couple of things that are going on here.
There are biologists that say that it's tied to day light, but if that was the case the coyotes in AZ would never grow fur. Its not like a few more or less hours of the day makes a difference in the summer vs. winter coyote fur here.
Shoot a coyote in phx and measure the fur, shoot a coyote in Williams a few hours north and measure the fur. I can tell you what the buyer said.. One is worth $5 and the other is worth $30. The only measureable difference is the cold. As they get cold, the hair grows in, to keep them from being as cold and they eat more to have what it takes to stay warm, vs here in AZ, they are smaller. But that makes about as much sense and daylight making hair grow.
Either way..
Early season prime furs are expected to sell decient, however they are saying that there is a large surplus of left over furs, so prime should sell well, not prime, if at all the buyers are going to be very picky. (read Fur Fish and game fur report in the back) it's not always spot on, as some buyers are going to take risks that may or may not pay off.
The further north you are the sooner they prime up, so that would explain why guys in Canada are saying to hunt them in October and others are saying November.
For the best prices you want to see fur (on the back at the 3 to 4" mark and thick, can't see the bellies. If you are planning on shooting to sell fur, and call in a double, shoot the lighter one first. (worth more) thick white bellies are bigger money.
if you are wanting to learn the process of putting them up, I would suggest getting out there now and shoot one. Then skin it, and put it up, now is a nice time of year, and it will give you time to get the tools that you are going to want to have ready to go when you start doing it for money. I would get it put up, and then find a buyer and take it to them, and have them review it. Ask them for critiques on your work and not the fur since it won't be good.
The point is that learning now will save you a lot of fustration. I found out the hard way at the end of the season that i was skinning them wrong.( I missunderstood, go around the genitals, and left to much of a patch of fur on the coyote, and it cost me half the price of the pelts, meaning that it shouldn't be more than a baseball size patch of fur left around the butt and junk) Learning now will save you time when it counts, since it's new to you.
There are some tools that you are going to need to get, like a fleshing beam, stretchers, sewing needles and plain dental floss for sewing.
I made a set of youtube videos, they are nothing great, but enough to get you started since it was geared for those that have never done it before. There is a lot of "advice" on how to skin, but that doesn't do you any good if your buyer doesn't like it.
There are 3 video's and one that talks about how to do the ears. (4 total)