After skinning several coyotes at a time my fingers joints get sore and cramped. The part I need help with is pulling the skin on the hind legs down to the tail, this hide comes off tough and was wondering if anyone had a trick that would make it easier and not rip the hide as you know this is easily done in this area?

I have a skinning machine for the rest of the process.

Use your body weight to push down not pull down.

Ok, but wouldn't you still have to clench your fingers to do that? I was hoping for a tool to help out.

Was thinking of maybe a piece of dowel rod with a slot in the middle so you could slip the hide through then turn to wrap itself up tight to the flesh then can pull and keep turning until down far enough.

You can use your fist or if it is tough(like a timberwolf),your knee.

RP you have a skinning machine and your not using It to pull down the legs??

I was afraid it would rip the hide too easily if not pulled just right. I hate sewing anymore than I have to.

Beav, tell me how I should be doing it. Not being a wise guy here just trying to figure out the best and fastest way to skin in the field without doing damage that has to be fixed later. And to keep from getting arthritis.

It is possible I may be doing this all wrong.

I made a clamp for my fur table to hold one back foot. Skun back legs more with the knife & bit less pulling.


Here's video of longear doing a Coon with clamp & table, to give you another idea on back legs...

I don't skin coyotes In the field. But here's something you might try.
I know a guy that opens his coon by using a rod. He has a rod welded to a plate and that set up Is bolted t his bench. The rod Is about 6" long and the end Is ground down to a point.

He rings the ankle then makes the cut from ankle to bung hole. Then slips his knife between the leg fur and the meat leaving a slot. Then he runs the rod through that slot and pulls the hide off the leg.

Don't know how you would set that up In the truck but It might help with the coyote Issue.

Longear nailed it Hern! Make the opening cut and skin out the hams working your way back to the tendon. Too tight of skin around the smaller part of the leg with all those smaller tendons holding there legs together. Might try vise grips or catfish pliers to give you something to hang onto. Beav's hammer trick for the shoulders is a hand saver. Just be careful that the hammer doesn't fly across the room. Don't ask!

Thanks for the tips and advice guys, I will keep them in mind for this coming season. I have thought about the pliars idea but never tried it yet.

May have to try the hammer trick. How does that work, hold the hide with a pliars and hit right where the hide meets the meat to separate?

RP scroll down on this forum and look for Beav's hammer trick. ADC made a flick of It.