I am making this post one last time for anyone who did not get to see it before and also to listen to any and all comments people want to add. I have gotten the validation of having it run twice and everyone respecting the post and it not turning into you’re doing this wrong or that. Thank y’all. Please tell me things you do different or things you think I can do to make the fur better. All comments are welcome, even if I don’t agree. Thanks M.

I just watched all your vids on this thread-

Thank you for posting those. Why do you flesh them vertically? It looks like it works great for you, but I've never seen it done that way before.

I have never put up any of my own fur before,as my old buyer gave me good money for green and in the round. I am going to start putting stuff up next year and will usually end up with a bunch of coon eventhough I am not targeting them.

I like your method!

thanks again-

michael

Michael I flesh vertical because it was the first way I was taught and it is easier on my back the the horizonal way. It works on the bi and tris, not the lower back.

Great post with great information once again Tony!!! Very nice.

Thanks for sharing Tony. Do you do anything with the grease that gets into the fur (borax etc...) on the legs, and tail? The coons up here have a ton of fat.

When skinning, do you prefer to trim closer to the hide and have less fat to flesh or do you leave allot of fat on the hide?

GREAT JOB ON YOUR VIDEO IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE .

DOING WHAT EVER GETS THE JOB DONE CORRECTLY IS WHAT COUNTS .

ITS GREAT TO SEE DIFFERENT METHODS !

(FRENCHIE)

Great post...Thanx Howard...I thought u were crazy for using a vertical board...since watching this post i can tell ya i like it...in fact i have several draw knives...so next season i'm going to giver a try...thanx again...

Great video! you look like a absolute pro at that. Nice work M. Howard

Thanks for sharing, it's nice to see other ways people do things.

yes thanks again you might want to think of doing a trapping video say for coon from sets to finished product.your very good at teachin.also how long is your fleshing beam ?

Very nice Tony.

I have been taught and do it the vertical way as you showed in the video, didn't know people did it another. Granted I don't know any outdoor people around here, I am kinda the odd ball sadly lol. Great videos and thanks for sharing!

I'm definitely going vertical now...

Great videos!!! Thanks for all the time and effort you out into that.

Chris, I have found that when fleshing the fat comes off easier with more fat left on the pelt. I was taught to leave as much fat on the carcass as possible when I was younger and sold green. Coon meat sales by the pound and most customers like fat coons, as fat means healthy. But with the fat left on the pelt, the thin layer of fat next to the leather seem to roll off better.

Y'all keep in mind I did not put this up to show how fast I am at fleshing, because by Pro standards I am way to slow. I just wanted anyone wanting to try it to see that it can be done in under 5 mins. I have fleshed under a 1000 but over 800 coons since starting three years ago and have learned so much about it. I started off doing about 1 every 20 mins and messing up hides left and right. As time passed and I did more I learn from others on how to flesh. When I made these videos I was turning one every 5 mins flat. I am now down to 4 min and 30 seconds pushing it hard and 5 flat taking my time. I take my time a lot now and pace myself. I have about 10 mins total time in the coon on fleshing and boarding and 15 mins total time till completions in a bag, maybe more as I do a lot of extras. I have found the most important part to keep from damaging pelts starts when the animal is dispatched. Clean the fur very well right then of any burrs, mud or even cloddy blood if you are near water. Then dry the fur well before boarding. I am sure there are pelting books out there and I feel that they are the most important investment one can make to successfully put up fur. Clean fur is quality fur at auction. I may try to make some of these free videos to post and show how I clean the fur. By the time I set, catch, clean and pelt a animal, I am sure I have well over 40 mins invested in one hide if not more.

OK, so i noticed when you were boarding the coon, there was a little red left on him. The pelt doesn't have to be TOTALLY clean?

I guess I have watched about 50 fleshing videos, and they all seem just a hair red.

Thanks for posting it.

The red is the lighting or something. Or sometimes the leather has a red tent to it. There is no meat or fat left on them to speak of. Just as long as they come out a golden brown.

When are they golden brown? After fleshing? or after drying?

M. Howard thank you, very good post. Do you use grawe's boards? I was thinking about ordering some of there boards. Thank you for taking the time to show the post. Also do you do your fox and coyote legs the same way with the rubber bands?

Thank you for the effort and share of the raccoon fleshing task.

You are to be commended for that excellent, most informative, educational series of demonstrations. Bravo!

The videos were very comprehensive in each step-by-step production.

Jonathan

Yes this is after drying them. They turn a nice golden brown like fish in fresh grease.


I use rubber bands but not like that on fox. I go all the way around the board and use it to make the legs lay flat against the chest. or chin.

Thanks Jonathon.


I don't even trap, I just make videos Buzzard.

Well I like fish in fresh grease

I would like to also compliment you on your efforts at making these for everyone !! They are really informative.

I hope they prove an example to others for more brief but very concise instruction.

This is what fur takers really need more instruction in the put up of fur, way to many people forgo it to just be a trapper!!

Hi Michael,
Nice job on the fleshing video. I'm going to have to try the catfish pliers--good idea.
Before I wedge the skin I take an old, dull chefs/cake knife and draw it lightly over the leather--you'll be amazed how much grease, dirt, and loose hair comes off the leather.
Yes, I do the rubber band thing on the front legs of the beaver pelts and they look 200% better.
Thanks for sharing the good video.
Bob Sheedy

Excellent post....this definately needs to be archived...Tom

Thanks M. Howard. I watched the videos when you first posted them and that's how I learned for the most part. Got a good review from my fur buyer this year (my first year selling fur). He was really pleased with how well I put up my fur and told me it was the best he's seen in a long time by a rookie. I was worried that I had done some stuff wrong but I guess not. Thanks again.

GOOD JOB Mr Howard.....