Over the last couple years I have always just sold to the local buyer in town. Last year I went out and bought all the supplies to scrape and stretch my own..I tried a couple small ones...and lets just say before I ruin any hides this year I need to do some drastic improving...anyone have any great fur handling videos that stand out in your mind. I was fine doing mink and rats. But coon kinda kicked my butt. Any help would be appreciated..thanks.

Practical fur handling.

It is the only one I have so I cannot compare but I found it to be a good one.

Here is the link:

http://www.nwtrappers.com/catalog/proddetail.asp?prod=dvdpfh

check with the local trap dealer as he will have a couple. I to the did have a problem. This last year i did fairly well. Sent some away to tan and they came out really well. Sent some to Canada and they have not sold as they are waiting for a better price as they were in great shape. The fleshing board has something to do with it. Still takes me 15 minutes to do a coon. I have had better success by putting them in th freezer and then doing them later as the fat rolls off better. I am still learning. good Luck

Tom Osborne's "Practical Fur Handling" Video.
It is a good video but, after watching my Uncle it seems to be some tricks you just have to learn by practice. He did a Fox in about 5 mins. I have tried it but don't have the time. Keep the knife sharp. That is what my Uncle keeps telling me. Good Luck

Matt Jones and Len's..."After The Catch" is a very good one.

+ 1 for Matt and Len's. Met a fellow a few years ago and we got to talking trapping. He had never put up fur but had bought "After The Catch" as had I. That season he brought some fur over he had put up. Everything looked great and he topped the market on coons at one of the state auctions that year. Very informative video.
I had been putting up most of my fur for several years and still learned alot from that video.

+ 2 on After the catch. Plus Matt is just entertaining to begin with.

+ 3 Can't add anything to what's been said good video.

You can't get any better than the experience of doing them yourself. I have sold to several different buyers and all had little tricks to turn out better hides. Ask questions when a buyer grades your furs and find out what they are looking for in a dried hide. You are obviously on the right track though because your asking questions now and trying to find the right answers. Keep asking the questions and you will be turning out top rate hides in no time. Good luck this season.

I agree with DuckBuster Tom Osborne's "Practical Fur Handling" is a really good dvd, he goes into a lot of detail for almost every critter you can trap.

Have heard a lot about the After the Catch video will have to get a copy, one of these days

I have Tom Osborne's Practicle Fur Handleing, great DVD! the guy really knows his stuff.

Matt Jones video has taught my girlfriend a lot. I don't even know where the knives are anymore!

Joe