UKC Forums (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/index.php)
- UKC Coonhounds (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=4)
-- Fur handling advice (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=115427)

Fur handling advice

My old local fur buyer got a real job and will not be buying this year, new man that has been working there is going to buy , but I won't do business with him. I now have a fur freezer, but what is the best way to store the hides? Do I lay them flat in the bottom or do I roll them and put them in a plastic bag? Someone said that they can freezer burn? My plan is to stock pile my hides then sell all at one time because I'll more than likely have to take them a few towns away to sell. Thanks Kennie G

I store them in the trees and in dens...cuz they aint worth a dang nabbit anyhoes!!

__________________
Home Of:

NTCH GRCH 'PR' Stylish Dolly
'PR' Bear Brook Midnight Cruiser
'PR' Bear Brook Midnight Dancer

I JUST CHECKED THE SALES FOR THIS YEAR.
COON IN YOUR AREA,WILL BE GOING FOR 17.00 ON THE AVERAGE.
NORTH.E.13.20.AVERAGE.THE REST OF THE STATES MID PART.
AND DOWN ABOUT 8.00 BUCKS.

AND TO ROLL THE THE COON UP WITH FUR FACEING ON THE OUTSIDE OUT.AND PUT IN BREAD BAGS,AND THE STORE THEM IN A FREEZER.
AND WHEN YOUR READY TO TAKE TO THE MARKET.LET THEM THAW OUT THE NIGHT BEFOR YOU TAKE THEM IN.
AND LET THEM THAW SLOWLY.DO NOT LAY THEM ON SOMETHING WARM OR HOT.
FOR YOU WILL DESTROY THEM.

GOOD LUCK,WITH YOUR HUNTING SEASON.

__________________
I wouldn't want to be the one that didn't make the grade
Cause I no if I didn't
I wouldnt have a home to stay.
sygned.
Mans Best Friend

I sell to one of the best fur buyers that ever lived. Bud Keller. He told me along time ago to lay them flat and freeze them as quickly as possable.

This man bought over 50,000 coons in one year when they were high.

The problem with rolling them is it takes days for the inside to freeze solid. All the while hair is slipping.

Of coarse if you skin and freeze them quickly, not wait untell the next day, or next day. There wont be as much of a problem anyway.


All that being said, I dont kill that many. Mainly to young dogs and old ones when they do an extra good job. Most of those I dont bother to even skin.

The average price around here for the last few years is $4-$8. There worth alot more than that to me to score in a night hunt.

back when they were high we but them in
a bread bag.thawed them in the oven one year
took them from ky to ind turned bad cold that night froze
back by the time we got there still got $30 a piece

a lot of those high prices you see talked about I believe are for hides that are fleshed and dried, not green.

__________________
BOB KETTLEWELL
JERUSALEM,OHIO

Our fur buyer tells us to freeze them flat and to never roll them. Scott skins them, and we lightly curry them. We have a deep chest freezer and we lay them flat with newpaper between them. Before we sell them we take them out of the freezer, thaw or partially thaw them, curry and shake them. Our buyer always gives us 2-3 dollars more per coon because of how nicely they are presented.

We usually sell our furs when the freezer is full... about 50-60 coon, usually just before our regular deer season starts. After that we sell every couple weeks.

__________________
Home of:
GrNiteChGrCh 'pr' Sugar River Money's Blue Lincoln (Money X Trixie)2013 UKC World Finalist
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn185/Scott-n-Danielle/Lincoln_zpsc3593a69.jpg
GrCh 'pr' JJ's She's A Pistol (Kixx X Judy)
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn185/Scott-n-Danielle/100_5555.jpg
GrCh 'pr' JJ's Big Timber Braun (Hickory X Diva)
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn185/Scott-n-Danielle/100_5775_zpsfb7c0c9c.jpg
GrCh 'pr' JJ's Timber Diva (Timber X Sugar)
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn185/Scott-n-Danielle/100_2299.jpg

Don't kill them all!!! Save some for me Kennie!!!

Don't you worry Chad ol' Rowdy and I will just come thru and clean up all that you and those walkers miss!!! lol Thanks for all the advice guys keep it coming. Kennie

Here are some tips to maximize you value when you freeze coon, do with them what you want.

#1...be sure your skins are dry and combed out before you freeze them.

#2...lay them flat in the freezer, fur out.

#3...DO NOT try and freeze a bunch of coon at one time, the top and bottom skins will insulate the center skins, the center skins won't freeze, they will rot.

#4...cut a piece of plywood so that it will sit down inside your freezer, every time you put in a batch of unfrozen fur's, place the plywood on top of them with a couple cement blocks for weight...you will be surprized at how much extra freezer space doing this will get you.

Those are just some tips from the top of my head that will help you get a better end product with your frozen furs.

Good luck.

Corey

SO YOU DONT PUT THEM IN SOME KIND OF PLASTIC COVERING WHEN YOU LAY THEM FLAT?

There is no need to put them in a bag, I would assume that most everyone on this site is talking about freezing coon for 2 or 3 months at the most....if that is the case, laying them in the freezer, like I and others stated is your best option.

Don't forget the plywood press, you guys will be surprised at how many extra coon you will be able to get in your freezer if you press them with the bricks and plywood.

Corey

my buyer says to never put them in plastic and never roll them up.

Another plus to freezing them like I stated is they will thaw out 3 times as fast when they are frozen flat.

Corey

Turn ears?

Do the ears need turned etc or just flesh the hide and face and leave the ears alone.

__________________
Tree On Reddog!!!!
Powerbawl Kennels
Home of:
Gr Ch, AKC Ch 'PR' Powerbawl Zoe's Jewel
'PR' Zoe's Twister Bustin' Ruby

highyellerdog....I'm assuming your talking about finishing the coon out completely??

I do not turn the ears on my coon, or cats, or coyotes...and I don't think that there is any need to, unless your selling to the taxidermy market.

Just be sure to scrape the ear butts as well as you can, try to get most of the red membrane off the head, and you will be good to go.

For anyone that doesn't know, a coon that is half thawed will flesh 100x better than a fresh coon.

Corey

Yes

Thanks for the info do most of them end up as coats? I am guessing its not a good thing to let your dog chew on them for a while or does it matter? I know for Taxidermy purposes you can sew about anything as long as not too many guard hairs are broken.

__________________
Tree On Reddog!!!!
Powerbawl Kennels
Home of:
Gr Ch, AKC Ch 'PR' Powerbawl Zoe's Jewel
'PR' Zoe's Twister Bustin' Ruby

I think alot of our coon end up as trim for coats, but i'm not sure.

No, if a guy wants the best end product, he doesn't want his hound to chew, and pull on coons too much, it will cost you money.

Everyone is always complaining that fur buyers are crooks, and some of them are.....but if you find a good buyer, and give him good quality goods, you will be paid top market price for it.

If anyone is finishing their furs, they should look at shipping them to one of the Canadian auctions, or do some calling to find an out of state dealer that will offer you the best price, there are alot of dealers that will call with an offer on your fur, if your not happy with it they will ship it back to you.

I ship all my bobcats, and usually can average 40-50$$ more than what the country buyers around me are paying for an average.

Corey

Lay the furs flat and then turn them upside down.And that is my advice.

__________________
'PR' COULTERSBRANCH RAMBLIN BLUE ROSE
Brett Reed- velliru95@gmail.com