Question on skinning

Navy_Gunner

Navy_Gunner

New member
Bear with me, long post but am confused.

Ive read almost all the posts I can find on skinning a coyote. I want to be good, fast and efficient. Today I harvested a smallish (last years pup maybe) coyote and decided to try to skin it. Mind you I have only skinned one coyote before, and I think I did well on that one. Here was my method;
First I had a string with a carabener at each end, I used the beener to make a loop and wrapped each end around the feet. I then hung her up hind feet up and crotch towards me. I cut around the ankle area just above the heel pad and made an incision down the inside of her legs to her crotch. I then peeled (like a banana) her hide down to her tail. When I got to her tail I cut the hide off the tail bone down about 2 inches. Then I inserted one of them letter openers and that worked good for the first 3 inches splitting her tail. I decided for some odd reason it would be a good idea to pull the hide farther down her back and when I did the tail ripped off about 4 inches down the tail from the rump. Basically ruined? I figured it would be good practice anyway, so I kept going. I peeled her down to her neck and left the front legs for now. I thought I would be able to cut it all free as I go here. I loosened up the hide a bit and pulled again, this time I ripped her hide from just behind her ear and down her head a bit. Ruined? I then cut the hide around the ankles and pulled the legs free through the "tube" turning the legs inside out. (is this right)? I think I totally messed up somewhere. This was still very fresh (within 20 min of shooting), and I cant figure out why it tore so easily? Was it because of its age? Young thin skin? Am I to harsh? What could I have done better as to not ruin this hide? I kept it anyway, more so to try out the raid in a bag trick to see if it works, and maybe to try tanning a piece for S&G to learn from it.

Thanks for taking time to read my long drug out dumba$$ story of me ruining a hide. I hope I can learn from my mistakes.
 
NG,sounds like you were doin' fine other than maybe getting a little impatient pulling and tearing.You should split the tail a little farther though,like 6" or so,until the tailbone is about 3/8 diameter?Work the skin away from the base of the tail,you will need to skin it some here until you get the hide free of the tailbone for a few inches.Once its free from the tailbone as far as you have split,assuming you are right handed,firmly grasp the skinned portion of the tail with your left hand,then,use your right thumb and forefinger clamped around the tailbone to sort of "milk it" out the rest of the way.Hope this is clear??If in doubt,split it further.
Once the tail is free,continue as you did towards the neck.You should've freed the front legs before getting to the neck though.Once they're free,continue down the neck to the head.You need to cut the ears free,you'll see the whitish cartilage,cut it close to the skull.As you get to the eyes,same sorta thing,cut above them high and close to the skull or you'll end up with big eyes.

Sounds like maybe you did too much pulling and not enough knifework?Yotes,cats and fox have fairly thin skin and are easy to tear.Better luck on the next one.
 
Ok, I think I have the tail thing figured out, how about tail strippers? Are they worth the $3? Ive ment to order one but never have. As far as "freeing up" the front legs do I just make the circular incision around the ankle or split it up the leg?

Thanks for the reply, yes for sure better luck on the next one.
 
yep those tail strippers work very well , thats what i use on all the critters that i catch. just split the tail 3 or 4 inches down ,wrap that stripper tool arround the skinned part of the tail ,grip firmly and pull till the tail comes out.after that you can split the tail the rest of the way.

now on freeing up the front legs if you dont want the paws on them go ahead and make your incision arround the ancle and pull it through . If you want to save the paws (wich looks alot better)go ahead and make your cut up the inside of the leg down to the pad ,then i kind of cut around the pad up to the front of the paw .you then have to work his foot out of his skin by pulling the fur down and making your cuts till you get to the last knuckel where the claw is connected and disconnect it. its real tricky and takes alot of practice but once you get the hang of it the finish product looks real nice. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

the biggest thing is dont rush , do a little less pulling and a little more cutting hope this helps
 
Quote:
As far as "freeing up" the front legs do I just make the circular incision around the ankle or split it up the leg?



Personally,I circle the leg midway between the ankle and elbow and split it to just above the elbow.This method makes it easy to get the legs out,and also easier to turn the legs after drying leather side out for a day or so.If your selling the fur,there really isn't any value to the lower leg anyway.

Tail strippers?Can't comment,I've never used one,but then again,I ripped a few tails in half during my early trapping years. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gifProbably worth the $3 if that's all they cost? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
PS,Todd's method with the paws on admittedly looks nicer,just seems like extra work for little or no gain to me,unless your buyer requests them that way?Again though,it does look nice.If I was keeping the pelt to be tanned,I'd definateley want the paws,but then I suppose I'd skin it open instead of cased as well for a rug.
 
Skinning methods will vary depending on the purpose. When skinning for sale, Tube skinned is the norm. No need to keep the paws. If skinning for taxidermy, there are several ways to skin and your taxidermists preferance may vary. For a full body mount, most prefer a dorsal cut. For a rug, split up the belly stopping at the neck and out each arm. To aid in removing the paws on legs that have been tubed, You can make a small 3" cut from the pad up. This will allow you to turn the paw area inside out while you work and is easily stitched back up. I use a large fuse puller as a tail stripper. 2 screw drivers will work also. One trick I learned is to pull the tail bone out while holding the tail hide stationary (kind of like unsheathing a sword).
Here are a couple of pics showing how I strip a tail. (dowl represents tail bone) I use the stripper to hold back the hide while I pull the bone out .
100_0127.jpg

 
Good post, and thanks for the pic. Made it crystal clear for me! I do appreciate all the replies. I will definately do better next time!
 
I take an axe and cut the front legs off just below the elbow before skinning. The front shoulder then skins out a whole lot easier without pulling those long legs through. If selling the pelt, those forelegs add no value. Just leave the shortened front legs on the inside when you turn it fur out to dry. Auction houses like them that way.
 
Joetrapper is correct. I just take a sharp pair of pruners and take off the front legs. The tail stripper works well, I would recommend one. I use one alot, when I can find it. When I can't find it, I use two 5/32 welding rods. I start my coyotes laying on their side on a table in my barn. After the front legs are cropped, I work up to the arm pit to loosen that hide. I then split the hide on back side of legs to anus. After I peel the back legs and start the tail, then it gets hung up and pulled off. Keep a good knife sharpener and touch up tool on hand. Also, if your putting up the hides yourself, don't forget to split the tail all the way down once it has been deboned. CrossJ
 
Here's another tip for yotes and coons. When cold the skin is hard to pull off without a lot of cutting. At least the fat coyotes I get are. I take a piece of hardwood 12" long 1" wide and tapering in thickness from 1/2 inch or more to about 1/4 inch or less. It is just a piece of millwood board. Use the stick to work the hide off the carcass. With coyotes and coons I come right onto it. Shove the small end of the stick right down between the hide and carcass as you work off the hide.

Some big time skinners use a hand winch on yotes. I even saw an electric winch used to pull them off. A stick works good enough for me.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top