I’m new to trapping, new to the forum, and looking for advice. I’ll be tent camping & trapping in SE Ohio for a week in Dec. I’ll be targeting coyotes and foxes in big woods, no fields. I have the ability to keep the pelts out of the rain but was wondering how the temps 20-50 could impact the hides drying. Any advice on how to prevent them from spoiling and any advice on trapping public land is welcome!!

Can you bring a small freezer and a generator ?

Skin and freeze , flesh and board later ?

No different from the olden days... Skin, flesh, and board and you are good to go. Something to do while sitting by the fire.

Welcome to Tman
Good luck on your trapping/camping week
I agree with TC1 put them up and keep them out of the weather

And we like photos of your adventure, welcome to T-man.......jk

In addition to the above advice, Charlie Dobbins wrote a good article on winter trapping and keeping his fur in camp that you might enjoy reading before your trip. It's in the book On the Line With Charles Dobbins that Paul sells here.

Lot of good advice on all of these posts, can think of anything to add. Sounds like fun. Good luck!

2 options:

Freezer and generator
Put up the fur.

I've done both, but prefer to bring the Honda 2000 and 5 cubic foot freezer.

i would skin and put them up each night. just like the trappers used to do. also one week may not produce much fur if this is your first time so don't be disappointed, chasing coyote in the woods can be a steep learning curve. most guys you see catching 6 or 8 dogs a day are doing so by covering a lot of ground in a truck. not staying in a tent and walking to each set. enjoy yourself but don't expect to haul out a ton of fur.

A week In Dec I wouldn't worry about putting up any fur.


The main thing Is getting them, skinned the same day you catch them. Then roll them up fur out and keep them In a cool place out of the sun. That will give you about 3 or 4 days before you need to do some boarding.

Sounds like fun! I’m leaving Thursday on a solo primitive camping trapping hunting trip to the ADK area for 2-3 weeks. I plan to put everything up and dry them in my wall tent (with stove) and/or under my large dining fly (with small fire pit). My friend brings a chest freezer on the back of his truck and plugs into a generator or someone’s outside outlet if available.

Good Luck!

If I can give a little advice. On this site, buy the book by Charles Dobbins (Paul's Dad) "On the line". and read the chapter " Winter camping and trapping". Then read the rest of the book while you are at camp. Charles talks about handling and storing fur while out camping. You will love the book. If you don't, I will buy it from you including shipping.

If you are going to sell them, put them on a stretch and let them start to dry. Keep in an area with good air circulation.

If you plan to keep the skins and have them tanned, then salt them.

If you go into the bush for a month or so in the fall,and plan to stay in a tentframe or cabin,just dry your fur while there.
You will have time in the evening to put up the fur you skin.Lots of trappers hang their catch for a few days on a meatpole,or a woodshed if at a cabin then take a day to skin.Skinned pelts can be held for a couple days,while putting some up each evening.
You can skin every 3rd day,and put up some each evening.

You dont need constant heat to dry fur,just make sure its well scraped and properly stretched,then every time you fire up the woodstove the fur will dry.Just keep the fur away from the stove,you dont want the skins to get"hot" while drying-that will ruin them.A fire in the morning and one in the evening in the cabin or tentframe will dry your fur perfectly in a few days.

I have put up a ton of fur like this at camp.
If you bring your woman with you she can skin and put up your fur while you are out trapping.
If your woman dont like handling fur and other camp chores get rid of her and get one that does.If she has a sister bring her along to help out too.

If you bring your woman with you she can skin and put up your fur while you are out trapping.
If your woman dont like handling fur and other camp chores get rid of her and get one that does.If she has a sister bring her along to help out too.

Mint . Lol

This is what I did last year while out for two weeks. Skin and cool them down well before rolling them up and put them in a large cooler or cardboard box. Keep the cooler in the shade to help prevent spoilage. Nights where below freezing and above during the day. Never had any issues.

This is good advice, also if you sprinkle some borax on the leather side of course and hang them in the cool evening air before turning fur side out.

This is good advice, also if you sprinkle some borax on the leather side of course and hang them in the cool evening air before turning fur side out.
this

Kre, how often do you need to run generator to keep pelts frozen per day?

^^^^^^ this. With prices as low as they are I doubt there we any buyers willing to risk buying even slightly tainted fur.