Riding the high horse...............

[trappnman]

lately there has been a lot of talk concerning whether people should trap with the glut of fur available, or not. And so much of that reminds me of how the MN coon season came about- some where just unable to accept that there were trappers that wanted to trap earlier than others, because those trappers had a VALUE on the coon- whether that value was taking low $$ coon in numbers, or for hunting permission, or to help out the widow down the block- I simply didn't care.

I see some of that now. I also find it a little disingenuous in that some of the loudest talkers, are those that did their share in causing that fur glut.

Bottom line- if you can sell your pelts to a country buyer for $5-8, or just send select types to auction- or wherever you have market that you feel justifys the effort- who am I (or anyone) to tell you you are ignorant and foolish for doing something "they" don't want to do.

I sold every coon I trapped last year from $6 to $10. Green.

Are those prices worth it to someone that traps mostly for the enjoyment of the line, and any reward at the end is just a bonus. For heavens sakes- no one ever made money hobby hunting or fishing- so if in either case the resource is used- who am I (or anyone) to care, let alone make such a public outcry about it?

Myself? Coon at those prices, esp with mink down so much (for goodness sakes I averaged less on mink last year than coon!) It wasn't worth it to me to run a winter line for them, in fact I never set a single trap for coon last year-

but if someone wanted to run a line for a week, 10 days an pick up some coon- more power to them!

it wouldn't matter if there were 10 coon hides in storage or the current amount- until the end demand increases, it's kind of a stalemate.

People, some people, think that every trapper is running 100,200, 300 traps and the simple truth is that IMO the average trapper runs a couple doz or LESS traps.

If trapping too much fur is the concern, perhaps a public pledge by some to only run 12 traps, would go a long way to alleviate the concern?

Until then- if you don't want to trap- by all means don't.

[cameron1976]

I agree Steve. Over on another forum guys are getting hammered for even mentioning coon trapping. I understand there is little to no market right now, but if someone wants to traps some coon have at it. What gets me is when a guy gets on a trapping forum and shows off his catch only to have folks call him stupid for trapping coon, telling him he was wasting time for trapping during a time of low prices, etc. Cut the guy a break! He might be a young guy just starting out, maybe he's a father running a small line with his kids, or whatever. Who cares, he is trapping and clearly supporting trapping, yet some jump on him almost as bad as they would an anti-trapper.

It is important for people to understand however, just what the market is doing. I think some of the frustration lies with those unable to accept reality. There are still guys who were aptly warned about the fur market that decided to trap a bunch of coon anyway. Again, I don't care, but those individuals then proceeded to cry to anyone that would listen about fur buyers ripping them off, NAFA being crooks, or whatever. Hey guys...you were warned. A couple of years back there was a guy online posting not to listen to the naysayers that warned of a poor coon market, even though many were long time trappers and fur buyers. According to him, prices would be fine, and he was going to go out and "whack and stack" several hundred Texas coon. I haven't seen him post in awhile so something tells me his dreams of a big profitable coon line probably didn't come true. Again accept reality.

Me I will readily admit I did a little coon trapping last year. I am a hobby guy so catching a few while I was out chasing canines, rats, mink, and beaver was ok for me. I also played around with a different dog-proof trap bait, and helped some land owners out by catching them. Sure I would like a better market for the coon, but I knew what the market was when I was trapping, and as such will accept the reality of poor prices.

[Deleted]

May 17, 2016 8:04:20 GMT -6 cameron1976 said:

I agree Steve.,

1.  or whatever. Who cares,  

2.  It is important for people to understand however, just what the market is doing. I think some of the frustration lies with those unable to accept reality. There are still guys who were aptly warned about the fur market that decided to trap a bunch of coon anyway. Again, I don't care, but those individuals then proceeded to cry to anyone that would listen about fur buyers ripping them off, NAFA being crooks,
Again accept reality.

Point #1- That is correct.  I think the folks who talk it up are actually asking for a consences of the readers to trap.  As if "I'll trap ifyou let me and don't hold me back because I'm going to do it so what do you think?"

Point #2-  I agree except I'm beginning to doubt some of these trapper's intelligence because there are a very large number who seem not to understand that raw fur has to be turned into a salable commodity(garments) that CONSUMERS, somewhere in the world can afford and have a desire to buy!!!  These trappers give me the impression that they believe there's a Fur God who rains $$ on them just because they have fur to sell.  I brought this up on another board and they thought I was nuts!  This is the only board that I will discuss the fur market, the rest, screw'em.  I'm not on this earth to save anyone from their lack of understanding of how global economies work in relation to raw fur.

[trappnman]

and don't get me wrong- I fully understand the economic side of things.

and feel it's foolish to believe in something that isn't so-

but lets take coon for example- if I had the coon population we had during our peak coon period, where setting up 5-6 traps on a creek gave you 4-5 coon the next day, and the day after that, etc- why, I'd trap coon all day long. At a $6 average, I could make some real good money. But I don't- coon are fairly scare here. So while I'll put in the miles and put in the effort to go after a thin population of 20 coon, I won't for $6 coon. but if I wanted a fun little line, I'd set out 20 or so water sets for a mixed bag, and the same in landsets- and one could make a little egg money, and have a ball.

because the market isn't dead- or at least wasn't. Local buyers need to keep their base, and while they won't expand that base much during poor years, they will take care of their regulars the best they can. and that best might not be worth it to some (ie me on the coon) at higher catch % items like rats and mink, I could run that hobby line- and any coon taken were just a bonus $6

my goal this fall, is to maximize $$. I've taken 100+ enough times to know I can do it, and while I want bigger numbers, I want a higher average (pertaining to yotes) so will most likely be running more compact (less time, more traps) to get fewer low grade pelts.

[Deleted]

May 17, 2016 11:32:14 GMT -6 trappnman said:

and don't get me wrong- I fully understand the economic side of things.

and feel it's foolish to believe in something that isn't so-.

Most who frequent this forum know you so I don't think anyone, only speaking for myself though, would consider this thread anything other then the verbal thinking of a game plan being developed.

[northof50]

You have to have a thinking game at these prices planned out
When out in the marsh looking for some of the snail / muskrat parasites Made me think after seeing all the active huts

But a $2 rats. This fall should have a better sized rat available.

And there is another notch in the belt to move back because of lack of exercise