Got a new necker 600. I am just learning how to put up fur this year and having more trouble then I thought. My questions are. Are barn coon harder to flesh then others, I know its a long shot but these boar coon are impossible around the whole neck area. And do you have to get all the fat and gristle or does some of it dry up and look ok after its been on the strecther for a while? Thanks alot for any help

I'm not a pro by no means but i find it easier to start the head and neck with a skinning knife then go to the fletcher.

i usually turn my knife so its not at a 90 degree angle to the beam, maybe a 30 degrees or so? and slice down into the fat with the sharp side. just keep goin at it speed will come with experiance. yep get all the fat off.

Freezing the raw hide will make the fleshing easier. It changes the consistancy of the fat somehow.

Here is mine come out. Not perfect but acceptable. I use a cheap $20 wooden handled fleshing knife.

Later Longear

Tex, do you make your own boards? Is there a pattern or something you can go by?

I'm not tex but you can make your own boards go to furharvesters auction web page and all the measurement for all animals are there. LOL

There should be something in the archives about converting the wire stretchers. We've been doing it for a many years now and had one of our pictures added. You really can get an entire inch or two pulling with a pair of pliers(just be careful not to pull so hard that you narrow the shoulders).
We went by the measurements on the Fur Harvesters website.

Cooncrazy sending P.M. Hilltop

Tex I just got the wood strechers. F&T has them used on clearance. I'll be putting them all on wood now.

Later Longear