Really OT - raccoon tails

[Ysabel Kid]

I was driving to a store to run a quick errand yesterday (Sunday), and noticed a raccoon dead in the middle of my lane. It was pretty much smack in the middle of the lane, so I couldn't drive around it, so just drove over it. Luckily the company car cleared it - it was a big fella.

On my way back I noticed someone had stopped to take the animal off the road. I thought to myself, "that's odd - it's Sunday, so the road crews shouldn't be out". As I got closer I realized it wasn't a state employee, but a private pick-up truck with a older gentleman, who was now carrying the raccoon to the side of the road by it's tail. Just when I thought he would either pitch it in the ditch or the back of his pick-up truck he whips out a very large knife - looked like a good 8-inch blade - and cuts the tail off the raccoon at the base. He left the 'coon where it dropped at the side of the road, and proceeded with his prize back to his truck.

Okay, I'm missing something here. Are raccoon tails worth anything? I mean, I've seen people take a nice buck's head from roadkill, but raccoon tails?

[Old Ironsights]

Not suprised.

Not sure about the market, but if the tail was in good shape it affixes nicely to a hat or radio antennea...

Or have I slipped back into the '50s again?

I know there is a market for Squirrel Tails (commercial tied flys) so I don't see why 'coon should be any different.

[RIHMFIRE]

Way back when...the kids used to put them on the end of their bike handlebars

[gcs]

No market for coon tails, not much market this year for your avg. coon either.

[2ndovc]

Wouldn't be supprised if it was flying from his antenna the next day.

I have seen a photo of my mother and her '57 Chevy. I know there's a raccoon tail hanging from the antenna!

That's a whole different generation.
Wish I knew what happened to that picture!!!


jb

[papabear]

i know mepps fishing hooks pay you for squirrel tails may be they pay for coon tails too or he could be using them to tie his own fly's for fishing

[Rusty]

I contacted Mepps once about the squirrel tail thing. they don't just want the tails... they want them skinned. I don't know about y'all but the thought of skinning a tail just seems a bit silly to me.

[handirifle]

Nothin to it, takes about 5-10 min to skin a coon tail. Less if you're real good at it.