Mobow's post in the "maybe a dumb question" thread reminded me ofa skinning tip that an old country guy in Arkansas gave me. I haven't done this simply because I'm not sure it's actually a good idea. I'm sure this technique would NOT be used for a deer you're going to have mounted.

He said to hang the deer by the neck, cut around the base of the head, skin down enough to roll a rock in the skin, then tie a rope around the rock in the skin, attach the rope to your ball hitch and pull the skin right off.

Howdo you think this would work?

Works great as long as the hide isn't hard frozen.

I do that with every deer that i'm not going to cape out. I tie the rock end to the bottom of my cleaning tree and another rope around the neck up to a pulley then to my truck. I drive away and skin my deer as I lift it. I usually use a 1" socket instead of a rock.

Using a golf ball in the hide helps as well. Works great.

I don't think hard frozen hide is going to be a problem for me unless we start another "little ice age". Most of my hunting this year was in jeans and a t-shirt with an ASAT 3D suit over it.

Do you ever have any problems with the hide not coming cleanly off? For instance, tearing muscle tissue off with it? That's the only reason I haven't tried it yet. Now that I know the guy isn't a crack-pot, I'll have to give this a try.

that method works well. no it won'ttear the muscle tissue

I watch the hide as I drive away. I usually stop and help the hide in a few spots. Usually when the hide comes over the front shoulders. Another reason I do this is because I can adjust the height of the deer as I butcher it. I have had very very little amount of meat coming off with the hide.

I HAVE NEVER DONE IT BUT I DO KNOW OF PEOPLE DOING IT JUST LIKE THAT WITH A GOLF BALL

ive heard of doing it before, never done it, or seen it done

it think it will work