Thread: Possum hides preparation

I have some possum hides but can't get rid of the remaining fats without accidentally cutting holes in them. Any secret tips to share on how I could possibly scrape them clean? What kind of chemicals would I need?

I am also having trouble with getting possum tails off cleanly, they don't pull of in a single motion and I keep ripping them halfway through. I've heard of something called the rope method but can't find info on how it's actually done. If someone could share the process, that would be mighty helpful.

do you have the skins on frames - scraping with a blunt scraper ( a bread and butter knife will do ) is the way to do them - we scraped while they were in the drying room came of easy as fat was warm from the heater used to dry them - I dont know of a chemical to defat skins but you tube may be your friend - now tails - do the tail last - stand on possums fron feet to anchor it - pull the skin back about an inch up the tail - twirl the skin around and around close by the base of the tail - you want a section of skin and fur that is a wrap about 6 inches long- wrap that around base of tail over the section of tail that you have exposed - now up against the possums body at the base of tail put tail between your two middle fingers your fingers will be running along tye bare tail - keep standing on possums front feet to hold it still - pull up twisting at the same time - have done hundreds and never had one rip - I wish I had some coons to get some photos but sorry I dont - the rope method works but perfect the normal technique it works --use a nylon rope does not have to be thick - pull skin up to expose a small section of tail about an inch is enough - loop the rope around tail and pull - it actually does not work as well as the normal method - the rope tends to tighten up to much and does not always run along tail cleanly --turn tail inside out - use a piece of wire - cut a small piece of tip of tail - fold a little of it inside and catch that with your wire - push and the tail will turn inside out - once that tail skin is dry can be opened up with a knife by a straight cut on inside of tail

Taking the skin of the tail, I use to use bailing twine.
Skin right down to the tail.
Hanging the possum up makes it easy.
Leave the twine uncut so it’s a connected end to end and wrap it around the tail and loop the twine back through itself.
A good pull will take the skin of the tail easily.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Get someone to SHOW you how to skin a possum....I haven't done it for years but would put money on being able to skin one in under two minutes from knife work done.the tail bit is easy once you work out/are shown how.

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

do you have the skins on frames - scraping with a blunt scraper ( a bread and butter knife will do ) is the way to do them - we scraped while they were in the drying room came of easy as fat was warm from the heater used to dry them - I dont know of a chemical to defat skins but you tube may be your friend - now tails - do the tail last - stand on possums fron feet to anchor it - pull the skin back about an inch up the tail - twirl the skin around and around close by the base of the tail - you want a section of skin and fur that is a wrap about 6 inches long- wrap that around base of tail over the section of tail that you have exposed - now up against the possums body at the base of tail put tail between your two middle fingers your fingers will be running along tye bare tail - keep standing on possums front feet to hold it still - pull up twisting at the same time - have done hundreds and never had one rip - I wish I had some coons to get some photos but sorry I dont - the rope method works but perfect the normal technique it works --use a nylon rope does not have to be thick - pull skin up to expose a small section of tail about an inch is enough - loop the rope around tail and pull - it actually does not work as well as the normal method - the rope tends to tighten up to much and does not always run along tail cleanly --turn tail inside out - use a piece of wire - cut a small piece of tip of tail - fold a little of it inside and catch that with your wire - push and the tail will turn inside out - once that tail skin is dry can be opened up with a knife by a straight cut on inside of tail

Ha! All comes back now Used to be able to do it all in my sleep. Grand old days....and grand money. $25 a skin for the good ones. 1979.

This guy does a good job: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29A1KOlpe08

And this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcSXIJMVUos

Originally Posted by XR500

Ha! All comes back now Used to be able to do it all in my sleep. Grand old days....and grand money. $25 a skin for the good ones. 1979.

This guy does a good job: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29A1KOlpe08

And this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcSXIJMVUos

Thanks for the link! I've seen the latter video before but I'm still struggling with it. Need more possum to practise on!

Originally Posted by Simon

Taking the skin of the tail, I use to use bailing twine.
Skin right down to the tail.
Hanging the possum up makes it easy.
Leave the twine uncut so it’s a connected end to end and wrap it around the tail and loop the twine back through itself.
A good pull will take the skin of the tail easily.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Would like to know more specifics: How should I hang up the possum? Tie rope to the neck/front legs if it matters? I'm assuming i loop the twine as tightly as possible around the base of the tail and then not quite sure how I'm supposed to loop the twine back through (e.g. do I secure it with a knot? Just loop it through multiple times?) And then hold both ends of the twine and just pull down?

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

do you have the skins on frames - scraping with a blunt scraper ( a bread and butter knife will do ) is the way to do them - we scraped while they were in the drying room came of easy as fat was warm from the heater used to dry them - I dont know of a chemical to defat skins but you tube may be your friend - now tails - do the tail last - stand on possums fron feet to anchor it - pull the skin back about an inch up the tail - twirl the skin around and around close by the base of the tail - you want a section of skin and fur that is a wrap about 6 inches long- wrap that around base of tail over the section of tail that you have exposed - now up against the possums body at the base of tail put tail between your two middle fingers your fingers will be running along tye bare tail - keep standing on possums front feet to hold it still - pull up twisting at the same time - have done hundreds and never had one rip - I wish I had some coons to get some photos but sorry I dont - the rope method works but perfect the normal technique it works --use a nylon rope does not have to be thick - pull skin up to expose a small section of tail about an inch is enough - loop the rope around tail and pull - it actually does not work as well as the normal method - the rope tends to tighten up to much and does not always run along tail cleanly --turn tail inside out - use a piece of wire - cut a small piece of tip of tail - fold a little of it inside and catch that with your wire - push and the tail will turn inside out - once that tail skin is dry can be opened up with a knife by a straight cut on inside of tail

Should I scrape as soon as I get the pelt off or do I wait for it to dry some?

When you wrote "--turn tail inside out-" is that a different approach? (sorry, it's hard to tell from your post without paragraphing )

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Get someone to SHOW you how to skin a possum....I haven't done it for years but would put money on being able to skin one in under two minutes from knife work done.the tail bit is easy once you work out/are shown how.

I would if there was someone I could ask, which is the reason I'm on this forum haha

Originally Posted by DustyKnees

Should I scrape as soon as I get the pelt off or do I wait for it to dry some?

When you wrote "--turn tail inside out-" is that a different approach? (sorry, it's hard to tell from your post without paragraphing )

to dry the skin you need to turn the tail inside out so the skin is exposed ie the fur is on the inside - if you left it with the skin inside and fur out the skin inside would not dry and it would rot - the second video shows how to skin the tail quite well -- once skinned cut the tip of the tail about 3-4 mm back- use a straight piece of wire - when you poke it thru catch a small piece of the skin in front of the wire tip so the tail turns inside out as you push it thru - when dry cut it open from the inside- when we sold skins we would be down graded if the skin had no tail

Should I scrape as soon as I get the pelt off or do I wait for it to dry some?


I presume you are tacking out on a board or frame clean up your skin with a very sharp knife those ones that fit blades like a scalpel are good or a scalpel - we used mercators sharpened like a razor - remove any meat or large fat lumps - when the skin is drying and you need heat -- fat will come out-- scrape it off- when I was doing skins we used kerosene heaters but any heater will do

Originally Posted by DustyKnees

I would if there was someone I could ask, which is the reason I'm on this forum haha

Go into local DOC office and ask for help,they will know fellas who have been skinning coons since Adam was a cowboy. I'm sure they can point you in right direction,or even show you,there bound to be old salty chap in back sheds who knows how...

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Go into local DOC office and ask for help,they will know fellas who have been skinning coons since Adam was a cowboy. I'm sure they can point you in right direction,or even show you,there bound to be old salty chap in back sheds who knows how...

Funny because I'd actually dropped by the Mt Cook DOC office few months ago and they knew nothing about small game hunting or small game hunting permits which was the reason I went in

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Go into local DOC office and ask for help,they will know fellas who have been skinning coons since Adam was a cowboy. I'm sure they can point you in right direction,or even show you,there bound to be old salty chap in back sheds who knows how...

All the types you describe will have retired years ago. The current batch of Uni trained have very little practical experience, and would feel naked heading bush without their fluro vest

Skinning a possum would not have been in their Uni course description

Maybe theres a local skin buyer could put him onto someone in his area nothing like practical experience