Skinning and fur handling

[AzTrapper]

After seeing how many people were interested in skinning and selling their predators, I started trying to find a article I had done 15-20 years ago on this subject but of course I couldn't. So here are some links that may help you out when it comes to skinnning and selling fur. Also if your will to travel and enough people are interested, Maybe we can arrange a getogather and do a hands on skinning and fur handling demo. Fur handling would be fleshing drying sewing and shipping and whatever else is wanted.

 

On a case skinned animal you want to follow the fur line where from one back foot to the other foot on the backside of the leg this should go under the tail and meet at the base of the tail alos cutting around the butt-hole. Then cut 1/2 way down the tail then start skinning the hide from the animal and cut around the anus so you don't cut the glands. keep skinning the hide off, and as you get the tail looseyou can take a tail stripper or a couple of sticks and put one on the top and bottom of the tail bone then you can pull the hide off the tail. Once you get the hide skinned off the taile and hind legs you can PULL the hide pulled down to the front legs using your knive as little as possable, Make cuts around the animals front legs at the "elbows" and pull the legs through keep pulling to the head and you will feel a spot under where the ears are cut them against the skull and keep skinning until you get to the eyes most of time you will see where them skinor cut as close to the skull as you can, do the same with the mouth as you do the eyes, when you get to the nose cut the cartlidge out of the nose try and not cut the hide as this will save you a lot of extra work sewing

 

 

 

 

 

Here are spme links to get your started

www.predatormastersforums.com/coyoteskinning.shtml

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/furtake/care.htm

http://www.furharvesters.com/pelthandling.htm

 

Skinning is somewhat easy the actual ptuuing up or dry fur is harder to discribe for me to another. It you want more information contact me or read the Arizona Trappera Assoc. page http://www.angelfire.com/az2/ATA/1.html

 

AzTrapper

[Coues Sniper]

Sweet. I'll be checking those out for sure! Thanks AzTrapper I'd really like to come down for a demonstration, but I'm a long ways away - Vegas. I might try to time it and do a predator hunt the same weekend maybe with some buddies that live down there though if you guys end up doing it... keep me posted.

[CouesWhitetail]

Thanks for the info! I am sure many people will appreciate it.

 

Amanda

[firstcoueswas80]

What do you think is a good way to preserve a cape? I cut the tail off of the coyote I killed this morning. I rolled the tail back on itself while skinning it. I got as much of the meat out as I could. When I got all out I could, I poured a 50/50 mix of Alum/ Epsom Salt into the tail to hopefully dry all the moisture out and preserve it. What do you think that will do?

[cgmartin]

With tails you want to split them all the way down, but i am sure if you salted it pretty good it will last for awhile before it starts to slip.

Coues Sniper,

Those predator obsession videos have some skinning demonstrations on then, i believe the 1st one has a coyote and the 2nd a bobcat.

did you get a chance to watch them?

[AzTrapper]

What do you think is a good way to preserve a cape? I cut the tail off of the coyote I killed this morning. I rolled the tail back on itself while skinning it. I got as much of the meat out as I could. When I got all out I could, I poured a 50/50 mix of Alum/ Epsom Salt into the tail to hopefully dry all the moisture out and preserve it. What do you think that will do?

 

NO SALT! THAT WILL MAKE THE FUR UNSALABLE You would now be better off just cutting off the tail and hoping you do no get docked too much

 

 

AzTrapper

[AzTrapper]

With tails you want to split them all the way down, but i am sure if you salted it pretty good it will last for awhile before it starts to slip.

Coues Sniper,

Those predator obsession videos have some skinning demonstrations on then, i believe the 1st one has a coyote and the 2nd a bobcat.

did you get a chance to watch them?

 

 

NO SALT

[cgmartin]

from what i got from his post he said all he kept was the tail. so i doubt he will be selling or tanning it, so salt will be fine to dry it out. It isn't going to last forever but its done.

[Coues Sniper]

Coues Sniper,

Those predator obsession videos have some skinning demonstrations on then, i believe the 1st one has a coyote and the 2nd a bobcat.

did you get a chance to watch them?

Clint,

I've been working like a maniac lately so i haven't watched much of them. I started watching the 2nd one and got to about where you got that double. (That was pretty dang cool by the way, I'd have been a little pumped myself .) Video is great so far, and the demonstration is one of the reasons I wanted to get them, I just haven't gotten there yet. I'll try and get some time to watch the rest of at least the 2nd one tonight. I definitely need the break

[AzTrapper]

from what i got from his post he said all he kept was the tail. so i doubt he will be selling or tanning it, so salt will be fine to dry it out. It isn't going to last forever but its done.

 

When I saw it start off with cape I fugured he skinned the whole coyote and the cut the tail off the carcass. My mistake.

 

AzTrapper

[AzTrapper]

Sweet. I'll be checking those out for sure! Thanks AzTrapper I'd really like to come down for a demonstration, but I'm a long ways away - Vegas. I might try to time it and do a predator hunt the same weekend maybe with some buddies that live down there though if you guys end up doing it... keep me posted.

 

Vegas is a little bit far, Try and contact someone who is a trapper and ask them to give you some pointers of fur handling. You should be able to find you state trappers assoc. and contact them for more information.

 

AzTrapper

[firstcoueswas80]

So, if I wanted to keep just the tail alone, what are the steps to keeping it preserved?

 

I order a tail stripper, what should I put on the inside of the tail to keep it good? alum? salt?

[AzTrapper]

So, if I wanted to keep just the tail alone, what are the steps to keeping it preserved?

 

I order a tail stripper, what should I put on the inside of the tail to keep it good? alum? salt?

 

 

Once you strip the tail off the tail bone and make the slit on the underside of the tail, open it up flat and pin it to a board, (use stainless steel pins) once dry with any salt or anything a tail or for that matter a pelt once dried will last without any smell several years. In fact I have one that is over 10 years old.

 

 

AzTrapper

[AzTrapper]

So, if I wanted to keep just the tail alone, what are the steps to keeping it preserved?

 

I order a tail stripper, what should I put on the inside of the tail to keep it good? alum? salt?

 

 

Once you strip the tail off the tail bone and make the slit on the underside of the tail, open it up flat and pin it to a board, (use stainless steel pins) once dry with any salt or anything a tail or for that matter a pelt once dried will last without any smell several years. In fact I have one that is over 10 years old.

 

 

AzTrapper

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

On a case skinned animal you want to follow the fur line where from one back foot to the other foot on the backside of the leg this should go under the tail and meet at the base of the tail alos cutting around the butt-hole. Then cut 1/2 way down the tail then start skinning the hide from the animal and cut around the anus so you don't cut the glands. keep skinning the hide off, and as you get the tail looseyou can take a tail stripper or a couple of sticks and put one on the top and bottom of the tail bone then you can pull the hide off the tail. Once you get the hide skinned off the taile and hind legs you can PULL the hide pulled down to the front legs using your knive as little as possable, Make cuts around the animals front legs at the "elbows" and pull the legs through keep pulling to the head and you will feel a spot under where the ears are cut them against the skull and keep skinning until you get to the eyes most of time you will see where them skinor cut as close to the skull as you can, do the same with the mouth as you do the eyes, when you get to the nose cut the cartlidge out of the nose try and not cut the hide as this will save you a lot of extra work sewing

 

 

AzTrapper

 

That is good info. That is exactly as I remember doing it. It is Funny that you mentioned the trick with the two sticks, it brought back other memories as well... we often used a pair of pliers to strip the tail as well. Once the hide is off though the fun Really begins.... You gotta get ALL the flesh and fat off the hide before you stretch it. We never sewed our green hides and never got docked for it either, but we never had any holes larger than a 22 short either. FYI.... a piece of log siding with a rounded end makes the best fleshing board I have ever used. Always put your hide on the Stretcher hair in till almost dry... then turn and let it finish drying with the hair out so that the fur buyer can grade it.... completely dry hides are near impossible to turn. I have a ton of fur Stretchers that I never use if anyone needs some, I'd be willing to part with some of mine.

 

CnS