I just read an article in FFG about Florida coons and the subjects fleshing techinque was very interesting. It said that he used an electric fillet knife to flesh the coons and was easier than a fleshing knife. Has anyone ever tried this, and does it work better or worse than traditional fleshing?

I also read that article. If you look close those hides look pretty rough to me.
I would also think you would dull the blades pretty fast and would have to be resharping quite often.
But I guess you will never know for sure untill you try.
If you already have a electric filiet knife I would try It but If you have to go out and buy one I think It would be to costly.

Beav

After reading that article I wondered if an electric knife, like some people use for the Xmas turkey or roast beef, would work.

I must admit that I didn't like what the electric knife did to dinner!

Read the same...did anyone do the math on his catch to cash report. If I remember right it comes out to about 13$ per hide. For Florida coon he must be doing something right.

Okiecajun
I did the math as well and couldn't believe that. That's one reason why I asked the question. It's sounds to easy. But like the Beav said, those skins don't look that great.

Often times, when things seem too good to be true… that is indeed the case.

-- Hal

I tried it once with an electric knife.Flordia fat may be different that Ohio fat as I found it slow and not very effective on the back of the neck and base of the tail.Those areas had to be done the old fassioned way and the whole skin finished off with a one handed scraper before I called it done

Read an article in B.C. Trapper (if memory serves me) about a guy using an electric grinder with a plastic brisseled wheel for yotes, beaver, and coon. He said it was a bit messy, but did an excellent job of cleaning up a hide. Anyone else read something similar.

I'm not sure there is an easy way to flesh hides, only harder ones. Maybe I'm just stubborn, but I think I'll stick with my necker.

RO

Hey River Otter, I wonder if that guy wore a wet suit when he fleshed his hides? I'll bet it WAS messy! I agree with you, I'll also stick to my old fashioned scrapers for now

Tom Tyree with NAFDA on the Eastern Shore of Va. talked about this and said he saw some good results but it takes practice like all other methods.