Raccoon skinning help

So IV never had this situation before and I don't know what to do. I killed a raccoon this morning as I was Getting ready to leave for work. I tossed it in the bed of my truck and took off for work. I won't be getting home tell about 3:30. Do you think the pelt will be salvageable to ski. and put on salt when I get home. It will be 11 hours from kill to skinning. I'm doubting it but hoping for the best.

 

Not sure how it is in your area but this time of year the pelt is of low quality, later in the year much better quality.

 

Seems way too early for the season to be open. Normally the seasons don't open up until the fur is prime. If its not too warm there, it will be fine to skin later today.

 

Either way. I don't want to waste a dead animal if I don't have to. That's not right. But the pelt actuly looks surprisingly good

 

I killed it on my roof. They are ripping up shingles and siding on my house.

 

If you go on IL fur trappers page, they show you how to skin them and many other animals too.

 

It's a real shame. A old lady feed the raccoons for years and years before she passed away. Now there are generations of raccoons dependent on humans for food. Now they destroy houses and trashcans trying to get food. But to answer your concern. It is illegal to hunt raccoon in my area. You can only kill raccoons that are doing damage to personal property. And these guys are doing ALOT of damage in our area

 

Thank you, but I do know how to skin a animal. I'm just wondering if it will even be worth it 11hrs after It had been killed

 

Bummer. Here, we can kill them if they are doing damage to property at any time. You likely have the same right. Either way, I wouldn't blame you for taking care of the problem. They can really tear stuff up. Try to keep it in a cool place, or at a minimum, in some shade until you can skin it.

 

The other raccoons will eat him.

 

A dead coon in the Cali sun for 11 hours.... Imma wager NO. lol

Give a tug on the inside of its back leg hair, if it pulls out its toast and will slip during pickle MOST LIKELY if it makes it through scraping......

 

Start skinning. Look for a the hide to be green on the flesh side of the belly. If it is, it's probably not going to be salvageable. The belly usually goes first.

If you put it in the shade, belly side up, that will help a bit. Belly side down will hold the heat on that thin belly skin and make it turn green faster.

 

I got lucky today. It's raining a bit and not as hot as it has been