Lets compare skinning notes

[wipartimer]

My first Texas trip I skinned the hogs By hanging them upside down on a gambrel, and peeling the hide down. This year the guide had us hang the pigs by the head , cut strips in the hide the whole length of the animal and then peel these strips down. I can do the old way faster, my Dad likes the "strip" method. How do you do it?  :grin:

[VTDW]

I never heard of the strip method.

[HWooldridge]

I make one cut down the back and one down the belly and take it off in halves.  It's sometimes hard for me to peel the big ones with just the belly cut.

[wipartimer]

Yep,VTDW, thats how I do it.  I'll try to explain how Dad does the 'strip method"  The hog his hung by the head. Using the gut hook on the knife, make cuts the length of the body from the neck down, about 6" apart. Once there are strips cut all theway around, they can easily be peeled off.  It seemed to work somewhat, especially made peeling past the sheild eaier, but for my part, taking it all off at once seemed faster. I should point out that i haven';t skinned that many, so any other tips would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

[TomD]

I'd bet the worst part of cuttin' so many strips is having to sharpen your blade so often!! I've only skinned'em with the one cut down the belly with the pig upside down, and even then I have to sharpen my knife a few times.

Not only is their skin tough, but its covered in dried mud.

I shot a really good eatin' pig this April (50lbs) and even that little sucker had tough skin!!

Tasty, but tough skinned!

[shoot'n hogs]

Use the strip method if you like hair all over your meat.
Other than that, hang by hind feet and skin down.  The hide will fold down and conceal the hair from the meat.  The more you cut the hide, the more hair will fall on the meat.

[oso45-70]

Gentlemen,
If you are where you can get them to a camp or home and have a weed burner, you can burn the hair off the critter then wash it off with a wet rag
and this sure gets rid of all the dirt and what have you. This makes a lot neater job, Just my( humble openion.) Stay safe..........Joe....................