I caught a coon with a bite mark or something right behind the head. Is it worth skinning?

no

Probably not, unless you need the practice. It may be worth skinning just for the practice if you’re new to putting up fur.

Otherwise, no.

I agree with Bob. That is a good specimen to practice skinning or Fleshing. Nothing lost if you cut a hole or two in it.

A small hole in the pelt right behind the head is inconsequential to a furrier.
It can be repaired in a matter of a minute or two.

True boco, but with millions of non damaged pelts to choose from on the market right now the damaged ones are worthless to the average buyer.

It makes no difference to a furrier.
Even perfect pelts need repairs to remove undesireable sections of the pelt where hair is normally sparse before blocking.

I see it like boco, do your normal routine you do with every other animal you get and bring to your buyer you never know what they will give for it even if its a buck or two at least it was not wasted

That don't look bad from.pic,depend on color an primeness, size, section, quality,of area coon, u can pin that hole shut on board. Possibly not downgraded because it

Damaged, early, un-prime, blue, coon = $0

Even if you are docked 50% you are only out a quarter. Put it up.

Never know what well bring, depend on primeness. Color an sizes. Can't be to prime right now though

Coonman is correct-Size,primeness and colour all a factor.Usually in that order.
The little hole behind the head is not.

What does the rest of the coon look like as to size, grade and color. A small bit mark near the head won't hurt a salable coon much. An undamaged small, low grade poor color coon won't sell.
As to practice? If you know how to open a coon and get the tail out whole the rest is just work. Now if you want to practice fleshing etc. then that changes things a bit.
Bryce

Make a hat with it.

Just talked with Marc Downey, CEO of Fur Harvesters yesterday morning. He told me that things arn't as bad as what everybody has been talking. He said that they are getting an average of ten calls a day from furriers in china about fur and that the privet treaty sales have been going well. Sale dates for 2021 are March 15-17th, with the LRD as Jan 16, and May31, June 1-2nd, with the LRD as Apr 17.

He mentioned that they had some plans to move some fur, but were not willing to disclose the plans yet, because of the gov shutdown of everything up there and didn't want to get hopes up and have the Canadian PM dash everyones hopes again.

To get back to the OP's question. Size, primeness and color really matter in todays market. If you feel like gambling, put it up. On a normal pelt and year, you can have up to three 22 size bullit holes in the back of a coon, as long as a quarter wont cover them, and not grade damage. Nowdays, with a tough market, that may be different. The market could and probably will change a fair amount between now and Feb and Mar.

Lee, that is promising to hear.

Looks like it has that highly valued school bus yellow color to it.