i wouldnt slit them...i would skin them by cutting around all 4 feet...then split the fur on the inside of both back legs down the the crotch..make them meet. skin down to the front legs...then pull the front lets out of the fur...then skin down being careful with the ears, eyes, nose and mouth..takes a little practice and getting used to, but thats how i skin everything from squirrels to deer and everything in between..

then, send it out to be "trapper tanned" if you just wanna hang the pelt on the wall...you dont need a high quality tan for that, but it does need tanned to preserve it... ive found places that do most pelts for ~20-30$

hope this helped..