Coyote finishing question???

This was my first year putting up fur and I'm questioning if there is anything I could have done to make my ND coyotes grade semi heavy? I knew I would have a few females grade semi but I had a couple more than I thought. All were caught mid December-feb. The majority of them graded heavy, I used 5/8" thick nafa spec boards, washed them, brushed before boarding, brushed backwards after the flip and left them loose on the boards. I didn't pull the legs tight and tried to keep them straight down instead of towards center of the board.

I had select and *1 heavies, 45% of my semis were *1 and my coon were 42% select so i think I did a good job. But if I'm doing something to cause it, I'd like to fix it before next season.

Thanks,

Why would you want them to grade semi-heavy rather than heavy????????? Heavy usually brings the better price!

I'm not, I'm asking if I did something while finishing them to make them a semi grade instead of heavy grade. But I caught alot females and I think half of them were just not as heavily furred as the males or young females.

You have answered your own question.
Females and of course young of the year may not have primed up as much as older coyotes. And Older coyotes can also grade semi because they are going down hill because of age.

And to some extent your best coyotes are caught In the first part of November. By time Jan and Feb rolls around lots of those coyotes are going down hill.

Thanks Beav, I really started to notice the difference after I caught 10-12. I only had 5 II's and three Slights out of the bunch, but one landowner wanted coyotes removed during calving so I had to catch a few late yotes to keep the land for this season.

IMO there's not much you can do to change the density of a pelt, it is what it is when caught. I would say over stretching is also impossible except possibly in a very rare situation.

haven't tried it myself but i've heard using a thicker board gives the appearance of denser fur.Comprimises length but gains you on thickness. According to bioligists fur is prime on the shortest day of the year. My opinion is the temps decide if they keep it or start rubbing it off

Well I'm told that If you comb the hair back against the grain then hang the coyote from the tail end. supposedly when the hide dries the hair sets and looks to be more full looking. Well that's what I'm told.

It was a rough sale but I had three semi's in the first lot and they got top price. Do they give top lots for semi heavy?

In most years NAFA gives top lot to shippers for each section of coyote.

There is only one buyer top lot award for each species and in coyotes it is always in the heavy section.

Buyer top lot is determined by NAFA. Seller top lots are determined by price.

yep you start getting into Feb. your coyotes can go any direction. I have had select coyotes and #III's or worse in Feb. Nov. to Christmas are a good time to catch them as long as the weather cooperates. Once you get snow you want it to stay cold. Freezing and thawing does not help the fur quality. IMO