|
Post by irnhdmike on Apr 25, 2007 18:55:12 GMT -6
I remove them. I can remove the cartilage quicker than trimming ear butts. Before doing this I always had to wait for ears to dry after rest of pelt was done. I think once you do afew to get comfortable with it you will prefer this method.
|
|
|
Post by Zagman on Apr 26, 2007 6:30:51 GMT -6
Bob, I always figured that since most furbuyers are smart/savy if they been around for any time at all and the fact that they rarely give the farm away, that they already factor in a certain percentage of junk in EVERY purchase......whether green bellied, sewn up holes, scars that re-open, etc.
Dead is dead, and while I cannot snare here in NYS, fluke warm weather happens even in the coldest climes and I can't view a good snareman as an outlaw for utilizing a great tool, that like anything, sometimes has a negative, aka, green bellies.
Heck, on Indian Summer days here in NYS I often have green bellies on a 24 hour check......if you kill them at 7AM and peel at 7PM, it's bound to happen.......
Part of the game, but certainly not a deliberate act like shoplifting......
I think we'd all be lying if we said we didnt sew up some holes and comb them over and hope for the best, kinda like my balding melon.
For some reason, I NEVER feel sorry for fur buyers......
Zagman
|
|
|
Post by bobwendt on Apr 26, 2007 9:12:20 GMT -6
I never worship 5-7 day trap or snare cherckers as great or even avearage trappers. they can`t compete by ethical standards so go the long cks ,and green bellies or animal abuse be damned, just so they get their money or barn picture or whatever their orgasm is. those extended cks are intentional greed and unethical attempts to beat the system. I`m not talking your average 24-72 hr. guy in a freak winter chanook. we all know the difference between stuff happening by fluke weather changes, and KNOWING stuff will happen before we ever leave the house, on acount of it`s been 5-7 days since we last left. that`s what I`m talking about. in fact every day past that initial 24 hrs the % of loss from green bellys or other situations goes up. a financial argument can`t change that fact. I can say I(ME) never sent a green belly to sale. I do wash and fluff, powder and tumble to present the fur the best I can for what I`ve got to work with. but from the time that critter hits my snare or trap, his fur is not damaged from fault of mine. that`s all a guy can do, but it`s also what a guy should do.
|
|
|
Post by Zagman on Apr 26, 2007 11:16:18 GMT -6
Understood.......I just dont think all green bellies can be avoided.
MZ
|
|
|
Post by mountainman on Apr 26, 2007 11:32:23 GMT -6
My experience so far is that there is such a thing as an honest fur buyer. I just had to get a good bit farther from home to find them. I have walked out mad from places where they would steal the candy out of a babys mouth and that is no exageration. If a buyer treats me fair Ill hold his or her good name up. I do believe overall there is a built in margin for damaged goods. I have heard or read references to that. That business practice had to come about because of the more or less constant ave. on numbers of damaged/low grades. Not all of it comes from trappers, especially on coon. I have thought at times about being a fur buyer, but then always quickly remembered that I would have guys show up at the door with dog food bags of rough looking frozen coon pelts with the little sharp noses hidden in the middle.
I would like to have the use of snares for everything in NC. Right now all we have them for is beaver and the NCTA had to work to get that back along with other things. Some groups of people have overidden ethics and logic for greed and power here in the past and some still try to do that. I have faced some of them myself, heard their words and seen it in their eyes both at the Wildlife Hearings and in the outdoors since I was a kid trapper. I have also seen the good work of dedicated people who make many sacrifices so trappers can have some hope of ever really getting to do anything in this state.
|
|
|
Post by bobwendt on Apr 26, 2007 11:32:59 GMT -6
you are right, they can`t, as sometimes unexpected things happen. but most can be avoided. I`ve noticed guys throwing carcase animals in freezers and proper pre-cooling and laying of skinned animals in freezers is also an area that needs a lot of education. and sometimes the fur buyers are guilty of takling a great animal and drying it wrong or letting it lay too long. coon hunters are notorious ruiners of fur, from the multple shot holes to the dog chrews to the letting rot in the truck for a week before selling. also the #1 complainers about price. the old stand by line to ,why don`t you put up proper and get the good prices? , is, " I just do this for sport" my standard comeback is, then sell the rotton sobs for the $2 each gift the man is offering you !
|
|