Bobcat skinning help!

[Miller]

Do you case skin a bobcat the same way as you skin a coyote or fox?  Do you leave the paws on or do you try to pull the skin over the paws?  Do you need to split the tail open so that it will dry? And finally do you dry them fur side or skin side out?  Thanks for the help in advance!  Miller

[Wackyquacker]

Yes, skin them just as you would a yote or fox.  You can leave the feet on leaving the last joint to the claw IF you are selling to the taxidermy market or some other specialty deal.  I always skin at least to the toes ...I don't leave the "socks" on the carcass but this is not necessary...I just like them that way.  And yes by all means split the tails..they use these for a variety of novelty items.  Prepare the skins justy as a yote skin out until wetness is gone turn and finish drying fur side out.  Watch yourself the cats dry (skin side out time) much faster than yotes and the will get stiff requiring you to dampen then back in order for you to turn them fur side out.

[lynx/cat-trapper]

Just "my" kinda topic!!! As the quacky guy said...case skin them like you would a coyote. The way I do it is a bit different. I skin the front legs up  w/in 4" of the foot and cut off. I skin the back legs clear down to the pad. On the front when the skin side is drying I cut the front legs OFF at about 2"..when turned I leave the legs inside and do NOT turn the front legs. On the back legs I wrap them around both sides of the board. What this does is by leaving the front legs in..VERY clean front/belly on the cat...the "long" back legs give the impression of a much larger cat. ALSO make sure you stretch for length first...width is not as important. I also tie the tail (split)down to the base of the stretcher...giving more length. By using a narrow board you will gain length on your cats. They are measured tip of the nose to base of the tail....this year if it's not 36"...it wont bring the money. I also wash ALL of my cats and use borax as a finisher. Hope this helps!!
later
lynx......at the last fur sale I  had ALL 5 of the top cats sold...not necessarily better cats...just better put up!!