Coming up this weekend are two major trapping sales in the western US

Nevada Trappers Association in Fallon

Montana Trappers Association in Livingston.

Could be a cat fight over some of the nicest cats produced in the world.

Good luck to everyone selling at these sales. Looking forward to reports.

Which state tends to produce the most of the best?

Nevada. In my opinion.

Montana

There are good cats in Montana but there sure are some not so great. It's not only about heavy

Nevada has its share of ugly cats also.

Yep that would be correct. However, I think Montana doesn't necessarily have the best cat. As always, it depends on regions or areas. Nevada probably excels over Montana in the current cat market. Because, as stated, it's not just about heavy.

The Fallon sale is most likely underway. Fur checking in for the first day tomorrow (Friday). First bid posting Friday afternoon, probably about 5 PM or so.

The Montana sale is this weekend as well.

Hope every one with fur on the sale does well.

Montana got some good ones , Nevada got some good ones also.
I am guessing the averages will be better at the Montana sale and top cat prices will be at Fallon this year.
Who is present buying helps that greatly by in large it is a belly market imo for this kind of market I would say Nevada has a slight edge now but when California still could catch cats neither had a thing on that state but heavy .
But I have seen cats from other states that were sure enough dandy.

Fur rondy auction in Anchorage..probably small compared to Fallon.

Isn't the fur randy auction more of a tourist thing? Just curious.

Pretty much, Also local skin sewers buy a lot, but no real raw fur buyers attend.
The Alaska Trappers Association puts it on and does a great job of getting some pretty high prices for some articles.

2800 cat skins consigned for Fallon. It will be interesting to see how many actually make it into the room. Reports are guys panicking and selling on the road. Too many guys selling their top end and holding the rest not wanting to take the low offers on B cats and below. There is going to be a glut of middle and low end stuff real soon.

There will be some high dollars cats sold but all in all I think it's shaping up to be a poor year based on the average skin.

Fallon hasn't tallied bid sheets before 7:00 in the evening for as long as I can recall. The buyers are always dragging their feet turning in. A few of them disappear for hours in the middle of the day while they are running all around town meeting guys in parking lots and motel rooms.

Headed up there today to sell a little and hang out with friends. The Fallon sale is good time and Iv'e only missed it twice in nearly 30 years.

ML

NV has plenty of ugly cats just like MT. The best average cats come from WY??

CA has had top cat at Fallon twice that I can recall. It's a real shame the destructive nature of liberalism.

ML

Cooper and I are heading down to Livingston to drop off some of his fur and to visit for a bit.
I've once had a Top Lot bobcat at NAFA for what it's worth so I'm partial to Montana bobcats.
I hope everyone does well this weekend ! Travel Safe !
Allan

Good luck to everyone this weekend. I hope everything does well
Even weasels

That’s gotta be “killing you”, Mercer. Glad you’re still a part of it all. Do you still venture to AZ?

I hate everything about CA. Been doing coyote work in AZ for three years now and AZ resident. Do some cat trapping there but hard to get excited about AZ cats after years of the high desert CA cats.


They are about to hand out the Friday bid sheets and it's a out to get ugly. Only five cat buyers and I think only three are into it.

Going to be some disappointed trappers.

ML

Wow. Isn't that late for a Nevada sale to be handing out bids. That much fur?

I'm surprised at the low number of buyers. Glad I'm not there to listen to the complaining.

Ruh roh