I found this forum while researching the best way to tan lamb pelts, which I found the home tanning guide on here that I will be using in the next few days.

I got to thinking about all the possums and racoons we end up shooting around the house and chicken pens and what I could use them for. I read possum fur and skin were really nice and that the hair is spun with sheep wool(which I have plenty of).

What is the best way to get the hairs off of the possum skin that would leave the hide in good condition (I plan on tanning the hide after)?

Lime soak will remove the hair and make scraping off the grain easier.
You will have to neutralize the leather before tanning after liming.
You might want to shave or shear off the hair if you want to use the hair/fur before liming the skin.
I dont have any experience with possums,I think the leather would be rather thin.
Coon should make a good tougher leather.

Welcome to the forum Teresa

Just tanned my first possum...my son and I agree that they have some of th softest underfur that you can find. Their hide unfortunately is a little thicker than paper. My 1 that I've tanned is a little softer than paper (hide), but I think if one would spend more time than I did, you could get it more soft. Btw, don't flesh too hard, or you'll make a lot of hair fall out!