Washing Coyote Hides

Willy1

New member
What have most of you guys been doing to clean coyote hides that you are preparing to sell. Some people say wash them and some say not to. The ones that I have seen that have been washed really look good. What I need to know is do you wash them then stretch them with the fur back on the inside,when you wash them do you use soap and do you try to dry the fur before you actually stretch the hides. This is on coyotes that are being prepared to go to the fur auction. With the fur prices coming up the auctions are starting to look more attractive.
Thanks
 
I use a 5 gal bucket, no drain in fur room. I wash it twice or so depending how bloody it is. Then I snap the fur after wringing it out, to get the excess water out. I stretch it skin side out, over night at about 65-68 degrees until semi dry, if too dry use a wet paper towel to soften the shoulders and belly. Then use a dry stretcher to stretch it fur side out until completely dry, with a fan running on the nose of the stretcher, 3-5 days.T.20
 
My partner Gene'O posted a picture of a washing rack he made for me. I included a link to that thread. You can stretch the hide over the pipe and rinse it with a garden hose. Keep your hands out of the cold water which is probably important up where you're at. I don't use any soap. After washing, I do mine similar to what T20 described. I think you'll be money ahead by washing your fur. It looks a lot better, is fluffier and shinier.



http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubb...ue#Post52435142
 
Mason Jarr Thanks for the reply and the link that is exactly what I wanted to know. I have shot and sold a lot of coyotes over the years but I sell them green non fleshed or stretched. With the price of them coming up it may be tme to start finishing them off. Thanks again for the reply.
 
Willy1, I use wooden stretchers, if you put the wet coyote fur on one it will be too wet to use on the skin. So, I take a dry stretcher for the skin side, then the wet one will dry by the next day.T.20
 
My regimine goes like this:

If bloody or muddy, I pre-wash them in cold water, no soap.
If not bloody or muddy, I don't pre wash.
Then remove any burrs.
Then flesh.
Then wash them with a mild laundry soap until clean, rinse well. I had been doing this by hand in the laudry room sink.
I now have an old washing machine in the fur shed. Moocho faster.
After washing I wring them out & let hang for about 20 min to let them drain.
Put it on the streatcher, sew up any holes, & dry them.
I use wood stretchers, the fir is still damp when they go on the stretchers, & the wood does draw moisture from the fur, but haven't had any problems after turning & drying on the same boards.
After the fur is dry, & the nose hardens, I lightly blow on them with compressed air to locate & brush out any small burs or matted fur, this also fluffs the fir, and makes it look fuller.
I then I take them off the stretcher put them on hangers & keep a fan going to circulate the air in the room so that they don't draw moisture. I live in NW Oregon so moisture absobtion is a problem during storage, and can cause mold growth.
 
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