I sell my fox and coyote to Groenewold from IL. They have over the last 20 years averaged better than anyone else. I skin and stretch them, then comb them out, wash them before stretching them.
I have seen shot coyotes in carcass bring 1/3 of what I get for finished hide. Even a big hole can be sewn if it is not too big. I sew all holes bigger than a pea to dime size. If it has jagged edges you need to trim the edges, then trim it to a football shaped hole. Then put the skin on a stretcher or narrow board, skin side out, pin the hole on both ends to bring it close together, so it looks like a slit. Then push fur in to get it out of the way. Then trim any meat or pink film off the edge of the hole. Then take a needle and heavy thread to sew it together, starting on one end and only stick needle through the very edge of the skin, less than a 1/16", not the pink layer of covering.
While you make each stitch, hitch it tight so it won't roll the skin edge when done. If you don't hitch each stitch the fur buyer will probably feel the raised hump of the rolled edge and dock you. Any questions on doing fur let me know.T.20
When fox were 50-60$ a hole would knock the price in half.
I use a .204 caliber, a Tactical.20, which is close to a R.204. With the Berger 35 gr. bullet, or 40gr Nosler you will have very little fur damage, most of the time. I found on red fox if you can angle the bullet to go through 6-8" of chest from front, you will not have an exit. On coyote you don't get an exit, maybe half the time. If you do it usually is small.T.20
