I’ve caught a few nicely furred possums this week. As I plan to tan all my fur this year, I decided to skin a few. Boy, took all of two seconds to remember why I hate skinning possums. I just can’t stand their smell. It is repulsive to me and that is saying a lot! Anybody else hate skinning grinders?

Don’t mind skinning, hate fleshing!

Just ain't doing it

I don’t mind the skinning part, I can’t get the hang of fleshing them. For me they are difficult to flesh without the hair slipping?

Put an old t-shirt or something similar between your beam and the hide when fleshing.

Yeah why

Skinning them doesn’t bother me. Fleshing them is challenging.

A towel always worked good for me. Just go easy and don’t push any harder then needed.

I remember when they were worth about 2 bucks and I figured Ide skin one, didn't make it through before I decided I didn't need 2 bucks that bad.

Hahaha. YEP

I had the pleasure of watching somebdy else skin and flesh one. That was enough for me.

Chris

a couple of my pet ones would cure you of the smell thing -- btw I have no sense of smell.

Yep, I think I put one up once. I quickly ran out of ambition to invest a half hour for a $0.25 return. Which is the reason I haven't set a trap for fur in the past 5 years.

Yep hated ain't skinned one in 40 years tossing them keeps your pitching arm in shape.

They do stink.
And you need a little finesse to scrape them, more of a gentle push than a scrape. Very thin skinned. I put a whole bunch of them up in early 90s, was getting $2 a piece for finished which was more than I was getting for rats.
Jim

no it never bothers me

I skinned and fleshed a dozen in the last 2 weeks…2 13 pounders 32 inches on the board

I catch 2-3 a year, I’m with you, it ain’t happening. lol

I've skinned a bunch of them back in the late '70's early '80's when they brought around 5 bucks, which was like 20 today.

And like a bunch have mentioned, fleshing was the hard part. More than a couple had a hole in the belly, but Dutch didn't seem to mind as long as the back was good.
Now this isn't saying I liked skinning them! I'd sooner do up 3 fox over 1 possum.

Don't bother me, the skunks and mink have made me "nose blind" as the lady of the house says