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Top Lot
Sept 5, 2006 11:53:22 GMT -6
Post by Woodsmoke on Sept 5, 2006 11:53:22 GMT -6
Shag, Have someone else put up your fur may actually INCREASE your chances at a Top Lot!
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Top Lot
Sept 5, 2006 14:41:54 GMT -6
Post by shagnasty on Sept 5, 2006 14:41:54 GMT -6
actually looking to possibly selling alot in the round this year, what they do with it after that is their deal, not mine. it does increase my income to farm out because just skinning and selling green pays less than skinning and paying someone to finish whether a great job or half way job. however, holding a big amount of dried fur for long durations can pose problems such as animal damage and/or theft, possible fire damage, etc. catch it and move it out is the best if an option. may even higher a full time skinner on an out of state trip sometime.
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Top Lot
Sept 5, 2006 18:21:58 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Sept 5, 2006 18:21:58 GMT -6
I think I agree with old rk. Its not so much your fur handling skills-I'm thinking those trappers shipping to auction all do a pretty fair job.
I think its color and size- whatever is in fashion.
I asked Baddog if he knew the three that got top lot- he said it could have been any of 30 or more- all the saem.
Take it for what it is- receiving the top price for thatr auction.
and what wrong with that....? trappnman
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Top Lot
Sept 5, 2006 20:11:40 GMT -6
Post by ohiyotee on Sept 5, 2006 20:11:40 GMT -6
It has always been my opinion that trapping is one thing and that pelt preparation is another. You make more money in the fur shed than you do on the line, or should i say you can lose more money in the fur shed than on the line. I have witness countless times the money not realized by poor pelt handling. The improper stretching of coon is a big loss. Many that i have seen could have gone another size or 2 larger. That's a big loss to the trapper. the list goes on, and that is why anyone young or old should be proud of there top lot because it shows that you have done it right. Greg
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Top Lot
Sept 6, 2006 5:32:05 GMT -6
Post by shagnasty on Sept 6, 2006 5:32:05 GMT -6
you guys just dont get it. i know how to finish fur and receive a good average and/or a few top lots each year from nafa, i just dont want to spend the time finishing most fur i catch. i have plenty of other things i would rather do, i.e. trap more. actually, i think in my situation more money can be made trapping and paying someone to finish due to the low processing rates and amount of fur available to be caught. basically, im not gonna finish my fur just to have a chance at a top lot, ill finish my fur if its in my best interest and if so, i am confident in my pelt handling skills, it is just a big bore and time consuming process.
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Top Lot
Sept 6, 2006 6:39:08 GMT -6
Post by ohiyotee on Sept 6, 2006 6:39:08 GMT -6
Here's something to think about. Say i want X amount of dollars from trapping this year. Lets say its $100.00, I can trap 20 coon and sell them in the round for 5 bucks average a role. If i take and finish 9 of those coon and sell them at auction I would average 12 bucks each. There's my 100 bucks plus commission, but the real advantage is that i unlike you have 11 coon still on my line to get bigger for next year and also to reproduce. The other thing is you can put up fur after the sun sets when its harder to trap. There's also less wear and tear on the vehicle and ones self and less gas expense . Putting up your fur makes sense from an economical stand point and it only takes a little time.
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Top Lot
Sept 6, 2006 7:07:38 GMT -6
Post by Steve Gappa on Sept 6, 2006 7:07:38 GMT -6
Whats there not to get? You don't finsh most of your fur and thats fine.
Why should that take anything away from those that do?
I sell everything local, and thats ok too.
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Top Lot
Sept 6, 2006 10:06:06 GMT -6
Post by love2trap on Sept 6, 2006 10:06:06 GMT -6
There's no one right way to do it...period.
Some people like to change their own oil, some change it because they have to money-wise (but may not really like it), and some pay Jiffy-Lube to do it. As long as the oil is changed, who cares how it got done.
Same with fur handling and marketing. Everyone has there own priorities in life...maybe putting up fur is one of them and maybe it's not. Maybe you need that extra couple bucks per critter that you get for put up or maybe the time saved from not handling fur is more important.
I think the Top Lot is pretty cool, but its' still the averages that should be paid attention to. Getting high dollar for a piece of fur makes you feel good as a trapper and the top lot award means that at least on that one critter, you did it right handling wise.
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Top Lot
Sept 6, 2006 13:26:22 GMT -6
Post by shagnasty on Sept 6, 2006 13:26:22 GMT -6
main reason i decided to find other avenues for fur handling was to give me time at night with my wife instead of putting up stinking fur. and the fact that the finished product minus expense fees exceeds green fur revunue for each animal. now if fur prices plunge back to levels from a few years ago, the picture will change. also, i agree with those that most top lots have more to do with the animals' pelt and not the handling. it has to be perfect before it is skun. the trapper has to do right, but it can be perfect on a rubbed skin, and no top lot. basically my whole point is that the top lot thing is a sales promotion from the top to the bottom. you think guys that send to nafa are the only ones with well put up fur and select pelts? puuuuuleeeze
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Top Lot
Sept 6, 2006 15:39:54 GMT -6
Post by musher on Sept 6, 2006 15:39:54 GMT -6
Top lot is a combination of factors. Mink are a fairly common top lot item here. We have excellent mink and every year a local or two gets top lot.
I don't hear of many lynx or marten top lot. I'm guessing that our critters aren't as "fine" as others from different geographic areas.
All said the fur prep is extremely important, too. You can have the best muskrat around but if you stretch it on a coat hanger it probably isn't going to be top lot.
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Top Lot
Sept 6, 2006 16:46:28 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Sept 6, 2006 16:46:28 GMT -6
shag I agree with you. I take pride in my fur handling also and I get a lot of complements on it.
And you don't have to explain wanting free time- I'm with you there as well. Take my coon- same price for put up or green? Not a tuff choice. SAme o nbeaver- I only get a few- $3 docking for green? Again, not a hard choice.
Makes my life a lot easier when we have just canines and rat/mink to put up.
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Top Lot
Sept 6, 2006 17:19:50 GMT -6
Post by ColdSteel on Sept 6, 2006 17:19:50 GMT -6
Like I said Tman you are lucky you can sell in the round like that.Trapping hard and trying to get your fur put up and have it ready for the May sale is tough for me.I will put up my fox and rats and otter but my coon and beaver will be sold green or in the round.I like spending time with my boys and if I put up all the beaver I catch every year as slow as I am I probably would still be fleshing in June ;D
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Top Lot
Sept 6, 2006 18:35:15 GMT -6
Post by shagnasty on Sept 6, 2006 18:35:15 GMT -6
agree fox and rats are a breeze, too bad beaver and coon are not the same. all this top lot talk has me pumped for the season, but i still got a long ways to go.
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Top Lot
Sept 6, 2006 20:59:00 GMT -6
Post by psb1011 on Sept 6, 2006 20:59:00 GMT -6
Hey Shaggy,didn't wearing that top lot hat for a few minutes feel good last weekend?
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Top Lot
Sept 7, 2006 5:53:58 GMT -6
Post by shagnasty on Sept 7, 2006 5:53:58 GMT -6
;D , like i told you, i have one somewhere i got from my good friend, page moran. but, i dont wear it.
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Top Lot
Sept 7, 2006 8:54:45 GMT -6
Post by Freak( Jim V.) on Sept 7, 2006 8:54:45 GMT -6
Steve , get your buyers price on beaver in the round locked in. I will bring you up a trailer full!
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Top Lot
Sept 7, 2006 11:52:42 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Sept 7, 2006 11:52:42 GMT -6
not in the round Freak- green.
I know he had a couple of guys from Kentucky I think bring up 2 loads last year and they were happy.
remind me later i nthe year....
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Top Lot
Sept 7, 2006 12:30:31 GMT -6
Post by Freak( Jim V.) on Sept 7, 2006 12:30:31 GMT -6
I might take you up on that if the price is right.
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Top Lot
Sept 7, 2006 12:56:09 GMT -6
Post by ColdSteel on Sept 7, 2006 12:56:09 GMT -6
A good friend of mine put up 496 beaver last year and did a real good job.I sold him my beaver and he had very few with alot of bite marks.He sent his beaver to NAFA and averaged 22.83 that was after commision.Last year he paid me 9 bucks in the round and it worked out good for me all I had to do was just drop them in the floor on my way home from trapping.This year he is gonna pay a little more but he hasen't given me a price yet.If I can find a buyer that will pay between 15 to 20 bucks green I know what I will do.Anybody want to buy some beaver?
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Top Lot
Sept 7, 2006 13:19:33 GMT -6
Post by shagnasty on Sept 7, 2006 13:19:33 GMT -6
freak, honestly, with the cost of fuel, i dont think it would be economical to drive beaver up there green. first, you have to have a place to keep enough frozen green to make the trip, then up and back. he would have to be in the low to mid 20s green to even be close to worth the effort in my opinion. im curious as to what beaver prices he is talking too, but just know there will be a huge expense up front just to get them there and back, not counting time driving.
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