The one that got away...

[Clockwork John]

On my way to work this morning I passed the opportunity of a lifetime... a FREE FULL MASK RACCOON SPORRAN!!!
but I just couldn't make it work...

On the side of the road was a dead raccoon. The face was intact, and it looked like the pelt was in pretty good shape.

But I didn't have time to stop, and I didn't want it sitting in my trunk (boot) all afternoon, since the high for today was 100 degrees fahrenheit...

I went back tonight, after it had cooled down, but it was gone.

Oh well, maybe next time... this one got away.

[Arizona Scot]

To bad, as you said maybe next time.

[McClef]

Maybe it's now part of a Davy Crockett hat.

[Galb]

ROFL. You know I wondered if I was the only one you saw these animals and thought "Hmmm....If I was a good leatherworker, I could make that into a sporran. I bet some people on XMarks could for sure."

[auld argonian]

There's a good case for leaving roadkill alone and just finding a good source for a nice tanned and ready to go pelt. Ninety percent of all of the books that I've ever read on fly tying tell you to skip over the roadkill because of potential problems with bugs and the like. All things being equal, one might run afoul of local wildlife regulations by picking up something from the side of the road so it might pay to check your local rules.

Here's an outfit that I've gotten a few things from:

http://leatherunltd.com/furs/natural/natural.html

Thirty three bucks for a raccoon skin and no muss and fuss cleaning it. I'm all for do-it-yourself but skipping over the grotty parts might just be worth thirty three bucks. Lots of pelts on ebay as well.

Best

AA

[Kilted in Maine]

I must admit I have tied a few flies that were from tails cut off fresh road kill!

[JS Sanders]

Summer pelage tends to be on the thin side and wouldn't be an optimum tanned fur. Wait & watch next winter for best quality.

And that said, it is indeed a lotta effort to skin, process, and tan furs. Another alternative is to buy tanned furs from Moscow Hide & Fur - www.hideandfur.com .

Slainte yall,
steve

[Jerry]

If Ole Rocky Raccoon doesn't stop coming up on my front porch eating the cat food, I might soon have a full face sporran for you. It will be very fresh. All you have to do is figure out how to ship it, and be extremely careful opening the box, because I am planning on live trapping him.

[Clockwork John]

...because I am planning on live trapping him.

Good for you. I'm all for peaceful coexistance with local wildlife. I actually got my first pet snake out of our front yard.

[Nick the DSM]

how did a dead raccoon move? i hope a scavenger ate it because if that raccoon reanimated itself...we're so doomed!