What are all of your thoughts on this? I know I overfleshed it a because if you look close in some of the pics you can see the hair on the skin side of the pelt. But then it seems like I might have underfleshed it in spots too. Also how are you supposed to put the hooks on the hide? I've never prepared a pelt for sale or anything so I've just stuck em through the skin but how are you supposed to do it?

Pull the back legs around to the belly side and put hooks in. I leave about an in inch of tail skin on for the other hook. just stick it where the tail was. you need to get that fat off. that pink stuff wont hurt anything so long as there is no fat under it. it should push off pretty easy though. bout impossible not to get a few hairs come through a possum skin.

You’ve got it stretched too wide at the base. Will most likely cause you to lose a size. In my opinion, it should be thhe same widget at the base as it is at the front shoulders.

You might have cut the window a bit too big. And more fleshing needs to be done. And you clean up the grease around the inspection window.

Putting up fur takes practice. Eventually it becomes easier and goes faster. Possum are a good place to start fleshing and stretching as the pelts aren’t worth much.

… get all the fat off and wipe grease with a towel

Good start, trying scraping those soft skin clean is great learning skills that will make everything else easier.

Early caught fur, especially coon and possum will have the roots of the hair exposed. As they prime-up this will be less of a issue, especially with coon.

What a change, to think of the work to do now to sell a grinner( for less money) compared to what I did in the early 80’s.. I had a job where I drove a good bit, and picked up roadkill, threw it in the back of my pickup, and dropped them off at a buyer close to home. Never skinned one. Made over $100 one winter on mostly $1.50 to $2.00 grinners. Think I could get $20 or $25 for a coon, but they would always be damaged(just my luck)

looking good for a starter, don't worry about root hair to much but you need to get all the fat off, keep going you will be good at it soon because you care,

The white fat on the top right hand of this photo needs to come off. Way to go CC. With practice and a couple more you'll have it down pat.

Let me guess. Female? if so that big window is the way its done.

Cool thanks!

Sounds good, thank you!


OK!

thanks!

Aha! thanks!

That is crazy!


Okay, thank you!


Sounds good, thanks!!


Yes, it is. And I did accidentally cut it a little bigger when I was just getting past the belly when I was skinning it too

I always cut up into the scaly tail about and inch so that when I put the hooks in they could grab into that part of the hide tougher less apt to tear, same with muskrats.

Cool, that makes sense, thanks!

Like everyone has said, you need to get all the fat scraped off which is pretty easy on a possum. A possum's leather is usually pretty thin so the hair coming through is not uncommon. Since you're rather new to this, I'd say you've done well. Never be afraid to ask on Tman. There are a lot of good people on here willing to help.

You have to clean them pretty good. It’s more gentle push than scraping they are super thin hides.
The pouch is useless so possums usually have a significant belly window as a result of removing that.
Keep everything nice and centered for the overall appearance too. Pull each side down so they are even and you can use wooden clothes pins to hold the sides to the stretcher to keep them even.
I apologize I don’t have a lot of pictures of my finished possums but I did use a lot of wooden clothes pins to keep them centered and even/symmetrical on the wire and you have to get them very clean without making holes in them.
Possums were pretty easy to finish but take your time and do them well.