When I go to the fur actions there's always a few guys with perfect coons, the skin is white as snow and the put up is amazing. I think I flesh my coons really good but they're always brown once they dry. Why is that?

I wonder if it is the drying time. I have coon that were finished and put on boards and are more tan in color than some other coon pelts that were done on wire that are much lighter in color. The coon on the wire dried faster that the ones on boards. There is no other difference in them that I think could account for the color difference. Both caught at the same time of year in the same area. Just guessing here.

Liquid grease left in the skin will cause the leather to dry darker.Now I am talking about beaver here,and other skins,as we have no coon.But I don't see why it would be any different with coon.

I had some late caught ones that were white going on the boards and dried a light tan. I use a full butcher knife to scrape off any grease that forms as they dry.

Once in awhile I'll have 'brown spot' on Coon?

Boco and others...is this what you are talking about? (Coon on right)

I have seen the white leather coon at sales. It appears as if they were fleshed on a fleshing machine, and something was applied to the leather.
My first thought was salt after fleshing.

Boars seem to rough up each others necks the closer it gets to mating.

My area (central Pa.) December Coon hide seems to thicken that tick marks don't show. Hide is whiter at this time.

Yes the blue dark skin is early raccoon put up, ones in December will look like ones above.