Price Check-Coon

[Rooster]

Any idea how much it would cost to take a raccoon to a taxidermist to just get it skinned? I spent what I think might of been too long skinning my raccoon, cutting all the fat of the skin and I accidently put a hole in it, and couldnt quiet get that tail off whole. I think I might be better off having a professional do it if its not spendy. :-D I just want the pelts as a "trophy".

[Machias]

Don't try and clean skin the hide.  Skin it out fat and all and then flesh it.  Make sure there are no burrs or mud or dried blood on the fur as it will rip when you flesh it.  I wish you were closer, I'd show you how and you'd save some money.  Did you use a tail stripper?  I usually just skin down about halfway and use a tail stripper and it pulls right out.  The sooner the better after you kill one.  Once they get stiff it takes a little elbow grease!

[Rooster]

What do you mean flesh it? All I used was a razor blade knife to cut the hide off, and a leatherman to cut into the skin and make my cuts.

[Fishhunt223]

First you ought to get a good knife or scalpel for making incisions and if you are going to be doing alot of fleshing, get a board and draw knife.  If you are only doing one, you can skin it out and then put it on a piece of large diameter pvc or even a basket ball and scrape off all of the fat with a hunting knife.
Travis

[Rooster]

lol. I have a low budget. I think I just need somone to show me the ropes. I'd like to make my own hat too, so I wanna do it right.

[trapperguy22]

How far from Chehalis are you? I have a fleshing knife and board I could show you how to do it. I used to catch a lot of them in WI. there pretty easy to do once you now how. Wild things in WI. is a great place to have a hat made I've sent them a lot of hides over the years and they have always done a good job. Send me a PM if you want to get together.
Adam

[Rooster]

I live in Spanaway. :-(

[Machias]

Call your local Fish and Game warden and ask him who traps or runs coons in your area and call them.  I'd bet money they'd be glad to show you how to properly flesh, stretch and dry a hide.  Good luck.

[Rooster]

Hey, thats a good idea, I'll look into that.

[rasbo]

rooster you might stop by peters taxidermy on 224th east of bethel hs,really good folks they would probley help ya out

[Rooster]

Oh, I think I know where that is too. I live like 5 minutes from Bethel