Yotes?

[SilkWWU]

This may sound like a stupid question, but killing Coyotes, do you skin them and keep the skin?  Or is it more of a hunters responsibility for pest control? Shoot & Shovel?

[Gutpile]

You can sell them. There's a few guys who still buy. A lot of guys leave them lay though. The buyer I use won't even touch them if they have even just the start of mange. He doesn't require I skin them but you'll get a better price if you skin & stretch them. I guess it's your call. I talked to WDFW employee who said it is illegal to leave them lay she was office staff then I talked to a game warden who said it's up to the warden you deal with. He was vague but said he wouldn't write you up on it.

[Bscman]

There isn't anyone "local" to me to sell pelts to, and I don't take enough 'yotes each year to justify holding them and selling off at the end of the year.

Enough said?
 

[jeff100]

I'm planning on some serious yote control to benefit my upland bird habitat.  I'd like to skin and care for the pelts.  I'd also like to do everything myself.  What's the best recommended way to care for the pelts so that you get a high quality hide when you're done??

[tlbradford]

Hunting and Skinning for Profit by Blaine Eddy is a good DVD.

Predator Masters had an article on putting up your fur that was really informative.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=52101991&an=0&page=0#52101991

[billythekidrock]

Here is another good thread with pictures on skinning yotes.
http://midwestpredator.groupee.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3371088811/m/4731021852

[GEARHEAD]

CROWS GOTTA EAT!

[MichaelJ]

Any idea on where to get the tail stripper/zipper?  I've never successfully skinned a tail off a yote, lol the skin always rips but that's with a knife and myself not being to careful!

Michael

[Krusty]

Jeff,

I sell some very nice cedar adjustable stretchers.

The Fur Harvesters Auction inc. has some great information on fur handling, I believe much of it is downloadable.

I keep a copy of their "Pelt Handling for Profit" on my skinning bench.

Michael J,

You probably already own the best tail stripper and skinning aid, I know of, a regular pair of pliers.

Here's what I do.

Once the hips are skinned and the base of the tail exposed, I take the pliers, set to the wide setting (on a raccoon or larger critter), then I clamp the pliers around the base of the tail, so the open part with the big teeth is around the tail bone.
Next I grip the "head" of the pliers, with the tail bone between my middle and ring fingers of one hand, and the base of the tail in the other and tug straight apart... pop you got a tail.

A "Wyoming" type gut knife will "zip" tails, but so will a decent skinner with a slight drop point (set on it's spine and pushed along).

Krusty

[rainshadow1]

Krusty, do you have a pic of your stretchers? I might want to buy one or two off you.

[Krusty]

Rainshadow,

Here ya go;



From left to right: Double adjustable super 'coon, and width adjustable in, lg fox, sm fox, and the 'cat/coyote.

I need a short bit of lead time, for delivery, because I only make them to order.

Krusty

[DeKuma]

I do not get it.  Can you show or explain how those work?
If I ever start getting coyotes, I may need one............

[tlbradford]

Insert the stretcher inside your pelt.  Adjust the width of the stretcher to pull the pelt tight.

[DeKuma]

So it adjusts in width.  We are talking about basicaly tubing the pelt right?  Also, is it inside out when you put it on there?  Can you use this to flesh the pelt too?

Sorry for the novice questions, but I have read everything I can find on the net and still get confused at all of this.

[tlbradford]

His super coon double adjustable stretcher has a length adjustment.  Down at the bottom you can see the slotted board.  You would pull the pelt down as much as possible and pin it to that bottom piece of wood.  You start with the case inside out on the board.  Let it dry a little, remove and flesh it out.  I would not flesh on an adjustable board because of the risk of cutting through the fur where you do not have solid backing.  After fleshing put it back on the stretcher for a while.  Take it off before it gets to hard, turn it rightside out, and then put it back on the stretcher to finish out.