coon belly cut

[musher]

I've seen a few posts where people refer to a coon belly cut. I take it that the cut is on the belly of the raccoon, as opposed to the hindlegs towards the anus, and that it's purpose is to make the back of the animal longer.

Could I have more details?

Thanks.

[bobwendt]

more than that, cut in a v from one ankle to the penis and back to the other ankle. you need wood to appreciate the ready made window and the 2-4" gain in size. I even split the arsehole and tack the ring out. laugh, but I can get 32" out of any coon that weighs 8 lb or more. more than one buyer has aked me on several hundred coon if I sold the bottom end out. I say yep, beings he is buying them!

[thorsmightyhammer]

Dont start your cut in the center of the pad and go down.

Start it on the side of the ankle and then go down. I dont go all the way down the penis like bob does but our coon are bigger.

I will go straight through the bunghole if the coon is smaller.

You need to stretch them on wood or a modified wire stretcher.

Put them on regular wire and it will cost you $'s

[frenchman]

I agree - wood makes them longer (but takes slightly longer in time)

[bill1306 (Phil)]

I think it actually makes it quicker to do it the way steven49er said. When you start to pull the hide toward the tail, from the cut you made, you have more hide to hang onto when you are pulling it down. It is easier to skin the belly than it is along the back of the coons legs. After you do it a few times, you don't even think about skinning it down that way. I also skin skunks exactly the same way I skin coons. Maybe I do take a little more caution when I come to the glands on skunks.

[trappnman]

it makes them longer on wire and green also