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NAFA grading help for a first timer #6166555
02/22/18 05:33 PM
02/22/18 05:33 PM
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 19
WI
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LumberJake Offline OP
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LumberJake  Offline OP
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Joined: Aug 2017
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WI
I recently checked my NAFA account and got lotting results back. This was my first year and I didnt know what to expect from the furs I sent in. It says the * before the grade is a labeled skin. What does that mean? Almost all of my furs lotted in the I or I-II. Is this good? I also received an * on 4 of my total 37 skins sent in. Ultimately Im wanting to know if I did a good job putting up my furs, and to keep doing it the way I do it, or do I need to rethink what I'm doing.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice given.

Re: NAFA grading help for a first timer [Re: LumberJake] #6166577
02/22/18 05:59 PM
02/22/18 05:59 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,550
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
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SNIPERBBB  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,550
Rodney,Ohio
Dont confuse grades with fur handling ability or lack thereof.

* are labeled pelts, which means any pelt with a SSL, SEL or I grade that the purchaser will receive special labels from NAFA so they can attach to the finished product as a marketing item.

Its hard to effect the grade of your pelts from fur handling assuming you dont put holes in the pelt when skinning or fleshing, do a proper job fleshing and boarding so the hides arent grease burnt, tainted or brittle. Have the furs cleaned so the fur can be graded for color and heaviness(graders cant weight the fur if its matted).

Re: NAFA grading help for a first timer [Re: LumberJake] #6166581
02/22/18 06:03 PM
02/22/18 06:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,550
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
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SNIPERBBB  Offline
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Posts: 17,550
Rodney,Ohio
The biggest effect the trapper has on the grades of his/her furs is the timing of when you harvest the animals. Too early in the season or year if your season opens early will result in furs with I-II, II or worse grades. The later you can harvest the more I or SEL grades you have until the furs start going out of prime in late winter/spring

Re: NAFA grading help for a first timer [Re: LumberJake] #6166586
02/22/18 06:10 PM
02/22/18 06:10 PM
Joined: Aug 2017
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LumberJake Offline OP
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Ok thanks. So seeing as I didn't get any slight damaged or damaged ratings I must have done a good job with put up? As far as getting I and I-II that is more of when you harvest the animal. So to maximize the chance of getting SEL and SSL grades you should harvest when the pelts are prime? Sorry if my questions seem stupid. I'm just trying to learn from this first year so that next year I can make adjustments and improve.

Re: NAFA grading help for a first timer [Re: LumberJake] #6166592
02/22/18 06:19 PM
02/22/18 06:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,550
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
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SNIPERBBB  Offline
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Rodney,Ohio
Yep, if you are avoiding the damage grades, which can happen from using weak bodygrippers,hip caught animals in snares or animals fighting each other, you are doing good on the handling part.

If you can wait till after thanksgiving to catch most animals(some animals like bobcat, mink, muskrats, beaver, otter) dont prime up fully until january or later you can eliminate most of the I-II grades. Only problem with waiting that long, especially in the north and you're north of me...is weather gets to be a factor after thanksgiving so you have weigh that into your decisions as some years if you wait too long on certain animals, you may not be able to catch any.

Re: NAFA grading help for a first timer [Re: LumberJake] #6166625
02/22/18 06:53 PM
02/22/18 06:53 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,707
The great cage state Colorado
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Monster Toms Offline
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The great cage state Colorado

Of the 37 you sent in what specie were they? Coons, mink, etc.






Re: NAFA grading help for a first timer [Re: LumberJake] #6166654
02/22/18 07:24 PM
02/22/18 07:24 PM
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,530
Fingerlakes New York
robert.d12 Offline
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robert.d12  Offline
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Fingerlakes New York
Not all animals are created equal, assuming you did your job with proper put up the different pelts will grade differently. It also makes a huge difference the state or even county you catch them in.


The beauty of the second amendment is it wont be needed until they try to take it. -Thomas Jefferson
Re: NAFA grading help for a first timer [Re: LumberJake] #6166661
02/22/18 07:31 PM
02/22/18 07:31 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
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trappergbus Offline
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Southern Michigan
The * also denotes that the pelt is guaranteed dressable. Sel, ssl are prime pelts with no imperfections and handled correctly. 1-11 have slight defects or almost prime or past prime. Look up the grade descriptions on the NAFA website for grade explanations. They also have a handling guide that explains all well. Every animal has a peak prime, the problem is trapping them when they are at there peak. As snipperb explained.

They should publish a prime time table for all fur zones...


Common sense catches alot of fur..
Pay homage to all you harvest..
Re: NAFA grading help for a first timer [Re: LumberJake] #6166701
02/22/18 08:13 PM
02/22/18 08:13 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,073
montana
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red mt Offline
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montana
You can not improve on what they are,and you had no part in growing them, all you can do is make them worse. Your job is too make sure you do not.


Kenneth schoening
Re: NAFA grading help for a first timer [Re: LumberJake] #6166836
02/22/18 09:32 PM
02/22/18 09:32 PM
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LumberJake Offline OP
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Thanks for the help guys. 18 of the 37 were red fox. 15 were muskrat and 4 were coyote. Do the labeled hides sell for more? Is there an advantage for the trapper to get labeled hides? What is it that declares them labeled instead of another hide in the same lot? Or all hides in that lot labeled?

Re: NAFA grading help for a first timer [Re: LumberJake] #6166909
02/22/18 10:22 PM
02/22/18 10:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,550
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
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SNIPERBBB  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,550
Rodney,Ohio
Everything with a SSL, SEL or I grade is a labeled hide.

Re: NAFA grading help for a first timer [Re: LumberJake] #6167138
02/23/18 02:09 AM
02/23/18 02:09 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,684
north Idaho
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wissmiss Offline
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north Idaho
If a lot has an * by it, it is a labeled lot. All pelts in that lot are part of the labeled lot.

The only advantage to a trapper having a pelt in a labeled lot is that traditionally labeled lots sell for more money. The reason that they sell for more money is due to the quality of the pelts. Better quality pelts bring more money. The label is just a plus for the buyer/furrier.


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