Basic coyote skinning 101

[Northcountry]

One evening this spring, after trapping season ended, I took a 43-pound male coyote out of the freezer and skinned him for a wall hanger. My wife was hanging around me, listening to the radio and just watching... so I told her to go grab a camera and take some pics along the way. It would give us something to do and if anybody ever asked me how to skin a coyote...I would be all set! ;)

Canines are pretty easy to skin...and thats all I really expect to convey with these pics. Its natural for new trappers to be hungry for all the info and pics they can possibly find...and thats who this series of pics is intended to help. My way certainly isnt the only way...and no doubt isnt even the best way...but it will give a new trapper some idea of how its done.

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/1.JPG


http://www.parlin.com/non-game/2.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/3.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/4.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/5.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/6.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/7.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/8.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/9.JPG



Pictures continued in Part 2...

[Northcountry]

Continued from Part 1...

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/10.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/11.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/12.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/13.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/14.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/15.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/16.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/17.JPG

http://www.parlin.com/non-game/18.JPG


Somebody else can post a fleshing demo! :evil:

[FREEPOP]

Just like a fox ;) :p

That one looks pretty fat.

Most people say that they are pretty tough to skin (I hope to find out this fall)

My finger tips say "Thanks for the tip about the rod" :D

[Liv4Trappin]

Just a few days too late NC.
I just fleshed up a Gray Fox a week ago for a lifesize
mount.Oh well, maybe next time.
That sure was a beautiful Coyote you had there.

Mike

[HunterHawk]

You said you were going to post this and i thank you for posting it.... last year i was silly and cut out all of the little toes and the pads because i wasnt sure how they should look.... its ok because when i get some money i might try mounting it for myself but the other ones would have went a lot easier just doing it that way on cutting it off by the ankles...

one question.... that coyote looks like its held up by rope but what were the zip ties for??... I agree with freepop that rod is a good idear i know my fingers were killing me last year...

Thanks again
-Craig

[griffondog]

Good job Bill, you the man. I like to cut the front legs off with loping shears to keep them out of my way.

[Rustyaxecamp]

Great posts. Thanks a lot. Amazing how much pics help.

Watched a guy from NAFA skin one at Goshen last week.

Actually seeing it done or having good pics like these take a lot of the fear out of it for a rookie like me.

[Northcountry]

one question.... that coyote looks like its held up by rope but what were the zip ties for

The zip tie and label was simply for marking the "special" status of that specimen.

When I caught that particular animal (late December, perfect condition and large size), I considered saving it for a wallhanger...but was not really commited. I put that "toe tag" on it to remind me when I was emptying the freezer and loading the truck for the trip to F&T.

Also, I share freezer(s) space with a trapping buddy...and we use zip ties to identify ownership. His critters get a zip tie and mine do not.

[mhodnettjr]

Great post NC. Great detail and documentation. The only thing better would be to have someone right next to you skinning one out at the same time.

[Northcountry]

The only thing better would be to have someone right next to you skinning one out at the same time.

I agree, Michael...so I'll give you a call the next time I have several to skin :evil:

Hey, you coming over to catch some slammin this month? We need to upgrade that pic in your profile ;) The fish are nice and chrome right now....but wont stay that way for long.

[griffondog]

Made one of these last year as my hands are giving out after pulling on a couple coyotes. Found this on another forum made my life alot easier. I used it to skin deer also. I'm going to put a foot pedal on it for this upcoming season.


Griff


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3043/medium/skinningmachine.jpg (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=63479&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=16742)

[Northcountry]

Made one of these last year as my hands are giving out after pulling on a couple coyotes. Found this on another forum made my life alot easier. I used it to skin deer also. I'm going to put a foot pedal on it for this upcoming season.

Griff

Hey Griff, have you damaged any pelts with that contraption?

After skinning about a hundred deer by hand, I started skinning them with my trucks' tow hooks in 1998 and never looked back.

Then when I got into trapping and skinned about a dozen coyotes...it dawned on me that the "power skinning" process would sure make things quicker and easier.

So I designed and built a horizontal skinning machine with an ATV winch...and the very first coyote I tried it on got ruined! I guess I didnt do enough cutting of the membrane when I got to the hips...and the hide tore about 1/2-way across! I bagged the idea and went back to the manual way.

Have you had any problems damaging hides with your machine? It looks like your vertical method and foot switch would be perfect...allowing you to keep inspecting all the sides with your hands free to cut as needed. Sounds great! ;)

[griffondog]

NC

When I first put it together I thought the retrieval speed was to fast so I put another pully on it to slow it down. It took a while to get use to cutting and pulling with the hand control. The foot pedal will do away with most of the problems. Here is a picture of the base I'm going to make a new one so I can change heights.


Griff



http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3043/medium/base.jpg (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=63664&size=big&cat=500&ppuser=16742)

[David G Duncan]

Bill,

Great thread!! It is a permanent Sticky.

I hope you don't mind that I combined the part 1 and part 2 into one thread.

What a huge coyote prime winter caught coyote!

Congratulations!!!!

[Hunter333]

WOW! That is very cool to see.... pretty "graphic" to some folks I bet but still very cool. Do many people in THIS country eat the meat of a canine? Just seems that one could end up with a lot of meat if one trapped/hunted them a lot.

[PerchOnly]

Very graphic, but I thought it was excellent. I have never seen an animal skinned....I've cleaned a million fish, but never seen a coyote done. Very enjoyable, great pictures, thanks. Looks easier than I am sure it is.