This weekend I fleshed a coon that I had dorsel skinned for mounting. I used a two handled fleshing knife (with little effect), a skife knife, which worked all right and mostly a scalpel. I put A LOT of holes in the pelt. I also had trouble splitting the lip around the chin. Matter of fact, I didn't get it split all the way around the bottom, there wasn't enough skin or it was too thin to split. I got off as much fat, membrane and meat as possible and for the most part feel comfortable with the fleshing except maybe the legs. I've got it salting now. After the pickle, I should be able to flesh more? Also, can I try to split the bottom lip then as the skin should "plump" more, or is it too late?
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I don't know about mounting it now. Can I sew up the back, cut the belly and basically make a wall hanging rug? Thanks.
Its all part of the learning curve. Most holes can be sewn and mounted. Trick to being a good taxidermist is knowing how to fix your squirrel ups. If you feel that its ruint then chalk it up to experience and get another.
Tom, Like paul said, it's all about learning. This was a perfect learning experience sounds like to me. Don't give up, just keep working on it and you will learn more. Yes you can work on the lip more after the pickle and finish the fleshing-it's easier once pickled to shave the neck skin thinner and work around the eyes,ears and feet. If you choose to not mount the coon you can tan and sew up the dorsal cut and resplit down the belly. You might also do a pedestal mount. If you do tan the skin you will notice how much easier still the fine fleshing goes after the tan. Now for my suggestion on how you have proceeded up till now. Most times learning how to flesh results in lots of holes due to trying to totally flesh the skin while green. Fur trappers do this because the skin needs to air dry in a clean condition but taxidermy is different. Salting the skin while there is some meat and fat on the skin makes scraping the stuff off easier--salt today, scrape tomorrow(fewer holes), resalt. You do not have to get it 100% cleaned off before you pickle. You will cut fewer holes if you pickle before getting into the close fleshing and I tan the skin before doing the real fine fleshing such as the face. Check out the search button for tons of info on racoons. Enjoy, Aaron H.
dont do any flehsing to start with = throw it directly in krowtann and flesh when done = you have to split b4 tanning - the bottom lip has virtually no split there on small mammals - - here's what i don on everything up to and including coyotes - i split the top lip and the back half of the bottom - i then krowtann and turn the rest of the bottom lip with a bench grinder - works great and no frustration
Thanks for the responses. The info was great and has made me feel a whole lot better about it.
Let me let you in on a little secret about coons. You dont turn the bottom lip in front. It simply lays across the the front, right against the gum. The overhang from the top lip/nose covers this up if you dont want to show teeth.
Also, I would still shave that skin as careful and close as you can, until you get a shaving machine to take over, once youre ready. Salt, and then throw a degreaser into your pickle. Yes, youll wanna shave it again then. Good luck!
Thanks for your input Bill. I was kind of worried about that bottom lip. I've decided to go for the mount instead of just throwing up my hands and doing something "easy" with it. I have another coon in my freezer to work on after this one. It's smaller but it's pelt is a lot nicer. Again, thanks to everyone.