Author Topic: 2 Fur Handling ?'s (Read 541 times)

KYtrapper17 · « **on:** December 11, 2003, 11:11:23 AM »

1st: What is your method for fleshing possums? I tried the towel in between the pelt and fleshing beam, but I still cut the hair roots in places. I am going as easy on them as I can.

2nd: How long does it take you to skin a coyote? I'm just curious. My trapping buddy always worries about his skinning skills. It takes him anywhere from 30 min to an hour to skin a coyote. Thats about what it takes me too. I have been trapping for 2 years. He has been at it for 20. Does it ever get any easier? Or is he just not got any better?

KYtrapper17 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2003, 10:06:20 AM »

Heeelllloooo! Does anyone have an answer? :roll:

Spencer · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2003, 02:02:57 PM »

I have not skinned a coyote myself, but an older trapper/fur handler skins coyotes with an electric winch on the ceiling and a big eyebolt in the concrete floor. If I remember correctly, he said it still takes him 30-45 minutes. This guy has been in the business his whole life and he is in his 70's.
I hope this helps.

Wackyquacker · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2003, 03:50:16 PM »

With practice a fellow ought to be able to skin a yote in 5 mins if he's worried about the time. I've seen them skinned in under two mins.

I skin horizontal on my bench or skinning table. I use either a cum-a-long or winch attached to the hide via a loop over a porcelian door knob (some use a golf ball). The head is no trick at all...stretch em tight, cut the ears take up some slack. locate the eyes and make a cut straight down from the eye to release the skin from the rear of the jaw. Once past the eye the skin comes off with very little cutting. Unless you are skinning for the taxidermy market the head is of little importance. I 've head shot them (I don't recommend this) with 22-250s and still got top dollar.

trappnman · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2003, 04:01:38 PM »

I pull mine (when I get as old an laid up as some trappers i'll have to go with a winch or somesuch) and from start to finish including brushing, etc its about 20 minutes.

I probally could hurry it up some but I like to take my time.

I saw that "2 minute" video and he really can fly!

you can save a lot of time on the front legs by wwringing tem at the elbow and then slitting up to the bbody. Then just skin out to body. takes a minute- but when you get to the legs you can "pop" them out pretty easily.

The fresher the coyote the easier they are.

RdFx · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2003, 04:08:59 PM »

Yeppers what Wacky and Steve said is about the way it should be done.... wish i had the hand strength to peel them like i used to but now use a electric winch and peel them in 10 mins and flesh and put on stretcher about another 10 so 20 min like Steve. IF you can peel them right after shooting is the way to go but i dont have time have to keep moving to check everything..... The more you skin the better you get and develope little short cuts that help you.... ONE short cut is sharp knife for sure...

rascal (Joe Duncan) · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2003, 04:32:08 PM »

OH, come on now T-man: There you go knocking us old-timers.

Yep, I use a winch as well. When buying coyotes on the carcass and being the only fur buyer in a 70 mile radius, I got PLENTY of carcass coyote. Dang, it will wear an old man out. Hired me a young kid with not a lot of brain but a lot of brawn and put him skinning coyote while I skinned the easy fox and cats :twisted:

Like the others said, a coyote shouldn't take more than 10 minutes even by hand once you get the little tricks down. In addition to what was mentioned above, I also kept a surgical scapel next to me with disposable blades (#22) and when I got to the ears, eyes, and lips, I used that. Makes it real fast and when I was skinning for the taxidermy trade, you need to not enlarge the eye holes and need to leave as much lip and ear canal as possible. If you are leaving the feet on the pelt, the scapel is also a good tool when working the pad area. I got to where I could do a "dorsal" skin for a taxidermist in about 15 minutes. And my only cut would be from the shoulders to the base of the tail. At the price of the pelts I sold to taxidermists, that meant a lot more money for a little more time.

KY;
Yep, it will get easier. The first one for me took forever it seems now. After 100, I thought I was pretty fast. After several hundred, I thought I was danged fast. Now, some 30+ years later, I am one of those old decrepit geezers that T-man talks about :lol: and KNOW I AM NOT FAST. Just a little more experienced.

P.S. I forgot to mention that a tool I find very useful is a "ear turner" that taxidermists use. They are about 12 to 14" long and as you squees the handles, the other ends open up. Working around the tough areas of the legs, these will really help seperate the skin from the carcass.