Is the required by NAFA? Do you get dinged for not doing it? I always took it as a recommendation and not necessity but worried about airflow and fur slipping. So, when does one put the legs inside, after fully dry/hard or right away?

Cut the legs off short and let them hang away from the hide when you do the initial drying. Then when you turn it fur out the legs should be put Inside. With the legs left out there Is a chance that the hide will be torn and damaged when It goes through the tumbling process..

I leave mine out. Before turning I rub a little Borax in the armpit area just in case it isn't 100 percent dry so it doesn't rot or spoil

I borax under front legs after fleshing. Pits are dried before turning, while drying fur in.
When I turn hide fur out, I leave front legs inside.

No Front Legs- No Bottom Lip
(l. to r.) Grey Fox, Red Fox, Coyote

When selling to fur market, cut off bottom lip and trim to uniform look.

I agree with Beav about front legs possibly causing damage when tumbled. I don't think NAFA 'requires' but more so 'recommends' legs in.
Canines stack & bundle (bail) better with front legs inside.
When ready to turn fur out, make sure pits are dried. Turn pelt and leave legs inside as pictured above.

yup

or when its compressed during bailing.

After talking with a fur buyer here, auction houses will ding you for anything(legs out) they can so do what they say even if it doesn't affect the pelt.

The legs on my canines are always cut short and sticking out the leather side when I first board them . I stick pieces of rolled up newspaper in them to keep them sticking straight out so the leather under them dries (it won't dry if they flop down). When I flip fur-side out the legs stay on the leather side. I guess they don't want the legs sticking out the fur side because they could damage other furs when tumbling?

So, I got my grading back and got all section II and I-II. Could the legs not being tucked affect that? Idk how they could be more prime than they were (Middle of NOV through DEC northern MN coyotes). Maybe I need to use a washing machine next year or do something different in handling.

TYPO, not section II and I-II. Just II and I-II. None got graded the damage section.

I skin the legs out long and place either castration bands on them at the base of the arm or a couple bobby pins you can steal from your old lady. And then trim offf the skin to about a 1/4 to a 1/2 inch above the pins or bands . They dry very nice and close that hole up when they dry then when you flip it there is no hole to see at and gives a very very good belly presentation.

Don't sweat it, they will sell just fine. If they had torn during tumbling, you would have sec III on your letting letter. I have sold several $100+ yotes that graded I-II.

Coyotes don't have many Sel or #1, for what reason I don't know. Less than 2000 out of 29,000 in the western heavy section and less than 200 out of over 6000 in the eastern section.