C LeBo 0 Report post Posted May 10, 2014 Hey I just bought a rooster with an excellent furnace brown cape on him and was looking to make good use of it. I've cleaned plenty of birds but never have tried to keep the skin intact, so does anyone know of a good tutorial or video that illustrates the process? Thank You and Tight Lines, Carson LeBoeuf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tidewaterfly 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2014 You can pluck the hackles too. They grow back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlaFly 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2014 Don't say that!!! You'll get PETA on your case. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jolly Red 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2014 THere is a book by Eric Lieser called "Fly Tying Materials" which explains how to skin a rooster for use by a fly tyer. If you can get a copy of that (try Barnes and Nobles' used books online) he gives a sbs that is very thorough. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlaFly 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2014 It's also available at Amazon.com. Pretty steep for the new, but about ten bucks for the used. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2014 You want to keep the bird off any food for a day or two so the crop empties, slice the front of the neck and you can peel back from the skull, keep some borax to rub your fingers in for grip and blade clean and just peel and release any tissue down to the shoulders. Cut the wings inside the bird and then the skin carries on peeling down. If its only the cape your after you could cut straight across at this point. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vicrider 0 Report post Posted May 12, 2014 Piker20, after you do that and save the cape, will the rooster grow that back in? Okay, yes I know better. Butchered many of the dang things in the past. It's a joke based on the hackle regrow post. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capt Bob LeMay 0 Report post Posted May 12, 2014 For those that haven't read it.. Eric Leiser's book was my bible years and years ago. I covers every phase of handling, processing, and dyeing natural materials. Don't know if there's a something a bit more modern around but that book is well worth a read for any tyer since it goes into depth about most natural materials and is still valid today. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites