Skinning, preserving and cooking tips...

[deadeyealex]

Hello, I am just wondering if anyone has any tips on good ways to skin coon, rabbit, yotes, fox, etc, etc.... I looked up skinning on the Web and found many different ways to do it... I understand that it's more of an art than repetition... Also lets say i skin a coon and i want to preserve the skin and hang it in the house how would i make the inside(fleshy part) not smell like my grandpa's feet? I heard mayo and eggs works but i just want all your input! Also any recipes for coon, rabbit, squirrels, or venison you are welcome to post em below! Any other tips/tricks let me hear em!

[tsugem64]

I normally start skinning rabbit around the middle somewhere by nicking the skin a little bit. It isn't hard to pull the skin over the head and back feet. I then cut the feet and head off, and carefully cut into the belly by pinching a small bit of skin up and cutting with a sharp knife. You don't want to cut the gut or you could spoil the meat. I then pretty much remove the guts like a fish and cut the butthole out. I then cut through the rib cage and remove the lungs and stuff. I often save the heart and add it to the stew.

[tsugem64]

I like to make stew because it's very easy. Quarter the rabbit after rinsing it with water. Put it into a pot with chicken broth and spices you like. Bring to a boil then lower heat to a simmer and cook for about an hour and a half or two hours until the meat falls away from the bones. Add your veggies and you're done. Good stuff!

[deadeyealex]

I am also interested in tanning the hides of some of my kills... Any tips, directions, or step by step instructions would be appreciated.

[backwoodsman]

Youtube has some skinning videos. To tan a hide we use alum. You have to scrape all fat off the hide, soak for one day at a time in saltwater and scrape fat again. 2-3 days should be enough, red fox are thin skinned and hard to skin and tan without ruining the hide. 3lbs of Alum to 30 gallons of untreated water. Some hunting and trapping websites have good game fare and preparation topics/forums.