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Washing coyotes? #6157440
02/14/18 09:51 AM
02/14/18 09:51 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 693
Barron Co, WI
W
wisconsinteacher Offline OP
trapper
wisconsinteacher  Offline OP
trapper
W

Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 693
Barron Co, WI
Good morning,

As a second year trapper, I am trying to learn more than just the catching part of coyotes. All of my coyotes were caught on frozen ground so no mud. I comb all the burrs out but am wondering if I still need to wash them to get the blood out of the head area?

I skin and then roll the hides to freeze. After I get a few in the freezer, I go to my buddies to flesh and put on wire. Would it be okay to skin in the evening/wash and hang in the basement over the sink until the following morning, then roll and freeze to be fleshed at a later date?

Lastly, what would you say the price difference is between a washed and unwashed coyote when selling to NAFA?

Thanks

Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6157459
02/14/18 10:05 AM
02/14/18 10:05 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 949
Hutchinson KS
K
Kansas Rook Offline
trapper
Kansas Rook  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 949
Hutchinson KS
I am not sure on price difference, though I would think there would be a difference. However I also wonder if the drumming process that we pay NAFA for would remove a significant amount of things dirt or blood left on the head of the pelt. I like to snap the pelts to almost dry after washing but I flesh mine before I wash so I can board after snapping dry.

Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6157473
02/14/18 10:13 AM
02/14/18 10:13 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,738
Iowa
C
coydog2 Offline
trapper
coydog2  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,738
Iowa
For me I comb out the animal first to get as much I can out of the fur of dirt and burs.Then I skin and when I to put up the skin later I will do like the OP stated and then when to do up the skin I would put it in cold water and wash it with only that and make sure all the dirt and blood is out the best I can and see if there is any burs i miss and then hang over night to have the fur dry for the next day.It depends on when I would work the skin to put on boards to see when the fur is fully dry and then work it and board. For how I do them .I did get top lot at NAFA for some of my furs when I use to send my fur to them.

Last edited by coydog2; 02/14/18 10:14 AM.

Life member of DAV,NTA,NRA,ITA.Also member of FTA,CBA
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6157516
02/14/18 10:49 AM
02/14/18 10:49 AM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,081
MO
cfowler Offline
trapper
cfowler  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,081
MO
I've never washed a coyote myself. Inquired into the idea, but it seems like another step that isn't likely to result in a better price for me. I don't think I can help a $10 yote by washing it. Yote fur seems to clean up pretty well if the burs are removed and the fur is combed out well. Blood, as long as it isn't clotted up, once dried, combs out of coyotes. That's been my experience. I know they can be bloody skinning, and they smell like a yote. Washing could help with the smell, I'm sure the fur can be softened a little bit using a little Woolite, like many do, but coarse hair will still grade like coarse hair does. Ultimately, it's a preference thing I think. If it's a step that aids you in producing a better quality fur for sale, if you and your buyer are happy with the result, then go for it. I know several who wash their coyotes and they say their furs look better. So I'd have to say it helps some produce a better fur.


I trap for fun. I skin 'em for the money!
Grinners For Life-Lifetime Member, MO Chapter, Den #1
~You Grin, You're In~
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6157564
02/14/18 11:15 AM
02/14/18 11:15 AM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 591
kentucky
C
curtisd Offline
trapper
curtisd  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 591
kentucky
it definitely helps. I wash all my fur. everything except water animals. wash on rinse cycle with downey, hang to dry and flesh next day.
sold some furs to a local for couple years. always gave me more than other people I knew. he asked me all the time why my fur smelled so good and was so fluffy.
all mine goes to nafa now so cant be sure if it helps with them but I like the way they look.

try it. wash one and put him up against a nonwashed one. you will see the difference.

Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6157590
02/14/18 11:35 AM
02/14/18 11:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,652
ND
M
MJM Offline
trapper
MJM  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,652
ND
The high bid on a lot of 74 coyotes at the NDFTA sale was $35. They ended up selling for $60, but the sale average was $84 or 85 dollars with them figured in. The owner had not fleshed or washed them. Fur is bought on eye appeal. The better it looks, the more it brings.

Last edited by MJM; 02/14/18 11:38 AM.

"Not Really, Not Really"
Mark J Monti
"MJM you're a jerk."
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6157613
02/14/18 12:02 PM
02/14/18 12:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,511
nunya,ks
T
tbn Offline
trapper
tbn  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,511
nunya,ks
Could you elaborate? What do you mean the high bid was $35 but they sold for $60?

Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6157624
02/14/18 12:17 PM
02/14/18 12:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,652
ND
M
MJM Offline
trapper
MJM  Offline
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M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,652
ND
The high bid was $35 and the seller said no sale. The buyers had the option to raise the bid, and seller was ask how much he wanted for them and he said $60 and a buyer said he would give it to him. The seller could state his asking price and the buyers could agree, or dis agree.


"Not Really, Not Really"
Mark J Monti
"MJM you're a jerk."
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6157630
02/14/18 12:22 PM
02/14/18 12:22 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,483
Nebraska
silkyplainscoyot Offline
trapper
silkyplainscoyot  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,483
Nebraska
MJM,

Isn't that buyer taking a big risk buying coyotes that hadn't been fleshed? Or is it a easy fix?

Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6157635
02/14/18 12:27 PM
02/14/18 12:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,155
minnesota
garman Offline
trapper
garman  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,155
minnesota
I used to wash mine and hang and dry with a large fan and dehumidifier. Then I would flesh the next day and stretch. They looked nicer, but they need to be fur side out longer and flipped as quick as possible because most the time the fur is damp. The best thing a person can invest in is a good fur drum. Brush them out good then drum them. Very few get washed.


"NR trapping, what a concept accepting those who have supported us"
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6157640
02/14/18 12:32 PM
02/14/18 12:32 PM
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 606
Southaest Kansas
C
Coyote Clayton Offline
trapper
Coyote Clayton  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 606
Southaest Kansas
Originally Posted By: wisconsinteacher
Good morning,

As a second year trapper, I am trying to learn more than just the catching part of coyotes. All of my coyotes were caught on frozen ground so no mud. I comb all the burrs out but am wondering if I still need to wash them to get the blood out of the head area?

I skin and then roll the hides to freeze. After I get a few in the freezer, I go to my buddies to flesh and put on wire. Would it be okay to skin in the evening/wash and hang in the basement over the sink until the following morning, then roll and freeze to be fleshed at a later date?

Lastly, what would you say the price difference is between a washed and unwashed coyote when selling to NAFA?

Thanks


I wash mine. Cold delicate cycle with borax. Four at a time. After I flesh. Hang to dry for a bit. Board. In my experience selling my yotes to NAFA does not get the best prices. Only once in ten years did I make more money. I sell mine to the mid level buyers. Mid level buyers appreciate the extra work. NAFA could care less. I say they could care less because they tumble everything. Having put up fur for several fur buyers, a well cared for pelt is rare. Most of the fur at NAFA is dealer lots. Yes you can tell them not to tumble but you still get no appreciation for the finished product.

I do not freeze after I flesh. When the skin thaws out it gets all sorts of dried spots that causes the fur to slip.



Compulsive Coyote Washer
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6157792
02/14/18 03:37 PM
02/14/18 03:37 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 650
SK
S
Saskayote Offline
trapper
Saskayote  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 650
SK
I wash mine because I take pride in a nice finished product. I was so amazed how dirty the water was after washing my first effort, that I will ALWAYS wash from now on. This from a country where the yotes are ALL caught on snow/frozen ground conditions. after fleshing and brushing, I do the following:

I simply fill a 5 gallon bucket up with warm water, put a good squirt of dish soap in the bucket, throw the pelt in and stir it with a stick. I then walk away for an hour or so, come back and stir again. Leave it for another hour. The water will be dirty now. Then I put the pelt in the second bucket, which is just plain rinse water. Takes a bit, but I farm, so am at home almost all the time. I then let drip dry before boarding.

30% of my coyotes last year were over 200 bucks Canadian. Yes the yotes are nice to begin with, but I firmly believe the washing upgrades them. Most were in the top 5% of the lotting list. Previous years I did not wash, and didn't do near so well.

I do think it helps a lot. The fur is just gorgeous after this treatment, smells good too!

Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6158139
02/14/18 08:36 PM
02/14/18 08:36 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 530
southwest Alberta .Canada
RKH Offline
trapper
RKH  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 530
southwest Alberta .Canada
I don't know if you get better money by washing or not but I myself take pride in what I catch ..I think if your gonna go balls to the wall and put in the time to do it ..you may as well do it to the best of your ability..I wash in a clothes washer I found for free ,just cold water and a bit of fabric softener..drain .rinse then spin the water out hang for about an hour and board .Very little water left in the fur after the spin cycle

Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: RKH] #6158145
02/14/18 08:43 PM
02/14/18 08:43 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 591
kentucky
C
curtisd Offline
trapper
curtisd  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 591
kentucky
Originally Posted By: RKH
I don't know if you get better money by washing or not but I myself take pride in what I catch ..I think if your gonna go balls to the wall and put in the time to do it ..you may as well do it to the best of your ability..I wash in a clothes washer I found for free ,just cold water and a bit of fabric softener..drain .rinse then spin the water out hang for about an hour and board .Very little water left in the fur after the spin cycle


exactly

Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6158148
02/14/18 08:46 PM
02/14/18 08:46 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
T
trappergbus Offline
trapper
trappergbus  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
FYI, I wash mine also but NAFA will still charge for tumbling. It's a pride thing for me also.. And respect for the animal. A small amount of bleach helps too but don't over due it.


Common sense catches alot of fur..
Pay homage to all you harvest..
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6158188
02/14/18 09:13 PM
02/14/18 09:13 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,567
Saskatchewan, Canada
S
Sask hunter Offline
trapper
Sask hunter  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,567
Saskatchewan, Canada
I only ways if muddy or bloody. If so I put them in five gallon pail with cold water swish them around a bit and let sit five or ten minutes. Repeat once drain and wring the coyotes out and let drip dry overnight

Last edited by Sask hunter; 02/14/18 09:13 PM.
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: Saskayote] #6158214
02/14/18 09:39 PM
02/14/18 09:39 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,618
S. Texas
T
Txcoonman Offline
trapper
Txcoonman  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,618
S. Texas
Originally Posted By: Saskayote
I wash mine because I take pride in a nice finished product. I was so amazed how dirty the water was after washing my first effort, that I will ALWAYS wash from now on. This from a country where the yotes are ALL caught on snow/frozen ground conditions. after fleshing and brushing, I do the following:

I simply fill a 5 gallon bucket up with warm water, put a good squirt of dish soap in the bucket, throw the pelt in and stir it with a stick. I then walk away for an hour or so, come back and stir again. Leave it for another hour. The water will be dirty now. Then I put the pelt in the second bucket, which is just plain rinse water. Takes a bit, but I farm, so am at home almost all the time. I then let drip dry before boarding.

30% of my coyotes last year were over 200 bucks Canadian. Yes the yotes are nice to begin with, but I firmly believe the washing upgrades them. Most were in the top 5% of the lotting list. Previous years I did not wash, and didn't do near so well.

I do think it helps a lot. The fur is just gorgeous after this treatment, smells good too!


I agree 100 %, I do the same in 5 gallon bucket, fill first one up just water start churning the pet around with my hand for about 30 seconds, then dump water and ring out pelt, second bucket with dish soap and churn for 30 sec then ring out, third bucket with water and that bucket usually has clean water at the end of the churning. Be surprised at how dirty they are even if they look clean. Do this after fleshing, snap dry and spin around real good and hang out in the breeze for an hour or so till the pelts pretty dry then go straight to the board to dry the lleather then flip


Texas fur and skull buyer
Greg Novak
Gnovakswa@gmail.com
361-793-6706
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6158221
02/14/18 09:51 PM
02/14/18 09:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,135
Armpit, ak
D
Dirt Offline
trapper
Dirt  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,135
Armpit, ak
I think the tumbling at both auctions are to facilitate grading, not necessarily to clean your fur.


Who is John Galt?
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6158246
02/14/18 10:10 PM
02/14/18 10:10 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 92
eastern ks
D
derek masenthin Offline
trapper
derek masenthin  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 92
eastern ks
I agree washing if there's time to do so makes a nicer end product after working for a buyer for a while first appearances are very important I use a clothes washer with cold water and a little borax

Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: silkyplainscoyot] #6158264
02/14/18 10:34 PM
02/14/18 10:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,652
ND
M
MJM Offline
trapper
MJM  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,652
ND
Originally Posted By: silkyplainscoyot
MJM,

Isn't that buyer taking a big risk buying coyotes that hadn't been fleshed? Or is it a easy fix?

In my mind there is no fix for a grease burned coyote. So yes the buyer was taking a risk. I don't think he was using his money and wanted to be a hero.


"Not Really, Not Really"
Mark J Monti
"MJM you're a jerk."
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6158273
02/14/18 10:47 PM
02/14/18 10:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,030
Coldspring Texas
Savell Offline
"Wilbur"
Savell  Offline
"Wilbur"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,030
Coldspring Texas
...I like to give them a good washing while they're still alive in the trap....that away they can shake theirself dry afterwards...cheap dog shampoo cut with a 50-50 borax/water solution is what I use


Insert profound nonsense here
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6158319
02/14/18 11:52 PM
02/14/18 11:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,618
S. Texas
T
Txcoonman Offline
trapper
Txcoonman  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,618
S. Texas
Lol


Texas fur and skull buyer
Greg Novak
Gnovakswa@gmail.com
361-793-6706
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: trappergbus] #6158320
02/14/18 11:52 PM
02/14/18 11:52 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,554
Slaughter Slough, MN
Dead Coyote Offline
trapper
Dead Coyote  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,554
Slaughter Slough, MN
Originally Posted By: trappergbus
FYI, I wash mine also but NAFA will still charge for tumbling. It's a pride thing for me also.. And respect for the animal. A small amount of bleach helps too but don't over due it.

Mrs. Stewarts Blueing does the trick too! A couple drops per batch. Actually taught to me by a NAFA Grader!


Live everyday like it is the last day of your life!
MJPPTA 1%
Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: MJM] #6158337
02/15/18 12:11 AM
02/15/18 12:11 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 55
Carrington, North Dakota
B
bwilly Offline
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bwilly  Offline
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B

Joined: Jan 2012
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Carrington, North Dakota
Several years ago had some really muddy coyotes and had to wash before fleshed. Discovered that they flesh easier, in my mind, by washing them before flesh. So now skin bag and freeze, when have time pull out four at time thaw, wash in a tub, approximately five gallons of water, in dawn detergent and downy fabric softener. Hang and a squeeze water out and wash in clear, hang, squeeze water out hang several hours or whatever works, flesh board, turn and use electric leaf blower fluff and dry. When ready take off board give front and back sot of Frabreeze and rub in corn grit and blow out with blower. Don't look to bad.

Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6158395
02/15/18 02:18 AM
02/15/18 02:18 AM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,162
N.E. Nebr
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LDW Offline
trapper
LDW  Offline
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L

Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,162
N.E. Nebr
I wash all coyotes also. I skin, then wash. Hang overnight to dry, flesh, tumble and board. I use an old wringer washer with cold water and woolite. I sell to a country buyer that compliments me on put up. He comments how soft and clean smelling they are. Even if they don't bring anymore money, I take pride in doing a good job.

Re: Washing coyotes? [Re: wisconsinteacher] #6158493
02/15/18 08:54 AM
02/15/18 08:54 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,852
meadowview, Virginia
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EdP Offline
trapper
EdP  Offline
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meadowview, Virginia
I always had good success getting blood cleaned up with a rag and water with a bit of dish soap and fabric softener. You can clean up a fair bit of blood without getting the fur very wet, and the remainder will comb out when the hide dries on the board (or wire). Learn to avoid cutting the carotid artery and the artery near the joint in the front legs and there will be a lot less blood to deal with.

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