I know the answer is get more than I need, but Im just wanting to purchase a cheapo to put some yote skins and large coon skins in til I can finish them. I guess it’s finally time to learn since there’s no other outlet for fur locally. Is it unrealistic to get 25 yote/large coon skins in a 10 cubic ft?

It'll be close, big raccoon hides take up more room than you'd think,,, but the trouble will be that you need to let the layer of hides freeze solid before adding a second layer, and you'll only get maybe 4-5 hides in a layer. Also just line the floor with some newpaper and lay the hides out flat as you can so they freeze faster. The coyotes, I'd fold the heads and opening across the legs under to avoid freezer burn.

I watch at garage sales and moving sales for cheap, OLD chest freezers. The older ones just seem to work better and last longer. You can usually get a deal on an old one that may have rust or be some butt ugly color. I have bought quite a few that work but are ugly for around $20.

Our electric companys pay $50 for running freezers in any condition and they come to your place and pick them up, so no $20 freezers to be had here.

Another thing to remember in this poor fur market is running freezers costs a fair amount per month, so the longer they are running the less profit you'll make on the hides in them.

Holy smokes! I need to load up a few and come visit. You are correct about the cost of electric. Luckily, we have 11 months of winter here so I only run them for a couple of days to freeze everything and then unplug them and just leave the lid closed. I have 3 or 4 sitting on the back side of the garage for hides and beaver carcasses. They keep things mouse proof more than anything.

Skins? No problem getting 25 yote/coon in 10 cubic ft. I lived in your area for about 50 years and had no trouble keeping skins through the season, putting them up when I had time. I only had a 7 cu. ft. freezer, but the room adjoining my skinning room was not heated and stayed cold enough after mid-Nov to keep them frozen or refrigerated enough to go a week or better. I finished thousands of skins for myself and others without much trouble.