sold fur

[maule]

TM thanks for posting your prices, it helps to have somewhat of a guide to go by with fur prices.

It seems too often people won't post prices because of fear of being criticized or called a liar.

Also, do you have a much better coon and muskrat where you are as compared to Utah? Prices in Utah seem to be much lower than your averages.

Thanks,,

Maule

[trappnman]

now that I couldn't tell you.

We have a decent rat here- marsh rats run mostly XL and up, and have a dense leather, and are soughht after my lots of local buyers. Creek rats that I trap run mostly L and XL, have thinner leather, but the crreks around me don't have the true paperbacks as much as not too far south off me where I grew up.

coon- we do have a big coon, and a nicely colored coon- usually bringing top dollar

one factor here, is we have 3-4 bigger sized local buyers (within 75 miles of me) plus Groenwald runs a route through the area across river in WI- so there is competition among buyers-

[thorsmightyhammer]

Bryce we are in a rising market right now.

Thats why I asked if any fur was held until after the major international auctions.

I think it would be a prudent decision to hold some until after to maximize profits.

I dont ask the question to redicule the OP but to say my feelings to others who may be unsure.

In twelve more days when the rats go off is gonna be interesting.

[trappnman]

no steven, I didn't hold any back.

I've held for auctions many times in past, and it seems to be, I more times than not, I wish i'd have sold before.

will the auctions be record setters? sure hope so-

but I personally think, that if NAFA holds to prices set earlier as their go to price, there might be more rsistence than you might expect.

time will tell, in any case I'm more than pleased with what I got- a bird in the hand and all that

[TrapperRon]

Feb 8, 2013 11:00:39 GMT -6 mightydog said:

Last couple of auctions at NAFA I believe there were 4-500 buyers registered.I think I heard near 900 for this auction,only take a handful to break the resistance.
Keep the faith man.

Not sure of the exact number of buyer registrations but as of yesterday it is the highest number on record. I think 900 is exaggerated a bit. Wil find out for sure beginning of the week.

[thorsmightyhammer]

I sold rats twice in the country for over a twelve dollar average this winter.

Once in mid december for over ten and the last time I sold it was for over 11.

You could be right rats may only worth 11 dollars max but we are going to find out.

My feeling is rats will be as high as last february if not a buck more.

My next feeling is a seasonal collection of MN coon is going to bring 32 before commission.

My final predition is PA red fox are going back to 16 dollars heheehhe.

[bblwi]

I am with you Steven on the rats. My last year average on 230 rats in the February sale was $12.19 with about 190 good and average fall rats and roughly 40 good winters. I too am hoping for about $13 plus on similar rats if not a tad more as I have on average a bit larger rat this year but about 50 less.
I have 20 or so at home yet that will go in May all caught in January so we will see how those do. My friend will sell his in a few weeks and if he gets $12 he will sell them locally.

Bryce

[trappnman]

so $13 rats, minus the commission, puts you right about $11

not enough upswing potential, in my mind, to wait

2006 is still a memory

steven- whats a seasonal collection? the entire season?

[bblwi]

With the rebate this year Steve a $13.50 rat will net me over $12.50. I do a lot better at the auctions lately as I trap typically a lot of rats before our deer season in mid to late November and the movement at auction has been size more than grade. I don't get docked nearly as much at the auction for a 2xl average fall as I do or did locally.
Last year my best 40 rats (all caught in early December) I put into a separate account and they averaged $14.96 before commission. I did have rats in the other group reach the same prices but not for an average. Last year I was seeing only about 50 cents per rat going from a good fall to an average fall which is a lighter and thinner pelted rat and when I sell locally those average more like $7.50-$9 instead of $11. Sure there are buyers paying $14 for the high groups but most still wind up getting sub $12 averages with all pelts in. I am planning on averaging above $12 with all pelts in and after commissions.

Bryce

[thorsmightyhammer]

Most people done trap the entire season steve for coon.

But to me a seasonal collection is ones pretty much entire catch not just some hand picked top lotters.

But for the average trapper we are talking a months worth.

Dang right 2006 is still a memory. But it aint the only one.

Its why I sold every rat I caught up until the middle of january but I knew I'd catch more.

I'll probably have near as many as I've sold to date to sell on the fifth or so of march.

I dont think its going down this time. Too much upside potential.

[trappnman]

I hope you are right steven- I plan on taking some more as well.

what is always in the back of my mind, is that $10 and up is a heck of a big price, for a little piece of fur......

[thorsmightyhammer]

they are getting a Franklin for a mink and it aint much bigger.

Definately not ten times bigger.

[mustelameister]

Took nearly 80 January 'rats up to LaX and averaged twelve and a quarter with fifteen dollar tops. Sent a mess of 'em off to Fur Harvesters last month. Maybe I'll see that $20 rat yet, eh?

[bblwi]

Mike that is encouraging to hear of $12 plus rat averages with tops in the $14 range. I would guess auctions to be about 10% higher than those numbers, maybe 15%. I am sure there are many direct markets for rats with the demand as high as it is currently.

Bryce

[missioncreeker]

New to the game skun a coyote. Today had slit fur while scraping the flesh sewed all holes together 8 total no bigger than half inch but hell is it still worth anything and if so what should I expect from buyer northern MN decent fur. Half thick half matted some color

[trappnman]

small holes sewed right, won't make much of a difference

seems like coyotes are going down a bit

not sure what you mean by matted- if matted down hair, take a wide toothed comb and free it up and brush- it will be the same

if matted means rubs and underfur lost, the price will be minimal-

a good mn coyote will average up or down in the 20s- a real nice one maybe $35

[bblwi]

There were a lot of $50 WI coyotes last year. Sure does not take long to flood that market with our types of coyotes. Hard to believe that average minus adult coyotes can't bring what a good 2xl muskrat is worth but then we don't create the market we sell into the markets.

Bryce

[trappnman]

whats really amazing if you think about it, is that we sell as many coyotes as we do, since there isn't much use for coyotes beyond trim and a few vests-

I think one of the problems with coyotes, is that year in and year out any rise in prices, is greeted with a way overload in coyotes. other species, such as coon this year, can be limited by weather and disease over a large range but with coyotes, seems always enough to fit the bill and more- sadly, one doesn't hear about a coyote shorage to often

[bblwi]

We harvest a lot of coyotes around my area after our deer season and up until the middle of February. It is really amazing when one looks over all those December, January and early February pelts how much damage or other issues there are on most pelts. Many are hunted as well and we see bullet holes, small to huge, rubbing, mange, bite marks, weak spots in the fur, old shotgun pellet damage etc. etc.

Bryce

[coloradocat]

We just finished Colorados auction. Coyotes were off compared to last years prices, but so was the quality of coyotes. Its tough when it is still 70 degrees in Dec., and hope to have heavys, not gonna happen. Cats shined as anticipated, as well as reds, and still held a $22 average on coons.