Fur prep and cleaning coyotes

[JODakota]

Alright guys, I'm going to talk about how I wash fur and prep for the boards. I found this on another site and since using for the past few years, I feel like my coyotes have graded a lot better.

First and foremost, coyotes are skinned and fleshed. If not, you'll get a bunch of grease runoff.
To start, you'll need a washing machine or a bucket. I first fill with cold water and a half a cap full of Woolite

Then you take the pelt and do just a rinse cycle. Woolite only


After the rinse cycle I do a short spin cycle, this cuts down on overnight drying times. I use a Costway from Walmart, they run about 100 bucks but for fur, they are unbeatable. They look like this


Then I throw them right back in for a second wash, this time I use Mrs Stewarts bluing, 2-4 drops is plenty, any more and it can and will leave a light blue tint to the fur, which you don't want. Mrs Stewarts is a light whitener that truly shows especially on belly fur.



Along with Mrs Stewarts, I throw in half a cap of downy fabric softener. After this your water should look like this



I do three minute cycle of rinse and spin

The end product is phenomenal and they smell great. Every single coyote here is shot, so your usually dealing with a lot of blood.



If this isn't your method, that's fine, this is just the best one I've found that seems to get me the best prices. I figure if your going to kill it, put time into it, then you owe it to yourself and the animal to get the best price out of it.


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[Magnum_Willys]

Very cool.  Never thought about prepping the furs other than just rinse in a bucket of water.  Thanks !

[JJB11B]

Not a beer can in sight Jess

[Boss .300 winmag]

What a great idea JODakota, how much does it increase the value IYO?

[predatorpro]

What a great idea JODakota, how much does it increase the value IYO?

Thats the big question! Alot of extra time spent...but thanks for posting it! Its good stuff to know if someone wants to

[Kit Carson]

Thank you 

[JODakota]

What a great idea JODakota, how much does it increase the value IYO?

Thank you, in nodak, my averages went up I feel, anywhere from 5 to 15 dollars a dog. My furbuyer who at the time was paying 75 dollars for carcassed dogs paid me substantially above that. He literally told me just because of the smell he gave me a higher grade. I don't sell to buyers anymore, I ship to NAFA and this is my first year shipping Washington coyotes so we shall see.

[ouchfoss]

Very cool. I've been wanting an old washer just for that reason ever since I started watching coon Creek outdoors channel on YouTube. I don't think he added anything else besides soap though. Sounds like your setup will probably make them look nicer. 

[JODakota]

What a great idea JODakota, how much does it increase the value IYO?

Thats the big question! Alot of extra time spent...but thanks for posting it! Its good stuff to know if someone wants to

It's really not that much extra time. I already wash them. It's 3 minute cycles and instead of doing one, I do two. Because of where I live in Washington and the current fur market, coyotes are all I focus on so I feel it's worth it!

[JJB11B]

I would measure the cycle in beers 😂

[JODakota]

Very cool. I've been wanting an old washer just for that reason ever since I started watching coon Creek outdoors channel on YouTube. I don't think he added anything else besides soap though. Sounds like your setup will probably make them look nicer. 

Thanks, I also watch his channel. He's a good fur taker!

[cougforester]

Taggin along so I remember this down the road!

[jasnt]

I have a fur washing machine as well. Normally use borax or dawn. Thanks

[Norman89]

How do you then dry the fur and for how long before it goes on the stretcher?

[bear hunter]

I like that little machine  Thanks for the info.

[eburgtrapper]

I have a question for you JODakota, kind off topic but what bullet do you use? I'm getting ready to start reloading for my .22-250 but I'm going back and forth weather to go with a fmj or a varmit  grenade. All I know is I've used Hornady ballistic tip bullets( I forget which ones) and they tore coyotes up.

[JODakota]

How do you then dry the fur and for how long before it goes on the stretcher?

The right side of this machine spin dries them. Takes 3 minutes and they are ready to get stretched right after.

[JODakota]

I have a question for you JODakota, kind off topic but what bullet do you use? I'm getting ready to start reloading for my .22-250 but I'm going back and forth weather to go with a fmj or a varmit  grenade. All I know is I've used Hornady ballistic tip bullets( I forget which ones) and they tore coyotes up.

I shoot either 40 grain vmax or 55 grain vmax. I get to many runners with fmj's

[JakeLand]

Taggin along so I remember this down the road!

Ya this !! I'm writing this down I'm going to start doing this with all my cats
Thanks for the tips and write up ! Now can you teach me how to call in coyotes 

[Humptulips]

I have an old ringer washing machine I used to use. All coyotes and most coons got washed. Does make a difference. I would hang them to dry overnight.
I washed prior to fleshing though. Skin side looks much better if fleshed after washing.
Some things you think look pretty clean will amaze you how dirty the water gets.

Greasy furs like mink, otter civets, coon go through the fur drum. they look wonderful when they come out.

[Norman89]

Thanks for the info guys I hand washed my muskrats from today had a lot of sand in the bottom of the bucket when I was done. Hanging in the shed to dry tonight and flesh tomorrow see how they turn out next to the rats I didn't wash

[70sdiver]

Can you post a picture of the back of one of those dogs please,Hope you do well at nafta I shipped 6 the year before last and found I could get more at the prineville auction.Is your fur buyer buying coyotes this year? I'd be happy with a 75.00 average!
Thanks for an excellent post!

[Triplej]

  Thanks for the tips

[scottcrb]

Good to know

[JODakota]

Can you post a picture of the back of one of those dogs please,Hope you do well at nafta I shipped 6 the year before last and found I could get more at the prineville auction.Is your fur buyer buying coyotes this year? I'd be happy with a 75.00 average!
Thanks for an excellent post!

Ha I wish man, he's buying fur but he's three states away and the quality of dog from here and there is night and day. That 75 bucks he was paying was just carcass, not even put up fur.



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[70sdiver]

That really does brighten them up! Great looking dogs!

[Tracker0721]

screenshot that whole thing so I can remember it. The buyer I'm going to offered 15-25 for a carcass and I've got 3 dogs so far with a lot more to come this week(hopefully) and I'm tempted to jump into the whole 9 yards of putting it up and selling it at auction or something.

[Axle]

Nice info! 

[lewy]