Difference in fur quality.

[billmeyerhoff]

On another forum there is a thread about the quality of fur between northern and southern beaver. It has been stated that all things being equal, habitat, time of year, food supply, put up, etc. that the difference between a beaver caught in Mississippi will only bring on the average about a buck less than beaver caught in the Northern States. I know there are some trappers on this board who trap up north and down south and am curious if that is your opinion also.

[bobwendt]

nope.

[Freak( Jim V.)]

He$$ NO. BIG difference

[thebeav2]

I posted on the other forum and lik I said most of my beaver get Inter sorted with the northern stuff and brings about the same averages.
People get In this bad mind set that southern fur has no value. But It's not true.

[billmeyerhoff]

Beav, these are beaver that are caught at the same time of year? February vs. February. Underfur is just as heavy on the South Carolina beaver as on the Wisconsin beaver.

[td]

Beav, was that true when the beaver price spiked for one (or two?) sales a while back, or just when the price is low for all beaver? ie, did any southern beaver bring high end prices?

[robertw]

Well......The last several years there has not been very much of a premium on shear-able high quality beaver.

The other factor that most do not understand is that typically there is a larger population of beaver in the south than north. Why this matters is that generally you will catch more adult beaver in the south (IE larger beaver) than in the north and midwest where you run a larger number of two year olds and yearling beavers than you do adults. Because of southern beaver collections typically running larger in size than northern collections..They bring as much or more money on todays market. (It is all about the size)

As for time of year...Beaver in the south caught out side of Nov.- Mar have absolutely no fur value.

On several occasions my southern beaver do average more than a friend of mines do from Minnesota.

[prune]

I went on vacation the 12th of Dec. caught 11 beaver and put them up and sent them to the NAFA March sale.These beaver averaged 28.71 not to bad for early beaver

[thorsmightyhammer]

Robert gives a very good description on whats going on.

My catch will range 30 to 50 percent in the bottom sizes(ie xsm,sm, m and lm).

I put up several to a dozen beaver every year that aren't a heck of alot bigger than a muskrat. Maybe not bigger then them big eastern rats.

[billmeyerhoff]

Thanks everyone.

Prune are you going to have any beaver at Statesville this weekend. I'd be interested in looking at some put up beaver from the Piedmont.

[northof50]

It should be noted there is a real difference in leather quality. In mid lattitudes the beaver from above the 53 parrall have a very fine and like kit glove texture on their leather. The hair is also silky, not course. Thats how you can see where a trapper comes from, if he fleshes on the knee, he's from above 53.
Remember to look under that Stetson cowboy hat..........the 4 XXXX is from an 4x beaver felt hide. NOW that quality when it shows it's best.

[robertw]

Northof50,
Some of the best thin leathered beaver I have ever worked came from the high country along the continental devide. Those high country beaver are exceptional beaver and extremely silky.

As for southern beaver...They have leather thicker than a cow!

[bobwendt]

indiana beaver are longer haired and thicjker under fur , deeper, and course. my western beaver are shorter and thinner under hair and so silky you can`t imagine they are even the same animal

[marbleyez2001]

My sizes are about the same as Steve's. 40% of the smaller sizes, with a few of those "big muskrats". Nothing like an XSm *Sel Dk Beaver to go for $5 or less.

What kind of percentages do the southern or western states run on their beaver? Any more problems with bites/scars because there are more adult beaver?

Prune...Early beaver in Mid December. Were driving on the ice with full size trucks at that point in time! Ive never seen too much difference in the prices of our Late Oct/Early November VS Mid Winter beaver. This has only bee in my expeience which is drastically limeted in time frame.

From what ive been told the big reason the northern beaver dont bring the prices, is because there is no place that will pluck and shear a beaver for a cheap enough price. The extra cost of the plucking and shearing takes the premium prices away.

[bobwendt]

lol, so southerns aren`t as good as northerns, rather northerns are as bad as southerns.

[prune]

Early to me here .Was catching them wearing a t-shirt .Most times the better beaver are from after the 1st if the year.But by the middle of Feb they start getting bit up pretty bad.

Bill i'll bring an assortment of beaver to the Spring Fling.I have some from the piedmont area and from the coastal area's.

[thebeav2]

If the market Is strong It makes very little diference where you catch them or what quality the fur Is. Well To a point anyway.

[ColdSteel]

Bingo to what Beav just said.I always average better on my beaver than the NAFA average every year.A few years ago I hardly ever had a singed otter and if I did it brought anywhere from 140 to 180 bucks I don't care what they call it.Take coon for example they are hot right now our ugly southern coon are averaging in the mid 20's.Take grey fox few years ago average in the mid teens now the upper 40's.I'll even pick up August road kills. .Higher the price softer the grade

[northof50]

Robert W remember that for every 1000 ft elevation is like moving up one degree north lattitude. Beaver from Alberta have nice leather and silky furbecause of the short movements they have. Beaver I have seen from the deep south are so hard leather, you can put 4 chewed beaver stakes in the leg holes and make a sturdy coffee table out of it. The more the fur companies get out there and train more trappers propper prep. work, their effortsput those people averages away above the averages posted.

[trappnman]

their efforts put those people averages away above the averages posted.

I do not believe this at all- if everyone that shipped fur put it up the same exact way- I think the averages would be about the same- good fur is good fur.