As a 2nd year trapper, I am trying to find a system that works. My first batch of coyotes I put up without washing. To finish putting up fur, I washed them in OxyClean and then fleshed the following day. I have all my hides hanging in the basement and yesterday I tested my wife. I said what coyotes are washed? She looked at me like I was crazy. She pointed to the 5 washed ones and said it is obvious. Those are fluffier and have better color to them. To me there is not a lot of difference but to her eyes it was night and day difference.

I guess it is worth the extra few minutes to wash coyotes!!!

(Disclaimer, my wife does not care about fur or have any knowledge on fur at all)

Now that's all you have to do Is get her to wash them. Get back to us on that will you. LOL

HaHa. No way. She loves to hunt and fish but wants noting to do with trapping. Too much work and work.

I could tell the difference I had one I put up for a friend that I didn't wash, wasn't near as fluffy full. Plus it had the stronger coyote funky smell.
J

I know washing those stinky butt sniffers helps me think there worth more, but the big question is do they bring more money at the auction house because you washed them?

I always thought that washing them would bring more money at auction .. but after a buddy attended last NAFA auction and Feb I dont know . He was able to follow the graders as they went thru the coyote section and he said that one of those 8 dogs in the top lot had a silver dollar sized patch of dried blood on the neck . He was told that didnt matter as it would come out in the tanning process . I dont wash mine but go over them thoroughly with borax and comb .. maybe the washing doesnt help

Not sure if washing helps bring more money, but I take pride in making them look they're very best. Every year I get complements on my putup from the buyer. I just enjoy putting up fur.

Right there with you LDW. Its about pride in your work, and pissing the wife off because I forgot to clean the washing machine filter cuz it was full of coyote fur....LOL probably going to have to get me a throw down machine that can drain into the yard

You have bigger #%$(&% than me, would be a funeral if I tried that. I have an old wringer washer in my fur room that works good.

In my opinion, washing coyotes won't get you more money if you sell at NAFA or FHA. The graders aren't influenced by softness or a fresh smelling pelt. The graders are comparing one coyote against another.

However, if you sell at a state or local auction or even to a travelling buyer, a washed and properly groomed coyote pelt could very well get you a few extra bucks. At a sale, the buyer is comparing your pile of washed coyotes to some one else's pike of coyotes that is not washed. He can tell the difference between the 2 groups by touch and smell. Even if the 2 groups of coyotes are identical grade wise, the buyer will be inclined to put some extra money on the washed group. And he may do so not even doing it on purpose. Well handled fur, regardless of species, tends to bring a premium price.

Washing them "here" will lighten them up a couple of shades. It wont turn an eastern into a western, but it seems like it. This black gumbo, muddy soil here makes a coyote dirty, and that pelt will turn your sink woolite/and water brown. It is amazing the difference it makes. When you do the flip, comb and orient the fur as soon as you can as it's drying.

WISSMISS, would you care to elaborate on proper coyote grooming?

Proper coyote grooming - just the basics really.

No wet rotten ears.
No burrs or porky quills in the fur.
Blood spots, if any, removed.
Fur combed out and fluffed up.

If you are going to take the time to wash the coyote pelt, you need to straighten out the fur afterwards. Common sense??

Just your standard pelt presentation. Nothing special.

I was told if sending to Nafa it makes no difference by a guy that attends the auction every year and sends hundreds of yotes there. After they put them through the drum you would not recognize your own coyotes. Remove the blood spots and give them a good brush. With a good brushing and a little borax they will grade just fine. I have no experience selling at local auctions or to fur buyers,so if washing brings you more money I would do it.

Here's a few more I bagged up today. Not one was washed. Just brushed real well and a little borax rub on the belly.

Man I got to work like a mad man just to get 1/5 of those, but getting better year by year

I'm dropping mine off at Stoughton on Monday. I've washed all mine and made them look as good as I can short of taking them to a salon lol. My question is do they drum and grade at Stoughton or is it done in Toronto? If it's done at Stoughton I was thinking of skipping the drumming process. I have 62 so would save a little money. Does this sound like a good plan or no?

Very nice looking yotees saskbone!

I think the coyotes are graded in Toronto. Not sure where they are drummed.

Thanks wissmiss. I hope they would be drummed in Toronto shortly before grading so the fur is at it's best.
I will ask when I drop them off

More on the op question. If I was taking coyotes on snow or where they were cleaner for the most part and could keep the blood to a minimum I probably wouldn't bother to wash. But with that said it would be on a pelt to pelt basis.
Where I trap in Texas they are full of dirt and everything needs washing.

Wissmiss pretty much nailed it.