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Post by Hawken315 on Nov 4, 2009 13:27:52 GMT -5
Well I wanted to add to the list here on putting up animals.I Figured I would start with the Raccoon,the most common animal we all catch. NOW I am not any expert,but I figured I would help.I also put my coon up on wire so I am sure Wayne or others who put up on boards may pop in with a pick of the finished product on board.(same prep)So here goes... First I start with a dry,clean animal.I brush it to get all burrs out. Next I make the cut from one leg to the next and connect a V cut from the tail going arounf the anus. Now I will hang the animal and start to work the hide down and work around till i get to the tail.. Now after you carefully strip and remove the tail bone,I would start working the hide down.. Now here I am down to the front legs and will work them out to the paw and cut them leaving about three inches left on.. Now I pull down the hide more and work up to the ears..Now carefully cut the ears at the base,making sure you have the entire ear. And now the eyes I make sure to cut them as close as poss,, Now carefully down to the nose ,removing the bottom lip and keeping the cartaledge with the nose. Now I start with the sharp side of my knife and carefully remove the fat and tissue from the neck and around the ears.(Now I do not worry about the complete head as some do,I do make sure there is no thick tissue,but only that.I have not found it to make a difference in the sale.) Now work all the fat and grease off..Be carefull on the belly (nipples) and lay your knife more at a 20 degree angle,so not to catch or tear.. Finished fleashing.. Here after securing both rear leg ends I am removing the pouchy area left(making inspection window) Make sure to pull down tight but do not over stretch! Also I use clothsline clips to bring the sides down to help with keeping the hide taunt and even.. Now this is how I put up a coon hope this helps... Jay
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Post by trappermac on Nov 4, 2009 15:06:26 GMT -5
Very nicely done pictorial!
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Post by Itrapny on Nov 4, 2009 17:22:48 GMT -5
Great job Jay, thanks!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2009 17:43:53 GMT -5
You fleshing looks great, cool pictoral!!!
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Woj
#3 Newhouse
Posts: 3,381
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Post by Woj on Nov 5, 2009 0:02:40 GMT -5
Thanks Jay.
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Post by trappintommer on Nov 6, 2009 11:49:45 GMT -5
Nice lookin put up! great how to pictures.
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Woj
#3 Newhouse
Posts: 3,381
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Post by Woj on Nov 10, 2009 19:42:56 GMT -5
When do you cut the inspection window Jay? Any tricks on fleshing the legs?
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Post by Itrapny on Nov 10, 2009 19:55:32 GMT -5
Well I'm not Jay, but I cut my inspection window after it's on the board. As for the front legs, I slide them right over the tip of the beam and flesh them like the rest of the pelt.
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Woj
#3 Newhouse
Posts: 3,381
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Post by Woj on Nov 10, 2009 20:43:11 GMT -5
Ok sounds good. I made a boo boo and cut one of the legs pretty bad when I tried to do that. Got some holes in the belly. First time I ever fleshed one of those greasy pigs. Would you guys sew the holes or just leave them?
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Post by Itrapny on Nov 10, 2009 21:03:48 GMT -5
Won't do you much good to sew them up, it's not like a K-9 where they would be less noticeable when you turn them fur side out. Once you get the hang of them, 'coon are really easy to flesh, I almost enjoy doing them
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Woj
#3 Newhouse
Posts: 3,381
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Post by Woj on Nov 10, 2009 21:17:27 GMT -5
Yeah I didn't think it made sense to sew them. I might just get it tanned for my collection. He is a big boy and the fur is real nice on him. I can use it when I start teaching trapper ed classes.
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Post by Hawken315 on Nov 11, 2009 5:08:08 GMT -5
Like wayne the inspection window is cut when I have it on the stretcher,and like he said with the legs. Given any hole in the belly area,I would leave it.If it is bigger than a quarter i may sew it just to keep it from maybe tearing .. J
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Post by beanybaby on Dec 15, 2009 15:54:36 GMT -5
do u just let them sit on the strecther till they drie
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Post by jnm814 on Nov 6, 2010 20:49:11 GMT -5
just skinned my first coon didnt go as smooth as I hoped I skinned plenty of deer but thats just to get at the meat. I tried to strip the tail and screwed it up leaving 6" of fur on the tail.. I know what I did wrong and wont screw that up again. And I had a little trouble in the head area. I finished it with a head shot and think that made it harder to skin the face for a beginner like me I might finish them with a lung shot next time. And I will use a much smaller fresh sharp knife for the details in the face. Right now its froze in the freezer until I build a fleshing beam and get a fleshing knife and a stretcher. I didnt get all that because I didnt know if I would even catch anything in the begenning. Am 44 and been hunting all my life but just got my trapping license and all this is a learning experience for me. Thanks for the excellent pictures
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Post by Itrapny on Nov 6, 2010 20:55:51 GMT -5
Get yourself a serrated blade knife for the head area, it'll stay sharp longer. I wouldn't recommend shooting 'coon in the lungs, you're better off with a head shot if you choose to shoot them for the dispatch. Practice will make you a better skinner but we all start somewhere and you should be proud of your accomplishment
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Post by jnm814 on Nov 6, 2010 21:12:37 GMT -5
thanks a serrated knife sounds good will continue the head shot for now. I figure I will get better with time and thanks
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Post by Lonny Mattison on Nov 7, 2010 6:22:03 GMT -5
I am putting fur up for the first time this year. Did my firdt coon yesterday and what a chore, but I am starting to get it.
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Post by jnm814 on Nov 7, 2010 22:29:20 GMT -5
got my second coon today and skinning went much better . Stripped out the tail and did the face ok but got careless and put a few holes in him LOL I put them in the freezer and will use them to practice fleshing and drying.. is there any value to damaged pelts or should I have my practice ones made into a hat LOL
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Post by Itrapny on Nov 8, 2010 5:34:15 GMT -5
Depends on what you consider damage and how much there is. I couple small holes in the belly won't degrade you a lot, a couple big holes in the back will. Having 1 or 2 your first critters tanned and/or made into a garment is really something special that will last a lifetime anyway
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Post by kirkwooder on Nov 8, 2010 14:11:38 GMT -5
jm814, I find that more muscle and less knife are needed for coon. Get the hind legs and bung hole cut, strip the tail, and muscle the pelt off down to the front legs. Use your thumbs to turn the front legs inside out and strip them to the feet. Cut them at the ankles, and continue to muscle the pelt down to the head. When you get to the ears use your knife to cut in toward the skull. Muscle the pelt down a little more and work the eyes the same way. Cut the corners of the mouth and pull almost completely off. Cut the cartilage at the nose and your done.
Don't try to keep the pelt clean of fat and tissue, all that will be easier to remove on the fleshing beam. If you do have to use your knife, remember to always keep cutting toward the carcass and not the hide. I always try to get my thumbs between the carcass and the hide and try to peel it down that way, before going to the knife. That will tend to eliminate the cuts to the pelt.
I try to skin my coons when they are still warm. Most of them I do in the field. They skin a lot easier that way. Try to skin a few warm and then doing them cold won't seem as difficult.
I don't know if any of this will help, it just takes practice. After a while you'll get so a coon will take you no time at all.
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Post by jnm814 on Nov 8, 2010 21:31:25 GMT -5
I learned a long time ago with deer to skin them fresh before the fat turns hard..so I guess same applies to coon .. but I cant get a good grip on these greasy suckers to muscle the off so been using the knife prob more than I should. Might use a vice grips or pliers to get a better grip. And these are some slippery greasy animals LOL
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Post by Itrapny on Nov 9, 2010 5:42:06 GMT -5
Get some old towels, or buy some cheap ones and use them, they work great.
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cooper67
#2 Newhouse
oswego county trappers ,nysta,jefferson county
Posts: 2,554
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Post by cooper67 on Nov 14, 2010 10:23:17 GMT -5
lots of paper towels help also
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Post by armymedic2 on Dec 2, 2010 6:05:10 GMT -5
jnm, next coon i get i will take pics of my winch/vice grip brackets. investment 150 total . time saved, priceless. and no knife cuts cause you only use it like four times. these critters can truely be peeled with strength.
awesome pictorial hawken!
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Post by hd56pan on Dec 30, 2010 11:24:02 GMT -5
Nice job,thanks for the lesson.
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