It is my firm belief that every hunter and trapper should own and know how to use a fleshing beam. This imperative stems from another firm belief: that every hunter or trapper should know how to flesh and prep the capes and hides of the animals they kill. Any hide or cape that will be mounted or put on the fur market needs to be fleshed. It is true that in a pinch, many hides can be fleshed with a knife on a table or over your knee, but unless you really know what you’re doing, you’ll usually end up with a pretty pitiful finished product. And sometimes a laceration on your leg.