For those that put up their own fur...

NDcaller

NDcaller

New member
I have always sold my coyotes to a fur buyer. This year I am wanting to put up my own fur. My question to you guys is what are the basics I need to know. Wire or wooden stretcher? Is a fleshing beam needed? I am a rookie when it comes to this subject but my job slows down in the winter so I looking for things to take care of some extra free time. Is there any good DVDs out there to explain everything or a good book someone can suggest? Thank you and good luck this season!
 
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Yes you will need a fleshing beam and fleshing knife. You need to get all the meat and fat off. It isnt to hard to do on a coyote.

I prefer wood stretchers for my coyotes. I only use wire on my racoons and muskrat. We have a couple sponsors here that sell supplies and have videos on putting up fur. There are a couple of good ones but I cannot think of the names right now. Blaine Eddy had a good one if you can find it.
 
You will need a good beam and fleshing knife. I bought mine from MB and went with a Necker 600 fleshing knife. Buy good equipment and cry once. I prefer good wood stretchers and make my own. I do have some old peerless wire stretchers I use if I get in a pinch. Blaine Eddy had a great coyote fur put up video.
I like to work the face alittle better than most and also split my ears. After you remove all the meat and fat give it a good wash in woolite get it semi-dry and put a good bath of borax on the skin side. Flip it and put on the stretcher. I pin my ears. I feel it gives a better look and presentation is everything.
 
There's nothing better than putting up your own fur. All the little mistakes are part of the learning curve. Don't get discouraged everyone makes them especially on a fleshing beam. If you tear threw the hide try sewing up with some dental floss works great.Your fur buyer may be willing to give you some pointers on the way he likes to see fur handled and presented. good luck
 
I trim as much fat and ect off as I can, recheck it before turning fur out. stretch it fur in on a wooden stretcher, flip it to fur out and finish drying it, after it is no longer damp on skin side. I wash them first, usually, fan will finish drying them after turning fur out. I comb burrs out and fluff the fur when it is all dry.
 
I have Blain Eddys "Hunting and Skinning for profit" I highly recommend it.I don't know if it is available any more since Blain is hunting coyotes in the happy hunting grounds.
 
If you're selling to the fur market, I can think of absolutely no reason to split ears (unless it's so hot that the fur is slipping as they dry) or flesh the face. I will try to put together a series of photos after big game season that explains the process. It seems that there are very few people that are aware of how to prepare a pelt for market. Not a difficult process, but there is sure a lot of misinformation out there.
 
my buddy and i taught blaine eddy.anyway i always wash mine also in an old ringer washer,montgomery furs is on the web and should have what you need.you are welcome to e-mail me i will help if you need.
 
lyotehunter, How important do you think it is to split the ears? Some one told me they dont even use the head. seems like a waste of time.
 
You don't split the ears on pelts that are to be sold to the fur market. The heads are waste. In taxidermy we split the ears to facilitate tanning and prevent slip, this is also of course the only way one could insert an ear liner in order to mount the animal. The amount of misinformation in re: to fur handling is unreal. The head doesn't even need to be fleshed as long the skinning wasn't a mess on a fur market animal. If you're selling to a taxidermist, you would do well to ask him/her how they would like you to skin it (dorsal, ventral, etc.).
 
i take a little out but never split them all the way,because it is always cold when i have my fur put up.if you don't split them sometimes they start stinking,not real bad but some.they throw all that away anyway.i leave most of the bottom jaw fur on the carcass to save time.i have a hanger that i carry in the truck that fits upright on the back.as soon after i kill them i skin them it only takes about 5min.throw them in a gunney sack and put them on the back of the truck fur out.so unless you sell to someone that wants the whole thing it is a waste of time
 
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