Coyote Stretchers

[--Adam--]

About to buy some coyote stretchers for this winter, just wondering what you guys prefer to use? Split Boards or Just plain wooden stretchers? Also what do you do with the tail if your using the split boards? Any info. would be great thanks.

[wwbirds]

From the alberta Trapping guide to make my own. After splitting tail I run a tail board to keep it straight while drying the pelt. Use same type 2 inch by 12 inch scrap boards for legs front and rear.

[philintheblank]

i use the split/adjustable stretchers also, but i make my own aswell, alothough i did buy the 1st one just to have a solid template. 30 bucks for a yote stretcher at halforads... and less than 30 bucks for the lumber to make 8 more, thats about 3.75 each, i will make mine anyday for that price.

[--Adam--]

Originally Posted by philintheblank

i use the split/adjustable stretchers also, but i make my own aswell, alothough i did buy the 1st one just to have a solid template. 30 bucks for a yote stretcher at halforads... and less than 30 bucks for the lumber to make 8 more, thats about 3.75 each, i will make mine anyday for that price.

What do you do with the tail? let it hang or do you put another board in place to pin the tail open?

[canishunter22-250]

I use steel mesh to hold the tail straight while it dries. For both split boards and solid. Use two layers on the split boards - staple one to the boards once the coyote is stretched into place, then lay the tail across it, then staple a second layer of mesh over the tail.

[Pincherguy]

What do you need stretchers for? Just drag em, they'er dead don't matter anyway LOL
PG.

[Redfrog]

[philintheblank]

Originally Posted by --Adam--

What do you do with the tail? let it hang or do you put another board in place to pin the tail open?

I just tie a piece of cord around the tip and then tie it to the bottom of the stretcher, seems to be working so far.

[KegRiver]

I have always used adjustable split boards for Coyote and Fox.
I make my own stretchers and I invented a flat hinge for the split boards that works great.

My stretchers are designed so that the boards are not very far apart when stretching a hide so I can tack the tail to the inside edges of the boards with the tip tacked to the cross bar, adjustment boards.

I only tack the first half of the tail open.

[--Adam--]

Thanks for the responses guys! Appreciated!

[J.B.]

So when skin a coyote do you split the tail half way down or not? I just assumed it was left in a tube...new to this myself, just got a whitetail tag to fill before I start on coyotes...

[wwbirds]

I have a tail splitter I insert in the tube of skin which allows me to run a knife down the open side of the splitter to get a nice straight cut right to the end to facilitate drying. I think the tube left intact may hold water and not dry for a while. Easier to get borax in the tail if open.