If you’ve ever owned a hunting dog that’s received a face full of quills, you hate porcupines. Although mostly disdained, porcupines are symbols of fearlessness, strength, and power among some Native American tribes. They are valued for their quills, which are typically used for traditional bead work and ornate crafts. Some buyers pay up to eight dollars per ounce of porcupine quills, though the long hairs that cover them can fetch more than $20. Opportunists who happen upon North America’s second largest rodent and are willing to bring them to market are the main suppliers of quills and porky hair. Here's how to skin a porcupine for fun and profit: