Coyote pelt - when to remove the blood and other questions

erict

erict

Member
OK - I need some input here - thanks in advance. I've taken 6 coyotes in my life by hunting, skinned 4 and got rid of them green, 1 to the taxidermist, and 1 was too mangey to do. I don't skin coyotes everyday, but I'm getting more into this coyote hunting for pelts and want to do it right. I am going to be getting the fleshing/stretching equipment/tools soon.

Went out the other night and finally connected on my first coyote for the year. He was relatively clean except for some blood coming out around his mouth.

Took it home and case skinned it. During the skinning process I managed to get more blood on the pelt than I wanted. I should have hung it higher, but it ended up touching the floor several times. Much of the blood was coming out from the warm carcass after I cut the ears. The bottom jaw was broken, so it took more time than I hoped for to get it skinned. Because it was cold and I was very tired, I also managed to pull the tail in two instead of going back in the house to get my tail puller. So, tired, cold and mad at myself, I had to make a decision.

I was afraid of leaving the blood on the fur side, so I put the entire hide in the tub. I then rinsed it out with cool water inside and out. My goal was to clean the fur, but with all the blood on the inside I decided to clean that out too. I then removed all the burdocks, etc. and squeezed as much water out as I could and hung it in my 20-degree garage for about 5 hours (it was that or in my 70-degree apt.).

The fur was not completely dry deep in the insulating fur - that froze instead. I took it down and rolled it, fur out. I put it into a couple of plastic bags and it's in my freezer right now. My goal is to remove it soon, thaw it, flesh it, dry the fur side completely out, then put it on a strecher.

Here's the questions:

1. Will rinsing the pelt in this manner create problems as long as it is properly handled after?

2. What would you have done?

3. Any saving the tail - can it be sewed back on? It's currently in two pieces, split completely to the end. How much would that affect price if I sold it?

4. I had to finish it off with a shot from my .223. Where is the preferred place to finish off a downed coyote with a .223 from close range to minimize pelt damage? Sounds common sense, but the head shot made a mess.

Thanks again.
 
I get blood from wounds on almost every coyote I skin. After I've skinned it I go ahead and flesh it right away (remove an burrs before fleshing) and sew up any holes. Then I wash the fur side with a garden hose and let it drip dry until it's about 90% dry. Next, I put it on a stretcher fur side in for about 3 or 4 days, turn it to hair out and leave it on the board until its dry. Comb it out and its good to go. I doubt you'd get docked much, if any, for some of the tail missing. most coyotes are used for trim anyway.

If you have a .22 pistol that would work better for dispatching one without blowing it up, but you can also stand on the lungs just behind the front legs until it suffocates. Some don't have the heart for that, but it works. Make sure you don't get bitten!
 
All my critters get a bath. Large bucket of soapy water (Dawn) followed by a rinse with the garden hose. It's tough to make yourself do it when its snowing and cold outside, but I take pride in the fur I put up.
Been there w/ the .223. Started carring my .32 for dispatching. Still anytime you shoot them in the head it will be messy when you skin. I know of guys who sufficate, but I'm to light (a a bit skeard) to do that.
I find the best method is to kill them w/ the first shot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
I throw my fox right in the washing machine on cold delicate. Add some dawn and some downy fabric softener. WORKS GREAT. I flesh before I wash also.
 
I've washed coyotes for years in the washing machine. Nothing works better. They come out clean and soft. It takes a special women to allow such a thing but after you do the first one and clean up the hair inside the machine, all the rest will be easy. The trick is make sure the machine is cleaner when you finish than when you started! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
The dried blood on the pelt will brush out nicely after it dries. In contrasting the drying vs. washing and drying, I have found the drying more expedient and have a better outcome. I dont think the fur looks as good after washing, of course I don't use the washing machine. Just my limited experience.
 
i use a washing machine for all my coyotes. picked it up from a buddy that said the spin cycle didn't work and had to buy his wife a new one.(poor sucker) i got it home plugged it in a haven't had a problem with it. it works fantastic to get the blood and dirt out. i wash them after skinning, then flesh them, and then throw them in again to get any of the fat or grease from fleshing off. well there's my two cents for what its worth
 
I don't like all the extra work washing gives you. I use Borax and brush it in. Cleans everything and makes the hair fluff and show better. I don't even turn my fur. I skin, flesh and rub Borax in and bury for 30 minutes and put on stretcher. NEVER, had a problem with slippage and is a lot easier and less stressful. I cringe everytime I used to turn my fur, if I let it dry to long.
 
the fur buyer i used to sell had the old style washer with the ringer on top, did about the same thing as shotya9615,washed them, ringed them, brushed them and streched them
 


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