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Post by trappnman on Sept 15, 2004 8:40:25 GMT -6
Talking this past weekend on skinning coyotes, and if the numbers aren't too high, I don't mind a bit skinning them out. In fact, too me they really aren't that much toughter than a big coon.
I used to spend more time and effort on front legs than needed. While I knew you could simply cut them off, this always leads to such a mess.
What I do, is after the yote is hung on the gambril, wring the front legs at the elbow- then slit the leg on the underside to almost the body- I stop about an inch from it, maybe a little less. I sometimes peel this back, I sometimes leave it til llater- its a tossup as to whether I do it or not.
But in either case- doing this makes the front legs a breeze to do- skin down to them and just peel them off- takes less time than writing this post.
Anyone else have some non skinning machine tips?
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Post by coydog on Sept 15, 2004 9:07:02 GMT -6
Skin em when their warm when possible, of course, thats nothing new. I do the same with the front legs, saves a lot of cussin.
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Post by Zagman on Sept 15, 2004 9:07:34 GMT -6
On the back legs, I start much higher (or lower, depending on your perspecitive) on the leg right below the paws on my initial cuts.....this lessens the chance of me cutting a tendon and/or the meat/muscle that it is hooked to as I start to peel down the rear leg.
I always have a problem on the rear ham....the front ham skin (belly side) always pulls off easily, but the rear ham (getting closer to the tail and about half way down the ham) always wants to hold on......anybody have any help for me in that area? I had thought about making my long cut from the paw to the tail more on the belly side, giving me more hide to grab as I work off the rear ham.....not sure if I am describing this correctly, but have found the area I am talking about is the same on fox as well.....
On the front legs, once I hang the coyote up and BEFORE I start the rear legs, I lop them off with a saw right below the elbow on the paw side of the forearm.....takes seconds......and now, as I work the coyote and spin him around, the front stiff legs dont get in the way or keep hitting me or my skinning machine table as I spin him and work the hide down.
If you ever convert a yoho trowel with a wooden handle into an all-steel trowel, save the wooden handles, as they make perfect tools for pushing through the tough armpit area.......just file or ground down a little finer point on them......
I like the idea someone had on here about putting a sock over the head while skinning.....I hate having to clean excess blood off the hide that is only there because of the loose hide being pulled down over the bloody head.....between burdocks, holes and such, I dont really need to add more cleaning/sewing work to the hide after skinning than I have to.......
In reality, I am a much better coyote trapper than coyote skinner......thus, the machine!
Zag
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Post by trappnman on Sept 15, 2004 9:17:52 GMT -6
On those rear hams-
pull the belly side off first- and work it around the leg, that allows you to start a little lower on the back side (hard to explain).... by starting to peel further down the leg, you are working UP towards the top cut...and pulling with the grain of the ham...
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Post by coydog on Sept 15, 2004 9:21:17 GMT -6
Same problem with that crease ham area. Ill have to give Steves way a try.
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Post by blakcoyote on Sept 15, 2004 9:21:46 GMT -6
I do it pretty much the same as everybody here.What I use in the armpit area instead of a trowel handle is my steel that I use for touching up my knives.
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Post by CoonDuke on Sept 15, 2004 9:22:12 GMT -6
Skinning a coyote made me realize how much I like being a fox trapper...LOL. Not that bad...but there's nothing good about it either.
I had no problems with any certain area, but the whole damn skin sticks like glue.
I can skin a fox without releasing a single drop of blood. I think it would take a little more practice to do that with a coyote.
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Post by trappnman on Sept 15, 2004 9:27:04 GMT -6
slitting ther legs eliminates any need for a dowel, steel, etc to pull the legs- they just "pop" out.
CD- sometimes you get what I call a "bleeder"- usually a big, pumped up male. Just PULLING the hide makes the carcass bleed in 1000+ places....
another tip to reduce bleeding- the Red Green way...take a folded piece of paper towel, and a strip of duct tape- tape over the bullet hole on the held.
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Post by MChewk on Sept 15, 2004 10:11:11 GMT -6
Steve, no blood IF you nose knock and rap the esophagus/carotid area hard a few times.
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Post by bobwendt on Sept 15, 2004 10:27:13 GMT -6
I just chop the front legs off with an ax before I hang him, right behind the elbow like zag does. Don`t like skinning them tho, those eastern ones are tougher, esp the older ones. The hide market doesn`t enthuse a guy much either. Speaking of which, what is the date for the sept nafa sale so I can go look and cry some more?
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Post by Corey on Sept 15, 2004 10:34:06 GMT -6
I think the sept sale is the 22nd Bob, do you have alot left up there?? Maybe they will use some lube on this sale.lol
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Post by bubcat on Sept 15, 2004 10:46:21 GMT -6
Only thing I guess I do odd is, I cape out the face up to the eye sockets before I put on the gambrel.
I skin the nose and lips back to the jaw hinge, and relieve the eye holes with a scalpel.
Then I skin em down off the gambrel. Once I hit the ears, the face is already done, and it seems I can skin that end easier, and cleaner when I start there, working off the bench, instead of hanging upside down with the hide draped over the head.
I like the idea of slitting the forelegs. I think I'll add that to my routine. That is, If I'm lucky enough to stumble onto a coyote this year, being a poo dink trapper and all. ;D
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Post by Zagman on Sept 15, 2004 10:55:16 GMT -6
My friend was up from Ohio with me this year to ride with me along the coyote line.....
Once in the barn each night, I had 3-4-5-6 coyotes to skin, and he pretty much sat there and watched me and drank beer.....
He said the entire time I skin a coyote, my face is curled up like I just smelled something real bad......the entire time......times 3-4-5 coyotes. Hopefully, it wont freeze up and stay in that contourted look......
This was the kid that got me started in trapping in 1977 and he stopped in 1983.....
I was convinced that once he rode with me, he would get the fever and want to start trapping again back in Ohio.....
After seeing me work in the mud all day and then skin those green-bellied SOB's each night, he said he has no intentions....zero....nada.....none, to ever trap a coyote.
He left and I dont think he will ever come back during coyote season......meantime, while my face did not reflect it, I was having a grand ole time!
You either have the fever or you dont......
Zagman
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Post by WVBill on Sept 15, 2004 11:10:17 GMT -6
Zag,
Is it the same look when you get a smell sour Kraut. ;D ;D
Bill
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Post by trappnman on Sept 15, 2004 11:50:13 GMT -6
Steve, no blood IF you nose knock and rap the esophagus/carotid area hard a few times. Mike- Im talking the bleeding from pumped veins right on the skin/carcass line.... I just don't have it in me to thunk animals anymore...I can by a boxfull of .22 shells cheap.....and water is free....
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Post by mattjones298 on Sept 15, 2004 13:45:38 GMT -6
take 2 shots of whiskey, think of someone you hate.
chop front legs off and don`t worry about blood as they need washing anyway...get alittle mad....and skin..if it was easy old women and little girls would be doing it.
after 4 coyotes repeat step one
skin the big ones first
matt
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Post by thefoxtrapper on Sept 15, 2004 14:09:13 GMT -6
Zag,
I feel the same way about coons as you do coyotes...have no clue why I catch so many every year as they are near worthless if you figure in your time....Oh well, guess I could be doing worse....never caught a yote so cant give any skinning tips......
Winston
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Post by jsevering on Sept 15, 2004 15:29:48 GMT -6
I use to hate skinning coyotes, now I got Ed, ;D
Found if you use your body wieght and the leverege of your arm, using your elbow as the contact or push point and roll your wieght into it and down, the skin peels alittle easier.
Also like using a snap lock pully that lets you keep working at a comfortable hieght, need a high ceiling or a hole up through the rafters to work with though.....jim
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Post by Edge on Sept 15, 2004 17:13:56 GMT -6
Good post!
Acouple of tidbits to add,a heavy duty lopper takes care of the legs FAST,run a meat filled saw thru tour hand or fingers and your seson is blown. Also,in the event of those mystery bloodlettings,place a piece of newspaper flat on the leak,sops and stops right now,also works if you lacerate the stomach area,just stick and go. The only other thing I can offer is to use your skinning knife for *skinning*;make entry cuts and limb lops woith a different blade.A large hook blade in a utility knife works wonders.
Edge
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Post by 17HMR on Sept 15, 2004 19:48:03 GMT -6
I use loppers on the fore legs also, seems the like the best and safest way. Before I hang them up to skin I start them on a table by skining the back legs and tail. Jeff
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