RE: How to prepare the hide once skinned
Depends on who you're wanting to sell it to and for what purpose. If you're going to sell it to a fur buyer, you don't even have to skin it, let him do the dirty work. You won't get as much money of course, but you'll have less time spent on it as well, more time hunting.
If you're wanting to sell to a taxidermist, then there are several steps. If you're wanting to sell to a fur buyer only, then there are a few less steps. Some guys simply skin, sew the hole up, flesh, stretch and dry and sell.
There is a right way and a wrong way to skin, and again, it depends on your fur buyer and also what it's going to be used for.