So I have another question before I go up this today for a week of trapping. I dont have a large freezer and need to skin the animals I get but I wont have time to flesh them yet. I want to freeze them after I skin them but not sure how I should do this. Do I roll them up? skin in or out?

I've always just rolled them up and put them in a bread bag or ziplock bag.

Freezing will change the consistency of the fat, and fleshing will be a little easier, especially with coon. I always roll mine from the nose, fur out, and bag them as well.

I always lay fur flat, fur side out..they will freeze faster and they will thaw out quicker.

can you freeze them right after you skin them? fur in or fur out when you roll them?

I always have heard to freeze them flat...that way they freeze faster and don't spoil...

I would have to agree with the zeak and bob just put them in a bag and freeze them. It does seem when you go to scrape the hide that if it is a little chilled not icy but chilled the fat scrapes off the hide alot easier.

If your freezer's big enough, lay them flat with the fur out. If not,try folding them in half. Rolling them can keep parts from freezing. Make sure the fur is good and dry before freezing.

Putting something like a piece of cardboard between layers or putting them in a plastic garbage bag is a good idea too. Make sure there's enough space between them to allow them to freeze completely. Too many, too close together, may insulate them and cause part, or some of them, not to freeze.
And could result in green belly or slippage in the areas that didn't freeze.

Depending on how long you leave them in, flat freezing has a tendency to freezer burn the pelt,

Depending on how many rolled up pelts you throw on top of each other,rolled fur may not freeze causing spoilage.

I always roll mine from tail to nose fur out, then when I take them out I can hang them buy the lip, eye, or nose and as they thaw they unroll on there own.

I'm no expert but last year I had some coon I needed to freeze as I was short on stretchers. After skinning I would lay them out on a work bench, fur side in until the leather "chilled" from the cold december air. Then I would skin the next. By the time I was done they had all cooled off. Once they cooled I would turn the fur side out and roll from nose to tail with the tail on the very outside. I would then place into a gallon sized zip-lock and into the chest freezer (r.i.p.)

I was optimistic in my trapping and rolled them this way so the tail was showing through the bag. That way, if you do grays or dark possum like this, you don't just have a bag of rolled frozen fur. The tail gives it away that it's a coon.

Writing on the outside of the bag would also accomplish this.

As was stated green fur should be frozen flat and not rolled into a ball which can cause the inner part to freeze much slower. Its also not recomended by the larger buyers to put fur in plastic bags. The plastic will cause condensation and moisture can penetrate the leather and cause slippage when thawed out. As long as the fur is dry there is no need to place anything between layers but dont put too much fresh fur in one freezer at a time. I dont put any more than about ten coon in a freezer at a time.

Dave Plueger,So you put the furs in the freezer with out putting them in any thing is that what you mean.Thanks

Thats right boo. I just make sure the fur is dry and lay them flat in the freezer. You can fold the tail and head under to prevent any exposed flesh from freezer burning if you wish. If they are only going to be in the freezer for a couple months or less I dont worry about it. For those that recieve Groenewolds flyer they recomend freezing flat and not placing fur in plastic. They have handled millions of pelts so I will take their advice.

I have personal experience from rolling fur and it not freezing solid - these coons spoiled and stank to high heaven......ruined them as large chunks fell out. Though it was the first time - I am going to lay flat and freeze this year. I had rolled and used bread bags or small trash bags/Walmart bags but they do tend to take awhile to thaw and unroll as well. I think flat laid/dry fur with a piece of newspaper between each pelt is what I will try this year.

Thanks Dave for the reply and the help it sounds good to me.

How long will green frozen fur keep. I forgot about a whole freezer full of fur from last season. Stayed shut all year. No frost. All frozen solid, dry fur. I have dry whole mink and rats. Green skinned beaver, coon all frozen layed flat. Not trying to get off track. This question seems to go hand in hand.

Not true, I roll up alot of hairless coyote pelts with no problem!I have a guy in Ohio I sell all my mangy stuff to!