ok we had two coons in a tree tonite so we knocked one out... i took it home and tried my hand at skinning it... i didnt do a great job but its "decent" for the first time... now i just wanna know what i have to do now... im not selling it or anything... just gonna keep it... do i have to cure it or tan it to keep it from decomposing or will it be fine?

well i think u have to scrape it the salt it. But the best way to do it is take it to a taxidermist and have him tan it for u or make a rug

first is too put the coon up you have accomplished that next is too skin the coon or coons you got that now the work you have too flesh or (scrape) the coon on a fleshing board then get yourself a hand ful of wire strechers and streatch the hides until dry but not too dry then flip em and send em to a tannery like usafoxx or mink and moyle or flip em and sell em..

well im not gonna sell em im just tryin to get the hide where it wont rot and i can just keep it... does it have to be tanned or will fleshing it and drying it work?

No in the spring after you dry it small bugs will eat it up, take it to a taxidermic and have put in in his tumbling barrel with solution,then it will be all right.

Here's some Good Info. on Finishing Fur's,
http://www.furharvesters.com/pdf/pelthandling.pdf Good Luck with your Fur's,

thanks for all the info guys and the pms.... i realized i have none of the stuff i need to do what im plannin on doin... so im fixin to start orderin stuff now... thnx for the info!