For hunters across the north, deer hunting seasons are wrapping up. But That doesn’t necessarily Signify an end to the pursuits afield.
Many hunters are eager to pursue various predatory species once the freezers are full, and while many are skilled in the art of hunting predators, they may not be as familiar with how to maximize the usage of their quarry.
With well over a decade of pelt handling experience as licensed trapper, I figured what better topic to discuss for our broader hunting community.
First, some housekeeping.
Predator hunting, or sometimes lumped in as general “varmint hunting”, tends to elicit debate and criticism in many circles. There is a large cross section of our North American society that feels there is a strong need to reduce abundant populations of predators for a myriad of reasons; most of which with regard to impact on hunt-able game species, livestock protection, and safety concerns.
In contrast, a growing sector of the public is sensitive towards the hunting of predators - mostly steeped in a subsistence hunting mindset (if you don’t eat it, you shouldn’t kill it, sort of thing).
The reality is that various segments of society attach different values to coyotes and other hunt-able predators. I will say, as a sustainable-use supporter looking at this topic from an ethical hunting angle, if you are going to take the time to hunt, stalk and “take” a predator species - you should make every attempt to utilize the remains of that animal.
Fur handling is the process of removing a hunted animal’s hide for the usage of the fur pelt. For those species that aren’t commonly hunted for human consumption, the usage of the animal’s hide and other remnants are recognized as an acceptable practice when properly regulated. Fur trappers are the primary user-base for this practice, however, a resurgence in predator hunting coupled with public attitudes towards wanton waste of wildlife (from both non-hunters and the hunting/trapping communities) has prompted new popularity in fur handling activities from others in the broader hunting community.
So, to address the “I shot it, now what do I do” inquisitive nature of social media, I’ve prepared some quick pointers on ensuring salvage and maximum usage of your hunting result. Whether you plan to sell the hides to a prospective fur buyer, or keep and tan the hides for your own personal use, these basic points will assist with ensuring the resource you’ve taken is ethically utilized.
For the sake of brevity I’ll be focusing on coyotes - however the same basic rules apply to most fur-bearing predatory species commonly found in the United States.
1. ‘Tis The Season
There are times of the year that animal hides hold value over other times, which is known as “primeness”. A prime fur is a hide that has thick, dense “underfur” - a cottony layer beneath regular hair which insulates the animal during winter months. The underfur is protected by hair (commonly referred to as guard hairs). The animal’s fur reaches its peak when the fur is thickest and the hair is at the longest. While many believe this is triggered by cold weather, it is actually caused by a process known as photoperiodism; defined as a physiological reaction to the amount of daylight in a 24 hour period. This ironically takes place during the colder months, but as stated, temperature has less bearing on the process.
As such, fur trappers (and those who utilize fur garments) get the most benefit (and value) from harvesting furbearing species at their peak primeness. The optimal time to harvest fur hides is the stretch of time leading up to the solstice - fall and winter - most notably November and December in most regions. For coyote hunters in particular, pelts may still hold value as late as January or early February, but I personally caution taking predatory species any later than March if the animal’s hide is the primary focus.
By contrast, hides taken in the summer (especially for coyotes and fox) hold little, if any value for both insulating quality or fur pelt sale. Those in the fishing community may express interest for guard hairs used in fly tying - but this interest is likely to be limited by comparison.
Dougherty & Sons has a pretty detailed write-up on understanding the process of “primeness”.
2. Choose the right Caliber!
If your purpose for hunting predatory species is for the hide, it won’t do you any good if there’s a cannon-ball-sized hole through the animal’s remnants. This shouldn’t be news to anyone, but it bears emphasis.
Every year there’s a few folks who bring me hides for processing from their hunting escapades with very little hide actually left! While I am thankful for the opportunity to hone my sewing skills, I’d much prefer the least amount of damage as possible. Head-shots can be ideal, but coyotes are already a hard enough target without having to make your aim point even smaller and more unpredictable. Hunters should choose the smallest caliber with the least amount of “exit damage” as possible. Of course, it should be noted that the most humane and ethical shot must also be taken into account. Any hunter worth his/her salt has done their homework to determine which caliber will take the animal in a quick and humane method while also trying to limit impact damage. Its a give and take duality that may require practice and trial research to find a mutual compromise between the two.
If you do end up with a larger caliber “blowout” - a sturdy leather needle and basic thread will get the job done during fur processing; but bear in mind hides with large holes (even after being sewn up) may not be ideal for personal tanning or full garment use. Fur buyers may knock a few bucks off a heavily damaged hide, or those with larger holes may be best suited for insulating coat trim.
3. Time is of the essence!
Probably the most important tip I can give, as many hunters do not realize the decomposition process starts almost immediately; even if you aren’t eating your “take”. Coyotes, like most predatory species, are highly susceptible to a process known as “green belly”. Due to their varied diet (which includes meat) and thin lining between the belly skin and stomach contents, the decomposition process begins taking place the moment the animal has been dispatched. This is why it is pertinent to remove the hide as quickly as possible. The belly on a coyote will quickly taint causing hair slippage (hair and fur will fall out after the tanning process due to rot) and a nasty odor will be present. The symptoms of “green belly” are evident on the inside of the hide, typically around the belly area during the skinning process, with the skin taking on a geenish or blueish tinge compared to the surrounding flesh color. Many fur handlers contend that some of this bacterial degradation can be scrapped off of the hide with a fleshing knife during the flesh removal process, but for the most part, this degradation is irreversible once it has taken hold.
An example of a bacterial process known as “green belly” present on the skin-side of a coyote hide along the animal’s midsection. The effects of green belly amount from prolonged exposure to the decomposition process of predatory furbearers prior skinning. (Photo | Bctomcat)
Skinning quickly is the most practical way to reduce damage from “green belly”. Although there are some tricks to buy you some time; in some cases, several hours between take and processing. Coyotes should be immediately hung by their hind legs, or laid upon their backs to slump the stomach contents further away from the belly skin. Hanging from hind quarters will elicit gravity to pull stomach contents into the rib cage - thus helping reduce contact.
Bear in mind this rot process takes place regardless of outside temperature, as the process starts from the inside, out - with the core torso of the animal being one of the last areas to freeze if stored whole.
4. After the hunt
You’ve shot a coyote, now what? The hunter must now decide if they are going to sell the animal “as is”, sell the hide “green”, or process the hide for sale to a fur buyer or prepped for personal use.
Selling the animal’s hide with the carcass, known to fur handlers as “in the round”, is one way for those who do not have the facility to properly process the animal’s hide from beginning to end. Sounds easy enough, but hunters should be cautioned that there is a limited supply of folks who are willing to actually purchase shot coyotes and then fully process them; especially dependent on the condition they are in.
Similarly to “in the round”, selling a “green hide” refers to selling the pelt after skinning, but not yet fleshed or dried to complete the temporary preservation process. Hunters may get more interest in “green” skins as the incentive is heightened by handlers not having to deal with carcass disposal and skinning right away.
Predator hunters would be best served to speak with local trappers to gather more insight into local trends and interest. At the very least, a trapper may readily take shot coyotes to process at no charge if they’re in the right condition. Consult your state Trappers Association for more information.
Pelt “put-up”, by contrast, is the process of temporarily preserving the animal’s hide in preparation for permanent preservation via a tanning process. The animal’s hide is stretched by light force to air-dry the pelt to stop the decomposition process (similar to a process for beef jerky). Prior to stretching, any remaining flesh and fat is removed from the hide to aid in the drying process. Once dried, the hunter/trapper must decide if they are going to sell the hide to a fur-buyer, ship the hide to a fur auction company for sale, or keep the hide and tan the skin for permanent personal use.
5. Proper Put-up
Despite the raging claims of the animal rights industry that the “popularity of fur is dead” and nobody supposedly wears fur, interest for the natural material remains in steady demand. This is currently true of coyotes in particular.
Read More: The Wily Coyote: Leading the next fur renaissance?
If planning to sell your hides to a fur buyer or fur auction company, there are specific standards required for the maximum return on your investment (“investment” being the time you’ve spent processing the animal you’ve successfully hunted). For specifics on “industry standards” of pelt preparation, consult your local fur-buyer, as standards can vary from auction house to auction house.
There are two important factors I discovered early on in my coyote hide-handling experience; the use of a skinning gambrel that is adjustable is a great aid, and patience is a must! Due to a lesser fat content, the removal of the hide is tougher than many other species. Those who are accustomed to removing a deer hide are already equipped with the basics. In addition to a skinning knife and a place to handle the pelt, some specific tools will greatly aid in the process; including a fleshing board (or beam), fleshing knife (used to “roll” fat and tissue off the skin-side of the hide), and stretching boards/frames (to aid in drying the skin).
A hunter-furnished coyote pelt once skinned, fleshed, and dried on a wire stretching board. Note the shim piece acting as an additional board for drying the tail on a wire frame stretcher. (Photo | Furbearer Conservation)
Many fur handlers recommend using sawdust or a cold water wash with mild soap to clean the hide of blood and dirt. Coyotes, like many canines, love to roll in everything from scent markers like urine and scat, to carcass piles of decaying prey. Bottom line, they stink! Coyotes are also very susceptible to mange, and other parasitic issues such as ticks and fleas. The use of gloves is highly recommended, as is a facility that can handle such issues as they arise. I don’t process coyote hides in my dining room, to say the least.
Fur Harvesters Auction Inc has a great guide on pelt handling standards which can be viewed here. A basic video search on the web or video platforms like YouTube will furnish a plethora of how-to videos on coyote skinning and hide-handling basics.
final thoughts
Once dried, the hide is preserved to buy time to either ship to a professional tannery, or sell to a prospective buyer. If you plan to tan the hide right away, the process of stretching and drying the hide is not necessary. For those who plan to use the hide for personal garment use, the paws of the animal can be left intact, albeit the process of skinning out the feet pads is a little more cumbersome. The final product, however, is rewarding. Mountain-man style hats are highly sought-after and functional in cold climates (just be sure to include some blaze orange flagging if wearing out in the woods during hunting season!)
Home tanning products are readily available from trapping/taxidermy supply shops, and come in a myriad of different formats - ranging from liquid bottles premixed, to intricate step-by-step chemical kits. The brain-tan method is also an increasingly common form of home tanning hides and pelts, which is a more traditionalist method for homesteaders and the like. These home tanning methods do require extra work to achieve a supple tan. One can also ship your hide(s) (once dried) to a commercial tannery to achieve a more desired supple “garment tan”. Some tanneries also offer garment creation from the hides you ship to have tanned. USA Foxx & Furs and Moyle Mink & Tannery are two of the larger, more well known tanneries specializing in professional hide tanning.
Skulls and other bones of the animal can also be utilized for educational display. There are several methods of bone preservation, including the use of dermestid beetles, maceration, or skull cleaning kits available from taxidermy supply shops.
If we are going to promote the notions of sustainable use and regard the regulated take of wildlife as a resource, attempts to properly utilize these resources should be exercised whenever possible. Obviously, there are situations beyond our own control (via pest control measures, roadkill, disease, etc.) that may not warrant usage of the animal’s remains. From a fur handler’s perspective however, predatory species of fur-bearing wildlife can be just as coveted and respected as any big game animal.