Anyone got any pictures or videos of your raccoon skinning?

I'm probably too old and set in my ways to change but I wouldn't mind any tips that made it easier. Here's how I do mine...



~ADC~

Can't offer ya any better tips. Thats a pretty nice set up ya got. Thank you for the tip!..lol. I do hundreds a year and it is all by manual.....just as fast but a little less labor.
Nice video.

Nice video.

ADC,

Is that you doing the video? I saw a very simalar
way in Fur Fish Game Pro Racoon vid. Only the guy doing the skinning slits the front legs like you do on a fox. After seeing your video I dont think the slit is necassary. Very fast and cool set-up!

I have got to get me one of those rigs! My process is about the same but I use the burlap and pull method rather than a winch.

Yep. that's me. I never saw the need to split the front legs. On my fox and coyotes I just use tree pruners and remove the front feet up to the elbow before I start. And while I don't use the hoist to pull the foxes I do use it to raise them up as I go so it's all there in front of me. This rig works great on coyotes and peals them right out as well.

Anyone use them rods up off the table to go around the back legs? I do perrt well with a knife, almost never cut a tendon but if that were faster or easier, I'd like to see it done.

~ADC~

You can't use the hoist on Fox? Are they too soft? I focus more on fox here for multiple reasons, but the hoist would still be handy to keep moving them up while I work or for the dozen or so coons I get each year.

hey adc skinning warm ones like that is almost cheatin lol show us how you do a cold stiff conibererd coon from the night before lol

I wish I had a winch just for those real cold ones.I skin mine by hand.Hopefully have a winch set up for next year.I hang it,ring the feet,run a cut from ankle to ankle and start peeling.Once I get a little fur below head level I loop a piece of rope around it and stand in the loop at the other end.Comes right off without much cutting.By the end of season my shoulders are dead.Hopefully I make enough this year to take my wife out to eat and buy a winch.Or atleast enough for the winch

Wow thats cool

I still hand pull all my coon. last year I started to use a dowel rod for the back/tail and front legs, the best thing ever. my thumbs don't act up as bad now, save on the pain pills

I use one of those dowels too.It works slick.

I'm goin to have to try that dowel, trick.

There is no difference. The hoist just peels them right out. I'll get a video of some cold ones and some coyote too this fall. That was the last one of the season and I just happened to think of the video.

Rye, foxes tear too easy with the hoist. They are easier though just raising them up to eye level.

~ADC~

I use an air compressor to blow air betweeen the body and hide first. Seems to help. It also will help to blow them up if there wet, they seem to dry quicker.

yes no diffrence in the way the hoist peels them out, but they sure are harder to open around the back end when they are cold and stiff then when warm . how come you have your clamps mounted on the floor adc are you short on celing hight ?

Yea, the opening can be a bit slower on the cold ones, that's true but it sure beats pulling them by hand. The hard part is done by the hoist for sure. As far as height I find with the grips mounted about 20" off the floor like mine it puts the coons head close to eye level when it's inside out. The hoist is mounted in the peak of the rafters up there around 13-14' high....



~ADC~

Is that a steel frame or wood that your winch is mounted too? I am getting ready to build one in my soon to be fur shed

Both. It's 1 1/2" square tubing mounted on top of treated 2x4's that are lag bolted through the rafters. The hoists from harbor freight come with brackets to attach to the square tubing. Here's a link to the hoist I use...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44006

If you don't want to build your own base I can make you one of them as well. Get me a picture when you get yours all set up. I'd like to see how you do.

~ADC~

Heck I was copying yours. I went and got some 1.5" and some 2" scrap tubing to build the base. Also got a 48" stick of heavy 1" to make a earth anchor puller. Looking real forward to both

Good deal!!! Glad to see these posts aren't going to waste.

~ADC~

I'm having issues finding a winch that has a long enough control to cord. Everything I find seems to short. Any suggestions on making that cord longer? Thanks I don't mean to HIJACK your thread ADC.

The cord on mine is just right the length to make it hang right where I need it. If you put the hoist 2' higher though it would be tough. I think a half way mechanically inclined person could cut the cord and just splice in some.

~ADC~

One more winch question ADC. I just bought that exact same winch. Is single pull enough for coon at 440lbs or do you have to double it up?

I use the double to slow it down. Its plenty fast double line and its easier to see what you are doing should you need to do a little knife work to help it out before it pulls the coons in two. That said if you're quick on the button the single line will do just fine, it's got the power you need. I'm not sure if it would pull a cold deer like mine will double line though if that's a concern.

~ADC~

Thanks that's what I thought. GREAT POST Thanks

those hoist are going on sale for a 3 day only sale oct 2 3 4 for 79.99. Just had a sale paper on them. ADC do you have that vicegrip thing attached to the floor somehow ? Great set up.

Yes scooter most of the people I make them for attach them to a concrete floor using wedge type anchor bolts same as I use. They are made to accept 1/2" bolts, mine are 3" long.

~ADC~

Thanks that helps a bunch

No problem Chuck glad to help out.

~ADC~

I must have the fastest easiest set up around, no more tips to make it simpler or easier???

~ADC~

I will be working on one soon. The problem I might have is the height, as I do all mine in the basement and ceiling height isn't that high. Next year I hope to get the trap shed built, would really make wife happy,.

Hey spaz you ever thought of mounting the base to the wall or end of a long bench in the basement and pulling horizonally? I talked to several guys at the ITA about different rigs and a few with low celings are pulling them sideways. I think if you got used to it, it would be just fine.

~ADC~

That is about the fastest way I have seen to do it. So I guess that if you have somthing that works that good there isn't much if anything to add!

All I have in my shed is a 9ft ceiling I was thinking of mounting the winch to the floor & a pulley on the ceiling,then to the ADC clamp system. I will start working on this hopefully in the next few weeks I will take some pics.

ADC hard to beat your system,glad you have shared it.

trapper34 That plan should work good. The only thing I'd do different is mount the winch to the wall up off the floor and out of the mud, the blood, and the beer.

~ADC~

ADC, That would be a better idea! Thanks!

That setup is slick.
I use something a bit different, cheaper and portable. It still takes muscle to do but leg muscle not hand and arms. It can be used on even thin skinned critters for those that have a tendency toward carpal tunnel in the hands.
This is not a coon but it works the same. I start pulling with the rope at the same point ADC clamped on the vise grips. My leg does all the pulling and hands are free to do the cutting just like the electric puller but one can turn the critter any way one wants it there is a swivel on the gamble.
Cheap, easy to replace, and portable for those that like to skin away from home.
In the pictures one end of the rope is on the hide the other is over my left shoe.

willvalley, that would surely beat the heck out of pulling all by hand!

Thanks for sharing the pictures!

~ADC~

I use a cherry picker (engine puller) have two loopes welded to feet anchor cables to that then loop golfballs or leather pincher fot the pulling just pump and go

I have a low ceiling so this is what I use for coon and coyote....
One advantage to horizontal pulling is that if you happen to nick a vein on the throat or by the jaw, the blood drips down OFF the pelt rather then down ON it as when in the vertical pulling position.

i make my wife skin my critters and i do the fleshing.....................ok i lied i do it

dbergman1966- Good idea!

Seldom, thanks for the pictures! Looks like that will get the job done, sure would beat pulling them by hand.

~ADC~

looks like I will be pulling horizontal, thanks and

Good Luck to All!!

Joe~~

Just got a video camera and will do a demo using my set up if you show me how to load it to youtube...or what ever it is called ...lol Tom

Tom, you ever get that demo video made?

ttt

Great video ADC. My dad got a 1550 lb. winch , Chicago brand I think, for free, was wondering if I oughta double up the cable? He's getting a foot pedal/control for it too. Loved your dowel rod idea!

Thanks to all that have contributed to this thread. I have skinned a few thousand coon over the years but several of the things shared here have helped me cut my skinning time nearly in half and saved much discomfort for my cold, older, hands.
My limiting factor in my coon trapping numbers has always been how many coon I am able to skin at a time. Don't have heated skinning area or room for a skinning machine and working on near frozen animals takes its toll on me. Going to get another dozen 220's for next season now.

Drakej glad to help.

Marshrat, the double line will slow it down so you can see if it needs a little help with the knife before it's too late and you tear the hide.

~ADC~

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93251 <-- click here

Now is the time to buy yourself a hoist guys. That is one heck of a deal!

~ADC~

i use cable gambrels from the iowa snare shop and 1/4" braided rope w a sinch to put on the hide and a stirrup loop on the other for my foot. it is a pain though raising and lowering the gambrel rope over the tree branch as the hide comes down so it all stays in front of me. as far as front legs go i have an antler from a lil forkhorn shed that had the top tine busted off, the antler is U shaped so it's like pulling on bicicle handlebars. and instead of a filet knife i use one of my custom short blades starting the ankle to ankle with a lenolium blade in a razor knife. wish i had one of those machines for the yotes though, over the branch takes about 2.5 hours on a cold yote

http://www.harborfreight.com/880-lb-electric-hoist-44006.html

Going to be real hard to beat that price on a hoist. I paid $20 more than that years ago.

~ADC~

Man that's tempting. Can this hoist work horizontal or at an angle? I don't see why not, just thought I'd ask a man that runs one. Thinking not only skinning but getting heavy things dragged onto and off of the trucks. Thanks.

I picked up one of those winch's this weekend, you can't beat the price. Now I need to fabricate a portable set up.

yes, I have friend who has his at an angle...Tom

NO LOL will this year for sure Jayme and still need to know how to post it. Tom

http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthrea...tml#Post1031992

Maybe this is what your looking for....Tom

Sure they work hoizontal. I have a plan for a horizontal base but never got an order for one so I haven't built them but they would very similar to fishgut's skinner in that link Tom just gave you.

Tom, I'll be glad to help with the video posting if I can.

~ADC~

Thanks folks. I have to ponder on this. How about using the C-clamp type vice grip and just attach the hoist hook right to the clamp instead of the welded gadget?

I'm not getting fishguts pics, boy have not seen him around in awhile.

I got to go rescue a Stihl saw from being stuck in a tree haha, later.

hi wright brothers

Hey ADC, havent talked to you in awhile. 2 years ago a local furbuyer that buys lots of coons on the carcass because no other buyers around will, hired me to skin coons for him towards the end of the season. I have a very similar set up with a winch set up overhead, i simply make my opening cut like you and tie the rear legs and tail to the floor and start winching and cutting just like yourself. Something i found sped up the process a lot and didnt cost much was foot control switches for the winch. Very simple to wire up, i bought 2 foot starter switches for the older 2 cylinder tractors, made a metal plate for them to mount in and cut a hole in the floor. They only stick up about a half inch so its not uncomfortable to use at all. Helped a bunch. its nice cause you can hold the hide while its pulling with one hand and have the other hand running the knife and not have to keep grabbing the controls all the time, Think total cost was around 20 bucks. the only other thing i do differently is that i use aircraft cable with snare locks on my gambrel instead of poking thru by the tendon. Not that theres anything wrong with the good old tendon way but if you do get a stiff old boar coon you dont have to worry about the tendon breaking, plus i also skin coyotes on the same set up so it helps a lot with them. Just some stuff for you to think about, pm me if you wanna see the foot settup. Keep up the good work.

That's actually pretty slick!

Good thread.

i skin alot like u ADC dont have a machine at this time its on the list ive wathed your video i was impressed .

go to youtube and find How to skin a coon and watch our very own Prune Winspear

I had lost track of this post. Thanks traprjohn.

Here's my newest video with all the details on just what I'm doing...



~ADC~

I'am like Cumbtrapper, I loosen the hide up with a little air from my air compressor,to blow air between the body and hide, coons and coyotes especially. It seperate's the hide from the body. Once you get it opened up and the tail striped, you can pull the hide clear down to the ears without using a knife. You still have to use a knife on the head. In fact I i skinned a cold coon tonight that was caught in a coni last night it skinned like it was warm. I might not catch as much fur as a lot of you, but my arm's and hands don't hurt like they used too.

This is real nice, can anyone show me a fleshing video? I cannot do it well above the front legs.