This part doesn’t want to come off. This is the back of the raccoons neck. I’ve sent them to be tanned like this before and they all turned out okay but I feel like I’m not doing a good job… any suggestions? Does it just stay on??

Use the sharp side of your two handled flesher to shave off that grissely fat between the ears and shoulders.Hold the knife fairly flat to the hide,and use a slicing motion with very little pressure.
Make sure the fur is dry and brush out any matts or burrs in the fur so your sharp knife doesnt make a hole.

My knife has to be really sharp to get them started.

What boco said. And then just keep working at it. You can get pretty aggressive with a coon hide and usually need to to get that off. You'll get the hang of it eventually!

Is this your first attempt at fleshing?

That grissle is a little tough it gets somewhat easier once it's started. I agree with using a really sharp knife.

No but I have very little experience in general. I’ve done a handful of raccoon and a couple beaver in my life. Mink and muskrat are easy. But these grizzly things frustrate me. Getting the fat off towards the bottom is very satisfying and almost relaxing but the neck is rough. Plus the whole thing comes sliding down even if I put a clamp on it

I hold the blade at an angle like this when I shave that gristle off.

Work in the middle of your beam, you will cut a hole real fast if you get over on the edge using the sharp side. Watch the coon creek outdoors YouTube on racoon fur handling. Luckily, there are lots of them and they are not worth anything, so it's a perfect time to practice. Once you figure out the angles and the sideways shave motion it will be easy for you. Just need some practice. Watching the videos will help.

I use scalpel blades on tough spots like that.

Get an apron and lean on the end so it doesn’t go anywhere.

Be patient and make sure you are using a sharp two handled fleshing knife like Boco said.

What fleshing knife are you using? If your not sure post a pic. Some cheap ones aren't sharp at all on the convex side

Dale it is cheap and very old . I don’t even remember where I got it. Wooden handles. I can’t get back in the garage now.
My previous post about wanting a fur shed explains this.
All in all I find it hard to be the trapper I wanna be because of circumstances. But we are gonna get it under control!

Thank you for the drawing!!! I got that technique figured out and it does help!!!!

Necker 600 is worth.. I actually like when the sharp side is slightly dull..

Practice practice practice

And I do have a skinning apron. I think my fleshing beam is at too much of an angle. Like needs to be a little more horizontal.
Trial and error I guess!!!!!

Wood handles with about 1 1/2 wide blade?

If it's the knife I'm thinking of you probably can't get a sharp enough edge on it to be real effective on coon. I have tried. Lol

Yeah I think that’s the one. Looks like I can add another item to my wish list this year!

It will make a world of difference with a good knife. I use a green english. It does the job but it's not the best knife. I'm thinking of ordering a knife from Lee Steinmeyer on here before next season. I have heard his knives are excellent.

Go straight to lee stienemeyer and get a knife from him . I started with a necker 600 then a post 2 and then bought one from lee and never looked back. A good knife makes a big difference along with the school of hard knocks. I learned the hard way like most on this sight but a good knife is my best advice

X3 on Lee’s fleshing knife. I have one and love it. I also have a Post but it just hangs on a hook now that I have one of Lee’s. Eric

Sounds similar to the cheap fleshing knife I started with. Eventually I bought some excellent fleshing knives from Lee Steinmeyer, a member here on Tman. they made a world of difference. Many members have purchased Lee's knives and I've never heard a complaint.

Thanks everyone I will reach out to him! If I’m gonna catch raccoon by accident, I might as well process them right.
Stinkin rotten bandits !

he is also a Scholar and a Gentleman!

Once you get a good fleshing knife,learn the correct way to sharpen it and how to turn the edge.
There was a good video by NAFA on beaver.One segment in the series dealt with how to properly sharpen a fleshing knife and how to maintain the edge.

When I deal with "greasers" I tie an old shirt around my waist, over the apron and then lean into the hide. The old shirt keeps the apron/hide from slipping around so much.

Put the coon in the freezer to harden the fat.

Did that too. Skinned a couple weeks ago and thawed overnight. Comes off nicely. Like peeling an orange! It’s amazing

I start at the head on old burly coons, otter, and the grizzly parts of a beaver with a razor sharp ulu knife so that I can start on that shoulder area on clean leather so that I can get under the horrible area.
You will need to school yourself up sharpening knives. When using an ulu knife, you are slicing off the grizzle as you ease down the hide. Let the knife do the work rather than brute force. Once you get under the tough area a ways, the fleshing knife will go a lot easier.

Check out Coon Creek Outdoors on the tube, he has an awesome vid on fleshing coons! With my Steinmeyer knife I don't even need the sharp side on a prime coon!

Greasers!!!!

Top row, on the left. That is me before I got really good looking.

Put on your waders the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) is getting deep in here. Lol

Although some people might recommend a necker, I wouldn't, even if it's a bit cheaper.

I used to be just like you, trying to flesh with some POS fleshing knife. I remember spending an hour and half trying to get off the stuff in your picture and not being able to. Back then Neckers were fairly new on the market and everyone on here told me to "get a necker" so I did. Go out there with my next big ol coon and.... same deal. Could not get that area clean to save my life. Said screw it for a few years and went back to selling everything green.

Then one day I bought a Caribou knife. (This was either before Lee made his knives, or before I knew about them, one). I took that Caribou knife out on my next big ol coon and it was like the heavens opened up and angels sang. That fat just peeled right on off of there with the sharp side of that knife. Went from spending over an hour TRYING to flesh a coon to being able to flesh one in under ten minutes almost instantly (or so it seemed anyways, lol).

If you're gonna put up fur, a good fleshing nice is not something that's nice to have, it's imperative.

As you can tell from my post above I love my Caribou, but wouldn't hesitate to try one of Lee's knives either, I've never heard a bad review of them.

I had my eye on the one in the Mickey Mouse tee

I've heard good things about Post knives too, but I can only recommend...

Smash get yourself a set of welding clamps to hold the critter your fleshing really helps. Eric

160 is right about the old T shirt wrapping around the waist, I use a piece of burlap.
.
He is wrong about the guy on the left,..that guy is a ghost!

A ha!!!! Great! I’ll buy one!!!

Post is a great knife. I also have one of Lee's. I use the post more.

I like Lees over my post2 but the post is a lighter knife and maybe more user friendly for a lady

That dude is butt ugly and not nearly as striking as I am.

od you have anyone that you could bring your knife to get it sharpen, I bring all my knifes to a shop that makes knifes, they only charge 2 bucks a knife, I always thought my knifes were sharp, but what a different.

Like trapping none of us where born with the knowledge and skill f how to be an expert at putting up fur Take your time be careful and learn when you make a mistake With the proper tools and some practice you can get good at it quicky All of us should have the same approach as you have when it comsto improving your skills God luck .

Do they sharpen 2 handled dull fleshing knives. If they do I might mail a couple up there. Especially for only 2 bucks.
I can touch up my own no problem. And they remain razor sharp. As for actually sharpening one of those curved buggers I've tried everything to rebevel one and just can't do it.

I would have to ask around. I have some janky sharpening wheel I bought years ago on clearance at Home Depot. You put water in the base and turn it on. I tried sharpening a hatchet on it but I don’t know what I’m doing!!
A sharp knife really does make a difference. I skinned the coon with one of those outdoor edge knives with the replaceable blades and it made the opening cuts so quickly

If you have access to a computer you may try to google knife sharpening?

I’ve got a Wiebe curved and just got a Zeph in the mail but this one is straight that I’ll try out on an otter tomorrow morning.

YouTuber up here has a video and says he rarely uses the sharp side (except for beav, otter and some of the tougher areas on critters) and he’s only gave it a swipe or 2 with a steel once in 20 years. The Wiebes sharp side I’ve never touched, but I take good care of my knives. I don’t just toss em in the sink when I wanna wash them…lol.

My old knife only has a “sharp side” it’s more of a “push side”. Def gonna upgrade!!!