Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-02-17
RABBIT PELTS
R VALUABLE
BY O.. +. STEPHL. State Rodent Control
lender, Montana State College

BY o. +. STEPHL. State Rodent Control
Leader, Montana State College
MANY jack rabbits are killed in Mon
tana each year by shooting, poison
AVA ing or driving them into Enclosures.
The Introduction OF irrigation and the
growing of cultivated crops has favored
their increase by supplying them with
new sources of food. Jack rabbits are
capable OF causing serious damage to
growing crows in summer, and in winter
they congregate about haystacks to con-
sumo much feed intended for livestock.
They have always had some value as
food and game and their flesh is some
times used as feed for poultry. Now
these long-legged rabbits may be Of some
use in another way. Recently their skins
have had a market value and large num-
bers of pelts are being collected In this
state and sold to fur dealers.
A Market for Rabbit Skins
During the winter OF 1926-1927 one
firm. without special soliciting took 3d.
498 rabbit skins out of Montana. Many
times that number could be collected
each year. Ranchers should welcome the
opportunity to make a little extra money
while at the same time protecting their
crops.
Before the war rabbit skins from Eu-
rope and Australia were sold in the
United States at about IL cents, a price
too low to make the shipment of jack
rabbit skins worth while in this country.
Since the war prices have improved.
The outlet for most of the skins COL
lected in Montana last winter was
through local buyers OF a large Denver
fur company. Arrangements are made
for cash payments through the agents.
and the agents in turn are paid a COM
mission on all business transacted. Farm
ers' cooperative organizations might
make this a worth while and profitable
business.
The fur companies establish uniform
grades and prices which their agents are
authorized to pay. White jack rabbit
skins, properly stretched and dried
brought go cents a pound last winter A
skin weighs about four and a half ounces
and hence would be worth about IL
cents. Gray skins brought 40 cents per
pound. Early fall and late spring skins
in this class. skins taken from
May 1 to November l are practically
worthless.
Jack rabbits should be skinned while
the body is still warm. First remove the
front legs by chopping them off above
the knee. The rabbit may be hung to O
post, legs apart, by inserting hooks
through the tendons of the hind legs
near the hook joint. A cut is made
down the inside of each hind leg to the
base of the tail. The skin is peeled from
the legs beginning at the hook Joint ano
pulled down over the body until the ears
are reached. Do not slit the XII dow
the middle. Leave the tail attached but
pull out the tail bone. The ears are cut
of at the base inside the skin and the
skinning continues over the head and tt
the nose. Scrape off excessive fat anc
DO not tear the skin more than necessary
The skin should be put on stretchers
flesh side out, Immediately after it is re.
moved. A good stretcher may be made
from No. 8 steel spring wire. If wire ii
not available, a stretcher may be mad.
from two pieces of lath nailed togethe,
l n a V-shape. With his stretcher
cross piece is necessary to hold the side
apart.
1t is important that the skins b,
thoroughly dry. especially the ears ane
head If they are left attached. Wher,
the ears are left On they should be partl,
reversed to facilitate drying. The fin
ished skins should be as fiat and fire.,
from folds as possible. They should re
main on the ~stretchers for several day
until thoroughly dry. A dry, shady plac,
where there Is a good circulation of al
will facilitate drying. During cold wealth
er it is preferable to dry the skins in
doors because a frozen skin will not dr.
until thawed out. Where artificial hea
is used care must be taken to proven
the skins from spelling. This may b
avoided by hanging them six inches apar
on q stretched wire, using a sprinI
clothes pin to fasten the skins to tn
wire. When ready for shipment the skin
are tied together in bundles of rs an
wrapped IN burlap.