I trapped my first ever coyote. I got it skinned. Whats the best way to wash the blood out? Do you flesh it first, or after washing. The washing machine is, apparently, not an option

Thanks.

i wash first. i use a washing machine, but a bucket of water will work. after washing i let it drip dry for about a hour,hang from nose.

Just plain cold water? No soap or anything? Thats how I do my raccoons, I usually just use the creek in the yard, but its froze over pretty thick right now.

I use the buckets. Wash after fleshing. Use lukewarm water and laundry soap, rinse in lukewarm water. Snap 8-10 times, let drip dry over nite then board fur in until leather dries enough to flip.

As far as blood stains go, they are easily taken care of with minimal hand washing of heavy clots and then with borax after the pelt has been boarded and dried. I have never seen where washing gave me a better price and I most always do better than the sale average.

Re the borax treatment, once the skin as dried and the fur turned out I work considerable dry borax powder into the stained areas, let set for 10-15 minutes and then comb, brush, and shake the borax out. Using this borax treatment method works extremely well as can be seen in the following before and after pictures. As well as removing blood stains the borax also cleans and brightens the fur.

Just dry borax powder? That sounds easy enough. This one is going to the tannery.

If it is going to a tannery, why bother washing it at all, unless it is a super bloody mess. Ordinary dirt and crud will be removed in the tanning process.

You might want to avoid borax if it is going to a tannery.

When stretching and drying, leave it fur in. Skip the flip if you are sending it out for tanning.

Don’t over think things.

I agree with Tomcat if selling fur and I agree with Wissmiss if it is definitely going to the tannery.

Thanks guys. Flesh and put on the form it is. Thanks for saving me the work.

why no borax?

My understanding is that there is a chance of a chemical reaction between the borax and one or more of the chemicals in the dressing process. I don’t know that for a fact. Have heard it from reliable sources.

Most commercial tanners have products they use to brighten the fur in the dressing process.

Wash it like it’s your dog