RE: How to prepare the hide once skinned
I agree with mauser06. Check with your local fur buyer and taxidermist to see how they want them and what they look for in a properly prepared hide. I would also suggest that you focus on properly skinning them first. Once that is mastered, pick a hide that is damaged or not prime and use it to practice your fleshing and stretching. An important thing to remember is that you can't make a $10 pelt into a $100 pelt, but you can easily make a $100 pelt into a $10 pelt if its not done properly.