I've messed up a few nice pelts because of the tail. Any advice or techniques? Thanks.

Baer

pull it like a mink or coon

and spit a little after the bone pops out and hits you in the face. I always do anyway, lol

just like a coon

I've never skinned a coon... haha.

I split the tail down to where it gets pretty thin.Then you can strip it off easy.

With what kind of knife?

buy a tails stripper and splitter

Like this?

I use a utility type knife to skin everything.Replaceable razor blades.Always sharp.

Yeah a stripper like that works on everything.Just have to get it started first.

That's what I use.

Thanks all. I was just yanking on it with my hands. That will change!

Worse cut I ever got in the fur shed was cutting the tail on a coyote. I had the hair parted and was holding it on the under side with my left hand and slicing the skin and slipped and cut into the first knuckles on my first two fingers. No permanent damage, but they were stiff for the whole season.

I skin down about 6"-8", grab the tailbone in my left hand and put the strippers on the tailbone where it meets the fur and then pull the tailbone out. I will repeat that, pull the tailbone out of the fur.

I used to never use a metal stripper and just used my hand but over the years my grip is suffering. LOL

Like I said above, the most common mistake on tail stripping is pulling the fur and ending up with a bobtail.

Put a hook blade in that knife and you'll have a heck of an opener.

Do you have an air compressor?

If so, then blow air down the length of the tail, this will make the hair all go in one direction and be semi-straight. Push the straight hair apart so you can cut straight down the tail with your box knife or scalpel. Regular skinning knives are almost useless on the tail unless it has been pulled.

I do all opening cuts on the ground. Step one leg, pull the other leg up straight and insert knife and one cut all the way to the other side. Grab the tail with your thumb towards the bung and cut my triangle. Move hand a little farther down the tail, insert knife and straight line to the fart hole. The it goes on the winch where the tail is chest level and skin it out. A coyote is skun in a matter of a couple of minutes if that. I open everything at once and use tree loppers on the fronts all while on the floor. It also makes a huge difference if you have somebody to open while you skin or vice versa.

Great information, this has really been useful! Thanks!