Working Ferrets - Paunching

The following photographs are taken from "The Complete Book of Ferrets" by Porter & Brown and appear by kind permission of the publishers:-

Setting purse nets
Humanely dispatching the catch
Thumbing & Legging
Skinning & Jointing

Paunching 1.

(above) 1. Make a small slit in the fur with the tip of the knife.

Paunching 2.

(above) 2. Carefully pull the pelt apart.

Paunch 3.

(above) 3. Slip the point of the knife through the skin, without puncturing any of the internal organs.

Paunch 4.

(above) 4. Gently ease your fingers into the slit.

Paunch 5.

(above) 5. Enlarge the opening by pulling it apart.

Paunch 6.

(above) 6. The guts will come out in one go.

Setting purse nets | Humanely dispatching the catch | Thumbing & Legging | Skinning & Jointing