NAFA Otter

[ColdSteel]

;)Looking terrible just my luck at least they aren't selling many

[Beaverspanker]

They just gave one of my otter away for 38.00. I guess it's better than the 4.00 I got one year. I didn't ship to them for years after than one. If the beaver do as sucky as everything else I may be done with them for good.

[ColdSteel]

I knew we were in trouble on the first 3 lotts

[thebeav2]

At least they are holding the line for the most part.
You have to remember NAFA sets a price limit on each piece of fur and If the buyer won't pay the price It's not NAFAs fault. It Is what It Is.

I see lots of beaver are being bought back. But The better stuff Is selling well.

[ColdSteel]

I agree with you Beav but me having 6 damaged otter and only 2 had nicks in them and having 3xl otter going for 20 and 25 bucks thats a hard pill to swallow when I know how my otter graded in years past and they looked just as good as they ever have but I know its a gamble just got to vent somewhere should have sold them green for 70 bucks

[trappincoyotes39]

should have sold them green for 70 bucks


Oh No you mean the dreaded country buyers cold steel

Why beav would be beside himself

I can feel your frustration as I know guys around here where getting 80+ for otter that size. One buyer was giving 90.00 green.

[ColdSteel]

TC 39 I can tell you one thing any buyer paying 90 bucks for green otter and had time or labor in putup and shipped to NAFA lost his butt plus cities charges and 9% comission no way is he coming out on top I talked to some southern boys who sent big numbers up there and the grading was very tough knew I was in trouble when I saw my grades but like Beav says it is what it is.I did average 9.50 on rats just didn't trap many this year

[thebeav2]

Oh No you mean the dreaded country buyers cold steel

Why beav would be beside himself

Not true. The last NAFA sale that I had otter on they averaged $106.00 and I'm guessing most of the otter In that grade sold for the same money. So why wouldn't a trapper ship again hoping for those prices. There was no indication that things had changed leading up to this sale. In fact It seemed that otter were back In demand. So what happened?
It's always a crap shoot when your selling fur. Whether In the country or on the auction sales.

I guess those country buyers took a bath If they were offering that kind of money on green otter. So you can bet your bottom dollar that next buying season you will see some real low ball prices offered on otter.

[thebeav2]

I just went back to my past sales at NAFA and I sold 1 otter on the Feb 2012 sale and I got $98.00 for It. The $106.00 averages were on 20 otter and they sold on the 2011 sale. So the 2 year track record looked good on otter.

[ColdSteel]

You are right Beav it did look good on otter I averaged 108 last year myself .The so called 6 I had damaged is what killed my average .I have 9 otter that still haven't sold yet so maybe there is some hope left.Somebody had to listen to my cry and I figured if I was going to cry it might as well be with trappers like myself

[trappincoyotes39]

cold steel I saw them sell for 90.00 a pop at a local MO buyer last winter green, so maybe sometimes nafa isn't all the answer.

[robertw]

TC,
How many thousand otter have you trapped?? Your talking about an entirely different otter than what ColdSteel has, that are going to a different market than his are.

[thorsmightyhammer]

Jun 4, 2012 14:35:16 GMT -6 trappincoyotes39 said:

cold steel I saw them sell for 90.00 a pop at a local MO buyer last winter green, so maybe sometimes nafa isn't all the answer.

If it wasnt for the international auctions the bar would have never been set that high.

[trappincoyotes39]

so Robert what did MO otter fetch AVG?

YOur missing the Feb sale they avg 102.00 and change overall minus commision puts them right at the country level avg. Some high and lower but the true overall avg was 102.00 on 7,000 bought


He is telling you he could have gotten 70.00 in the country correct? For his NC otters I have NO clue if he has pales or darks the point is NAFA isn't ALWAYS the best deal.

I'm sure your at 10,000 + MO otter though correct? LOL.

Beav the point is those who sold at the country level did well selling when they did correct? Your 106.00 minus commision isn't NO better .

Yes I'm sure they will open up weaker next season but they did well selling in Dec and first part of Jan that is what matters.

[thebeav2]

I will bet you that 90% of the otter sold In the country average less then $70.00. I know around here your looking at abut $65.00+ for a green skinned otter and not much more for a put up one.

TC you have to remember that on those 20 otter I had some In the $140.00 range and some In the $70.00 range and some In the $40.00 range. There Isn't country buyer In this country that's ever going to part with $140.00 for a otter. For the most part the auction will beat the country buyer hands down.

How many otter were bought In the country when the auction houses were selling otter at $170.00+ averages.

[robertw]

TC,
Get out your otter reciepts for the last 15 years and lets compare LOL!!!!

As for "MY" February sale otter, they averaged $108 for December caught Mississippi otter out of the Delta. Missouri otter would have averaged about $10 more.

"Sale" averages don't mean squat! Your looking at different colored otter from all across the nation.

98% of the time NAFA is the best deal for90% of us!!

For MANY YEARS I averaged $30 to $50 more at NAFA than the Missouri Trappers Association Auction.

When otter FINALLY started averaging $140 -$145 at the MTA auction many of us averaged $190-$196 at NAFA.

[trappincoyotes39]

so your basing his otter being so much different yet delta otter and MO otter only 10.00 differance? OK?..................

[thebeav2]

When the market Is strong there Isn't much difference In otter quality. BUT when the market Is soft the grade becomes tough. It may not be fair but that's just the way It Is.
Pale otter were the hot Item a few years ago then things changed and the dark otter become the hot item.

[robertw]

TC39,
Nothing personal but YES, there is a difference.

Have you trapped or handled otter from the Carolina's or the Delta?

[trappincoyotes39]

nope but I'm betting the delta and MO otter aren't any closer to being the same as NC and MO otters.

Beav I understand the differance between pale fur and dark, but the POINT being made by Coldsteel is this!!!!! He could have sold for a better avg locally instead of shipping that is the point he was making over what HE recieved SO FAR at auction. Let's stick the the discussion on this one, fur selling is all about timing and with certain items and harvest levels at times your better off selling earlier than later even if it means selling in the country!!!!

I have seen it many years on coons selling local versus scraping and paying commision versus selling while the word is hot and the harvest not yet 100% established, other times it makes some differance to send North but NOT always on ALL fur!

Just talked with a guy about his cats and coyotes he sent up this auction I think his avg would have been close to what he got on both in the country if sold earlier and to a good buyer. Real close and would have had money in hand, the private stuff doesn't do alot better it will be a wash for many on this subject.

Lets face facts this sell was nothing to write home about and could setup for an open decline on many items next fall, time will tell where things are come fall buying time. You need a mix of both to keep things more honest than just one avenue for sure! A monoply in fur would not be good for the sellers!!!!!