Q&A for How to Skin a Raccoon

No, the freezing temperature will preserve it. Make sure to put it in a plastic bag.

There are none, but there is a gland in the front leg. You do not need to worry about it if you are not eating the meat.

Yes, if the knife was not sterilized between the skinning and when you were cut.

Leave the arms of the fur on it when stretching. Make sure they do not fold, otherwise it will rot.

This is the best way to skin a coon to sell, though there are other ways. You can skin the coon in a diagonal line (from nose to tail), but the hide will then be less valuable.

You do not need one, but it is probably easier to skin the coon's tail if you use a tail stripper. You can just use a knife, but it will be a bit harder to skin that way.

It is quite complicated. Bring it to a taxidermy shop. Don't try to do it on your own. Get someone's help first, and make sure it is sanitary before wearing it.

Tandy Leather used to offer a couple of good fur hat patterns, and I believe they still do. I used their classic pillbox pattern for my coonskin cap. They suggested using a soft, thin leather such as suede as a liner, if desired, which I did; it has served well for probably over thirty years. I have a new coonskin that I plan to make a cap from, and this one I will probably leave unlined. Correctly tanned, the skin inside becomes leather anyway. A lining of any kind only adds to the insulating quality, so I'd recommend skipping it unless you live in a cold clime.