Skin em high. I like to come down the arm about 1/4 to a 1/3 instead of cutting right down the middle of the arm. This way you get a nice butterfly under, or behind the leg instead of over. Looks much better IMO.
There have been several threads here over the years about skinning bears and where the critical first cuts should be. It makes a difference.
I have no idea what you are describing... but it does not sound right to me.
The hind legs are far more important, IMO, because the excess hide between the legs is simply cut off and thrown away when cut wrong.
