4 jumbos from yesterday

How many to sort through to get those 4? They look real good for this early.

Big coons

They look awesome!

I caught 3 more today-released one of them(too small)-out of the 4 you see there I only released 1 other( again too small)-they are definitely running big so far.I have yet to catch a sow with teets-but I am sure it will happen soon or later.Only running a few traps to see how they were looking-probably start to set heavier this weekend-looks like snow may be coming soon.Running DP's so I can release smaller coon and the crappy quality ones.

I skinned a coon last week. Very blue still. 3x coon

All mine have been slate so far-not the very dark blue leather.I would imagine the smaller skins are definitely not ready yet.Picked a roadkill Jumbo about a week or so ago-it was decent-the blue was almost gone.I am only keeping the jumbos right now.Will try to get some more pics soon

Nice coon! If they're still running slate, they should look really good in another week or two.

they look nice, they r looking good here too

I love big coon, those are some toads.

TODAYS CATCH-6 MORE BEAUTIES! Released 2 juveniles.Last 2 coon today were together on a coon bait in DP's-nice way to end the day-2 Jumbo males-both 30lb coon!

How about showing us the leather side.

I can do-I will put a couple up tomorrow-and post some pics.The big coon are looking good for sure-they are always priming up faster than the juveniles. I truly believe we are well ahead of most years this year for whatever reason.

Not sure if a guy is selling the fur or the leather side some days? LOL

Nice bunch of coons MB.Same with the beaver here,earlier than last few years for sure.Real nice fur now.

looking forward to your pictures. so maybe wait another week or two in Wisconsin?
has anyone skinned WI coons yet?

So we take those nice looking coon, turn them inside out and they look like crap. I know it is the industry standard, but why? Someone in the ranch mink business bucked the industry standard and started marketing mink fur side out and wow, what a difference.

When you sew hides, you don't sew the fur, you sew the leather. Thicker leather stronger product.

I won't even go into tannerys and hair coming through the leather side.

I can part the fur on a coon and by the looks of the fur tell what the skin side is going to look like; 3&4's, low 2, 2, or 1's.
In the same way the color on the pelt side of a dried coon skin does not lie about the fur quality.
Guys used to sell me a pile of early blue coon and tell me that "even though they're blue, the fur is pretty good"; yea, right.

Got to remember ranch fur leather is almost always prime and flawless.

I have heard that a slightly unprime animal is sometimes desired as the leather is a little lighter and makes the garment not as heavy and more plyable especially coon.