An interesting concept.

I learned to do mink this way with a spoon when I was a kid.

Not lower 48 beaver.
WE don't have the same clientele you might have. And It's even worse trying to market SC beaver skins to the democrats. LOL
It's a whole different ball game down here.

No it isn't. I know a few lower 48 trappers that do quite well selling their beaver ( and a few other articles) privately. Some of them are on here. Problem is most think shipping is a big deal...it isn't. Lots of mine goes to the lower 48 as well. Just got to be willing to look for markets. Free tip for ya...the Amish love fur! They sell a ton of it that they buy from trappers too.

The problem Is that It's very small market. And catching any amount of beaver Is a crap shoot when It comes to selling any amount.

I don't trap beaver In this part of the country unless I'm paid at least $100.00 per beaver. And It's a pretty strong market In this area.

Frost scraped and dried pelts tan a lot nicer too.
This big bear that was frost scraped and frost dried came back from the tannery as soft as butter.

Frost scraping may be the cat's meow, but there is the practicality of doing it. I trap beaver in the spring when temperatures will most likely not get 20 below until November of the same year. Boco's bear if shot in the spring would be in the same boat. If shot in the fall,it will wait until November until frost scraping becomes an option. In all the cases the beaver or bear skin would be done and processed within a week to ten days using normal processing methods and ready to market or tan.

I own several freezers,and same as sending fur to a tannery the only waiting is the very first time.After that its one in one out same time.
I like fishing in the spring,not spending hours spraying raid on maggots.
Who markets fur in spring?Thats a loser for sure.Especially beaver.

I see what you are saying my spring beaver should not go to a tannery in April so they can be ready to market in December. I should store them in a freezer all summer so I can frost scrape them in November and send them to a tannery so I can market them in July or August? Of course this year we have never been 20 below so I may never get to frost scrape them.

boco i always enjoy seeing all of you put ups. especially the frost scraping.
crazy question... have you ever frost scraped a coon? i imagine the put up would look great done that way on a nice prime one

Yep Boco they do tan better, a lot better when you're home tanning like I do. Beaver are the hardest animal to home tan, partly because they are so greasy, so getting them clean really helps. I've skinned a lot of bears. Most of them in the fall for hunters so frost scraping wasn't an option, and it would be really hard to clean skin one as clean as the one you frost scraped without getting into the hair follicles.

Beav, don't just think local....there is a good market out there, you just got to be willing to ship. Yes you can get $100 for beaver. I sell mine tanned ( I do the tanning) and I get double that for large pelts. Just do a quick google search for tanned fur and it will give you an idea of what stuff sells for.

No,market your good fall and spring beaver on the first FHA sale(that be January)That is the only sale worth selling raw beaver at.Tan the small ones yourself and any large with dmg,send to tannery,they are easy to repair with the bonis.
Kenny at FHA gives a 10% discount to shippers for the tanning service(plus they get a bulk discount from the tannery which they also pass on to shippers)Therefore their tanning service is cheaper than shipping directly to the tannery for a small shipper.The turn around time can be a year depends on how long they have to hold fur until they have enough for a bulk shipment.So,at the big shingding in april,my 50 beaver for tanning get dropped off at FHA,and same day I pick up 50 tanned beaver from last year-no waiting except the very first time you ship.
Do you now understand-you will have inventory all year long year to year,to take advantage of the tanned fur market,the raw fur market,and you can produce a quality product with less work investment by processing when the conditions are optimum.

So you're saying the way most of us put up beaver does not result in a quality product? I don't agree it is less work to freeze beaver and store in a freezer and then thaw beaver and put them outside to freeze again then scrape and bring them inside to thaw again to finish stretching them.

My inventory of tanned fur varies due to market demand. Some years I sell out, some years not. A bit unpredictable.


FYI Section 1 Beaver averaged $14.33 at the Jan FHA sale. I think I will pass.

I always beat the auction average on everything,dont forget all the junk they get that that average is based on.
Yukon,when it comes to frost scraping you can actually easily thin the leather for tanning when frostscraping.
The cree here traditionally tanned fur and moosehides in winter when they can easily work the hides.

Imiller,I have not frost scraped a coon but did frost scrape fatty skunks and fatty fall bears.It took a lot colder weather for the bear fat to harden up compared to beaver.At minus 25c(the first one I did) the bear fat still gummed up the scraper.I had to lay it down in the snow until it got to minus 35 then it went good.
One thing about frost scraping there are no time constraints on you.You can put 20 or more beaver out to do and do as many as you want.If you want to go trapping or if something comes up,you just lay the boards hide down in the snow to keep them from frost drying,until you feel like getting back at them when you have any few minutes of spare time to do a few more.
I used to put 25 out on a sunday,then do 5 each morning before going to work while my truck was warming up.After work I would bring them in to thaw,then after supper,nail them out.Doing 25 beaver like that was a pleasure.
Fall bear frostscraped.

I'm betting that 98% of all fur Isn't frost scraped.
I can just see all of NFAS contract fur handlers standing outside frost scraping beaver. LOL

If your good with a fleshing knife there is no need to stand outside and freeze your buns off.

And a hide is what It Is and frost scraping Isn't going to make It any better. It Is what It Is.
But If It trips your trigger go for It.

Some guys like doing things the hard way,me I take notice when an easier and better way is offered.I am lucky to have conditions that allow me to put up good amounts of fur with little effort and less time involved,allowing me more time to trap and spend time with family.There is definitely no faster or easier way to put up fur,both in preparation time as well as drying time.The main reason for this is there are no time constraints-you do it in your spare time.
I realise some don't have those conditions but many on here do and I am glad to offer some advice for those that want to try it and even move on to master it.It is really very easy for anyone to do,with minimal equipment.
For those to dismiss it out of hand with no knowledge of the technique,or experience is laughable.

Boco, I've been lucky and got to work on hides with an older FN lady the last couple of years. She has forgotten more than most on here will ever know. She does all her hides by frost scraping....and were talking moose and caribou. She will do 18-18 moose hides a year, and she thins them like you described. She told me they have always done it that way as the cold makes it easier. She ends up with the hair off most of her stuff, but the fleshing/thinning is done just like we would a beaver. Her moose hides sell for $3500 to $4000 each....most hunters nowadays just leave them in the woods!

True Yukon,a nice whole smoke tanned moosehide is a valuable piece of material.
There is no warmer mitts or moccassins made than those of the dry flannel like smoketanned hides of the northern people.Unfortunately it is a dying art,the young people just don't do it.Old ladies are still doing it in some places,but like the beading you don't see younger people with the same skills.
I trade factory tanned beaver for traditional beaded mitt tops with the older ladies up north.

We don't see -13 very often. When we do its usually around dawn. So far this year -8 (f) has been the coldest morning.

This isn't frost scraping but somebody mentioned coon. Hides pulled out of the freezer and fleshed when barely thawed enough to go on a beam scrape easier and come out much cleaner with far less grease in the leather. When your coon trapping you are ahead to freeze pelts till your done trapping them. Warm coons pull easy and barely thawed pelts flesh easy. Get a cleaner stretched pelt with less effort and you have more time trapping.

boco that beaver looks great