Skinning fox tails

When I skin a well furred winter fox, I’ll split the tail down about half way then skin and pull the tail. Then I’ll use my tail stripper, like I do I coyotes, to finish the tail. I’ll pull the bone out but many times the tail skin will just crumble and fall apart. Does anyone else have this problem and does anyone have a solution?

Maybe you're not pulling tail bone straight out/up while keeping fur pulling in a straight downward motion?
Do you get all the fur separated from the bone? Then tail crumbles and falls apart?
I've skun plenty of Fox, just saying. I do the same as you- split tail fur part way then pull tail bone out and split fur to tip.

This is what my Red Fox tail's look like when skun'n, boarded & pinned-


Grey Fox tail-


*I would like to note about above pics of pinned Fox tails-
I learn this pinning method, from Boco on this site, using Quilting pins or T-pins.
Easier that push pins, both pinning tail & fast to un-pin tail. Plus really opens up tail for proper drying.

I get the same problem occasionally. I do them all the same but one in ten or so, the last few inches of the tail skin will disintegrate. This came up a few weeks ago with no solution then either.

Thank you both for the info.

How soon are you skinning after dispatch?

Usually the same day.

Do you remember if they were snared, and if so were they frozen when you got to them. Just trying to help, I've never heard or seen it myself.
Just wondering if it my have been a freeze thaw and repeat . frozen when you got it, thawed it the sun in the truck, refroze till the end of the day, rethawed in the fur shed.
Just a thought

I have caught fox with disintegrating tails occasionally.Invariably caught late in the season with poor nutrition.

Thanks Boco, that sounds reasonable.
A young male looking for Love or a Fight could get run down & weak.

I bought 1 of those simple (shiny metal) tail splitting devices from Wissmiss and have found it helps me do a nice clean job getting the tail opened up with minimal (if any) collaterol damage.

All you need for efficiently skinning/pulling tails, along with a sharp knife :