messy it will be. The more usable meat, the better. And the quicker the job can get done without spoiling the meat, the better.
Those pliers accomplishes all three things. They are not a magic wand, but a powerful lever. A way for you to gain some control over a situation that’s usually chaotic.
The next time you’re out in the field, consider trying some pliers. Begin on a small game animal. Get the feel of it.
Feel the leverage. See how the meat remains intact. This is a little thing you can do different than your routine, but makes a big difference in the end result.
A clean cut isn’t just about appearance. It’s about paying respect to the animal and what you’re doing. But it does require patience to master the tool.
Once you do however, you’ll ask yourself “why was I struggling with a knife by myself?” The mess goes away. The frustration goes away. Clean meat remains.
And that feeling of accomplishment; that’s the true reward. It is not for the tool itself, but for what the tool makes possible. There is less stress, less waste, and more from the hunt.
Small improvements add up to the road from sloppy beginner to slick operator. One such improvement: pliers. It quietly fits into your kit, stays ready for duty when needed, and produces immediately noticeable results.
Lines are clean. Meat is saved. Cleanup time is reduced.
It is a no-brainer tradeoff. You should of spent the money on the tool. Master the technique.
Reap the cleaner harvest.
