Watching the guys on YouTube that skin them by hand in 3 minutes turned on several light bulbs for me. Overall technique and the height the coyote is hanging took all of the difficulty out of it.

I put one up yesterday and it was maybe the worst I’ve done this year. First I cut through the tendon on the back of one leg which made for more cutting and working to get the hide moving off the carcass. Then I tore the hide by one of the hips. Finished skinning, fleshing, and sewing 4” tear in 31 minutes. Most skinning for me is done in 5-10 minutes.

Here’s my tips for getting faster skinning coyotes.

1. Hang from back legs to start cutting on the legs. I watched that YouTube video of ryan5911 and tried how he starts on the legs. I always started on the ground and then hung them on a gambrel, even using his technique it still took more time. When I hung them before making the starting cuts the weight of the coyote helps make the cutting easier and faster.
2. I use my fist to roll against the carcass to help pull the hide away from the carcass while I push down at the same time. Work around from side, back, side, belly.
3. When you get to the front legs put a rag in your hand, this helps grip the hide. I hold the end of the rag with my fingers and the rest runs up the back of my hand.
4. With your weak hand reach between the front legs and grab fur close to the carcass. Then with the rag in hand push down hard between the front legs. I then usually use a old sharpening steel and poke through between the hide and carcass. This takes some working around and using a finger on the opposite side to find where to push through without putting a hole in the hide.
5. When you get to the neck use the rag to help grip and pull or get a cheap pair of pants for skinning so you can put on knee on the hide and use your body weight. Light cutting might be needed on the neck or top of the head.

The rolling fist has help me immensely as does the rag. Give it a try maybe it’ll help.

Funny I timed myself just the other day..

43 minutes from whole to board, it would be quicker if I had more vertical height and did not have to keep moving the noose. I have 1/8 cable noose lagged to the floor..............

Why don't you just wear a pair of knit gloves over your latex ones?
Use a hammer and you can do away with all this knife stuff.

Beav, make a video with this hammer trick already! Lol

I have to wait til I have someone to operate the camera, then I'll make a video. I use beav's hammer method.

Thanks ADC! Can’t wait!

Does it really have to be a ball peen hammer?

Try it and see. Maybe a deadblow hammer or a smooth faced claw hammer or even a rubber mallet may work. For $5 you can get a 16oz ballpeen and you're good to go though.

Does anyone else have trouble ripping the hide with the machine. I'm going very slow - inch at a time -
Should I be putting more of the leg in my clamps?

twist or fold the leg over. Normally once things start moving I go all the way to the shoulders.

twist or fold the leg over. Normally once things start moving I go all the way to the shoulders.

Use the hammer! Trust me you can't hit them hard enough.

The hammer trick is probably the best piece of advice I have ever seen on this site. Where I have my problem is when I first hook the legs up and start winching After the tail is out. I will try folding the legs. Thanks

20-25 minutes for me but i leave all feet and claws on for my market.

Yeah the Beav pulled one out of his hat! Don't pull to hard our fast when you first hook up. That belly can be pretty tender and it will rip real fast if you start pulling to fast. Anymore I just keep some good tension on them and take your time. Like anything else SPEED KILLS...

Still warm coyote about 5 to 6 mins cold coyote from a snare kill about 8 to 10 skinning by hand

Hold down hard on the tail area when you start pulling. It really helps IMO.



X2

If you use a cable slip noose around the whole rear end of the coyote you will never rip a hide.