Comments on: My Roadkill Coonskin Cap http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/ Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:34:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Urban Scout http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-38840 Urban Scout Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:06:39 +0000 http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-38840 Hey Dennis, Good questions. I've heard of people using sand paper for those tough spots around the neck and face. When I brained a coon before I soaked a t-shirt in the brain-water mix and rolled it up on the skin side of the hide, put it in a plastic bag and let it soak over night. Now I would probably just try to work the mixture in by hand. You'll know its done (or working) when you stretch it dry and it stays soft. Really work it with your hands to get the brains/liquid to get into the hide. then you stretch the whole thing until it is totally dry (this is harder with fur as the hair holds moisture and wicks it back into the hide. I usually do this in the sun, putting the raccoon hide fur side up in the sun for a few minutes at a time to really dry the fur out. it doesn't help that everytime you start stretching the hide again, it wicks moisture from the skin BACK into the fur! UGH! I'm all about Bark-tanning at the moment. But we'll see how the next coon hide I tan that way will come out. Good luck! Hey Dennis,

Good questions. I’ve heard of people using sand paper for those tough spots around the neck and face.

When I brained a coon before I soaked a t-shirt in the brain-water mix and rolled it up on the skin side of the hide, put it in a plastic bag and let it soak over night. Now I would probably just try to work the mixture in by hand. You’ll know its done (or working) when you stretch it dry and it stays soft. Really work it with your hands to get the brains/liquid to get into the hide. then you stretch the whole thing until it is totally dry (this is harder with fur as the hair holds moisture and wicks it back into the hide. I usually do this in the sun, putting the raccoon hide fur side up in the sun for a few minutes at a time to really dry the fur out. it doesn’t help that everytime you start stretching the hide again, it wicks moisture from the skin BACK into the fur! UGH! I’m all about Bark-tanning at the moment. But we’ll see how the next coon hide I tan that way will come out. Good luck!

]]> By: Dennis Kearns http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-38838 Dennis Kearns Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:01:09 +0000 http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-38838 Your article was insightful and the final product looks like a success. Saturday I picked up a roadkill fox that had probable been killed the previous night. Sunday I skinned it, Monday I tacked it to a board, removed the brains and scraped all the fat & skin off (I think). Have been applying the brain/water mixture, but not sure how often/how many applications this requires. How do I know when it's "done"? Also...around the face there seems to be more "membrane" that I'm afraid to remove for fear of going thru the hide. Any suggestions? Thanks, Dennis Your article was insightful and the final product looks like a success. Saturday I picked up a roadkill fox that had probable been killed the previous night. Sunday I skinned it, Monday I tacked it to a board, removed the brains and scraped all the fat & skin off (I think). Have been applying the brain/water mixture, but not sure how often/how many applications this requires. How do I know when it’s “done”? Also…around the face there seems to be more “membrane” that I’m afraid to remove for fear of going thru the hide. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Dennis

]]> By: Petrea Rasmussen http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-32549 Petrea Rasmussen Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:59:43 +0000 http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-32549 You done good - the hat looks fantastic, not to mention the handsome fellow sporting it! ;) Thank you very, very much for sharing your experience. I think you've done a wonderful service for us all. You done good – the hat looks fantastic, not to mention the handsome fellow sporting it! ;)

Thank you very, very much for sharing your experience. I think you’ve done a wonderful service for us all.

]]> By: Dale Coleman http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-32546 Dale Coleman Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:57:48 +0000 http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-32546 Looking good in a fine fur hat. Did you line it? BB out! Looking good in a fine fur hat. Did you line it?
BB out!

]]> By: Alan Post http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-32529 Alan Post Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:07:06 +0000 http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-32529 Urban Scout, thank you for writing all of this up. Since reading your blog I've been on the lookout for roadkill and skins, and practicing myself. That's a very fine cap you have to show for your work! Urban Scout, thank you for writing all of this up. Since reading your blog I’ve been on the lookout for roadkill and skins, and practicing myself.

That’s a very fine cap you have to show for your work!

]]> By: Shusli! http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-32476 Shusli! Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:18:40 +0000 http://www.rewildportland.com/urbanscout-archive/my-roadkill-coonskin-cap/#comment-32476 Now that is a damn fine looking cap, young friend! Now that is a damn fine looking cap, young friend!

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