….so here we are four years later, and it does seem to be getting anything better. Fur it a peak since the 80's, and in the snap of a finger it was gone. It seems to be these were the issues that caused the decline. Correct me if I'm wrong.

China: cracked down on fur importers not paying taxes, put a number in jail, should have amounted to a hiccup in the supply chain. Any barriers concerning China now?

Russia: the destination of most wild fur. Invaded the Crimea leading to trade restrictions. I presume this meant less Russian oil be sold on the global market. Are those same restrictions still impacting fur? At the same time, OPEC flooded the global market with oil in order to make fracking unprofitable. The resulting gas glut equally hurt Russian economy regardless of trade restrictions, as they rely heavily on oil exports. But now the supply has leveled off and oil prices back up. So fur should be on the rise?

Greece: economic problems in Greece crushed a lot of furriers close to 10 years ago. But there doesn't seem to have been a hiccup in Greece in 3 years now.

Economically, I don't see why fur prices remain in the toilet. What am I missing? Regardless of Russia and the price of oil, it seemed Asian markets for end users was on the rise 5 years ago, what happened with that? What happened to the Asian demand for otter? What is NAFA doing in Asia to market wild fur???

The main reason why most fur is in the toilet is because of the over production of ranch mink. Way too many ranch mink being produced the past 5 or so years. China is saturated in mink. Luckily there is a downward trend in production that is happening right now.

Also sanctions have hurt Russia a lot taking them out of the market. And if Russia is hurting it hurts Greece too.

Weird. Last year I made the most I’ve ever made in trapping fur. Lucky for me I have a wide range of animals to trap and I can focus on the higher value items if I want. If the market stayed like this for 100 years, I’d be ok with that!

They said the same thing in 1850,then it came back gangbusters in the 1880's.
There were always ups and downs in the fur market,always will be.This current downswing is nothing new.

But I’ll be dead in 30 years.....

Dang me too!!

won't be long and we will know who the ones were that really meant it when they said"i'd trap for nothing"

Yeppers.
Been saying this and most thought i was nuts. (might be right) The auction houses were trying to tell the...
Well, it's a warm winter in China.

We are suffering from a lack of markets, without a truly vibrant Russian market and the ban on using raccoon in the US market we are dead in the water. When Russia is active you have all the other players buying to fill that demand, Greece, Turkey and China all buy wild fur to supply that market. The other internal problem with the Russia market is RFID tags.
https://www.russia-briefing.com/news/russia-tag-fur-imports-bid-fight-customs-fraud.html/

US companies will not buy raccoon because of internal bans on using raccoon because of the video skinning them alive in China.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...-sold-West.html

Factor in the lack of Russia and you have the fur market in freefall. Until the supply equals the demand you have today's present market. Three years ago nobody would have believed the present state of todays fur market. At least 2 more years of this before the present production and stored skins are used up.

Really? A video made by AR rights activist is believed as SOP by fur producers? Thats why the coon market tanked? You sure it's not more warm weather?

Just one of the present problems, along with CITES issues on species that are listed. That video caused a lot of problems.
All these things cause tipping points and have an effect on the overall market, at least the price of oil is heading in the right direction.
Cold weather and fashion can change things in a hurry.

To give you an idea of the world fur production. Numbers are good but report is a little to optimistic.
https://www.fureurope.eu/news/world-fur-trade-is-booming-despite-china-slowdown/

If I was a car dealer and could buy new cars for a 1000 bucks for resale instead of 25,000 I would be booming to.

Ya if you were a car dealer and bought cars for 100,000 and now they are worth less than a quarter of their value you would be broke. I was talking with a Chinese buyer at the NAFA sale last week and he has a lot of skins from 2013 at high prices he can't sell. Coats in China are selling below the cost to make them just trying to use up inventory.

gibb; Do truly feel that the glut of fur in storage will be used up anytime soon? Or are we, as producer just going to continue to keep producing faster than usage?

There will be a huge pelt-out this fall which will cause a blimp in the production but by 2020 the market will be way down and that will be the start of the recover. The present mink crop is bleeding the farmers dry in comparison to the prices. Females have dropped $5.00 on average since February. Cost between 36 to 42 dollars to raise a mink that is averaging $20.
Still a lot of raccoon being held by dealers waiting for the market to recover. If Russia comes back it will improve things in a hurry.
Just heard today that the US has slapped a big tariff on fur from China.
We need the Danes to reduce their production and what I hear is the banks are pulling back in Denmark so that is a good thing.
2017 mink production was pegged at around 67 million.
This will all happen but short term the future is bleak.

By pelt out you mean liquidating what farm mink they have to lower production for the next yr?

I can see winter beaver coming up in price nicely once the market overall bounces back.
Beaver is the most versatile fur as it can be used natural as a utility fur,or plucked and sheared as a high fashon item.
There are special unique skills involved in dressing beaver that add to the cost,thus depressing its use in a down market.

As in going out of business and the ones remaining will cut production and focus hard on quality mink.

Wild fur needs Russia, even with a reduction in mink production, the sale of raccoon is very depended on Russia.

Supply vs Demand could be the reason. Tax and tarrifs are not helpful either. Not sure if public is ready for more fur in clothing. I know my daughter will not wear fur, yet has no problem with leather. Leather is a byproduct but fur isn't. Her reasoning.

Thank you for your time to explain. I’m mainly a coon trapper with mix of few other species. I haven’t trapped coon for the last 3 seasons. Guess I’ll wait for a couple more.

In that line of thinking fur is a byproduct of wildlife management including endangered species protection, habitat protection, public safety, disease control, nuisance control and food.

I had headbands and earmuffs made out of mink for my daughters and daughters in law as well as my grandchildren. If your going to talk the talk you have to walk the walk. If every trapper in the US used up a dozen pelts there would be a half a million less to market.

Agreed...honestly how many of us (trappers)actually wear fur?

I do if it's not 10,000 degrees I love my skins in winter though!
Colt

Do you think the day will come where there is no fur market ? When our children and grandchildren will have no reason to trap because fur is worthless either tanned for wall hangers/novelty or not used in any garments ? No one would pay a dime for any fur. Seems we are one generation away from that.

kyron4, if we're that detached we will probably have bigger problems than the fur market.

My ice fishing Hats and beaver mitts.....and when I want to make a scene at the bank and Grocery store ...lol

Whole family wears all kinds of fur along with a lot of other people here.
If you spend any time outdoors in the cold weather,all you have to do is wear fur once and you wont want anything else.
People will always wear fur here.
See lots of fur on people in the cities too,even when the weather is not too cold.More of a fashon thing there as opposed to utility.
I have a hard time keeping up on orders for fur articles.Getting a lot of orders lately for fur ruffs on hoods(cut off the fake fur and put wolf fur on).

Have to wear wolf mitts in the cold part of winter up here. Lots of fur boots (mukluks), hats, hood ruffs,etc. lots of fur getting used in the most practical way up here.

Working on some wolf mitts and hats right now Ryan.

Not for the international market however.

Good to hear i also have beaver mittens and hat....boco nice job! Nice looking mittens

I have beaver mitts, beaver hat, otter facemask, and a beautiful king-size beaver bedspread. Had Marten baby booties made for my granddaughter, and mad_mike's daughter. Those are just some of the articles.

HELLO!

Hobby production is booming.

Has been for at least 25 years,hard to keep up.
Customers know custom made is higher quality than mass production.

yea bcoz earmuffs work so well year round in miami

trappers shipping animals instead of selectively releasing and only keeping saleable pelts is part of it as well

can't argue with this one though.

That video even if real is about dogs not raccoons, if a member of the fur industry doesn't know a dog from a raccoon, it is no wonder that the industry is hurting.

No, they are not "dogs" in the sense that Americans use the term. Yes they are a member of the canine family same as a fox or a coyote. They are about as much of a "dog" as a fox or coyote.

A very good point. However, in my experience buying fur from trappers, there are quite a few Trappers that are unaware what a low grade pelt looks like even when stretched and dried.

Determining if a pelt is going to be saleable while the animal is alive in the trap could be a very difficult task. I'm thinking water logged Raccoon or a muddy coyote.

A very good point. I’ve trapped for about 40 years. And would consider my grading mediocre at best. I live within 20 minutes of both NAFA (Stoughton) & FHA (Cambridge). I’ve seen some very low quality fur, and fur handling alike. I mean goods that should truly be thrown in a dumpster!
Yet some trappers think that junk is worth as much as the best skins.

I have a beaver hat and a coyote hat. Temp has to get below zero to wear either of them, though.

There is a good point here.Some will not know if the fur is good or not.Some think just because they caught it that it is worth alot. When to the fur buyer that I mean a good fair one will tell them different. Also it is up to the buyer of what they willing to buy and pay for.When a land owner want problem animals taken out you take what there is no matter what the animal is and the shape it is in. I seen that for what I need to do for the land owner.I know I will not get much for the low grade.But that dose not bother me.I get land that alot dose not want to trap because of low fur price is for how it is now and I get what ever I want from there and also what the land owner wants trap out.

That's what I'm thinking

When I trap coons with dog proofs I always release the sows and the kits in the fall.Their fur is crappy period.I have often caught the same coons in our late winter/spring season and the females and young of the fall that previous year are beautiful.I have had those coons usually go 90% select-seriously.Catch the big males in the fall and the females and young later in the winter.Now I know lots of guys cannot do that when you use drowning sets etc..but with dog proofs it works out well for sure.

Seems that 25-30 years is the cycle, 1987 put a hurt on most who were in the business then, 30 years later we've seen another slow buildup, peak, and now the downturn. I sure hope it's not another 25-30 years, I don't think I'll have much interest/ability when I'm 90 years old. Here in the U.S. ski areas shearing beaver has been the star of the retail fur sales. 40% of my sales are heavy, sheared beaver. I think the level of production (read that lack thereof) has kept large manufacturers from picking up the item, that and cheap ranch fur. Granted there are more factors involved here but

My "Russian" hat made from a large otter is the same. But boy when it's cold out you just can't beat it. I have 10 tanned otters that I think I'm going to have made into a coat. It would be perfect for those below zero days, ice fishing, etc..

I send more beaver to the tannery than any fur for my own use and for sale to clients.I always sell out before the next bunch comes in from the tanner.
Beaver fur is a versatile and long lasting fur for all kinds of garments.
Much of the very best parchment Beaver from Northern Quebec never sees an auction.They go directly to France.

Al, why do you suppose the level of production is so low on shearable beaver?

I bet I get a couple calls a year from guys wanting shearable beaver. When I ask them how much and they give me some figures, my typical reply is you don't want them all that bad do ya

Sold a small *1 beaver for $2.50 and a medium *1 beaver for $4.50 both extra dark, kind takes all the fun out of under-ice beaver trapping.

Too cheap for the square inches of fur.
The problem is the dressing of these pelts in North America is too expensive for the manufacturers.
The deal is better for them on XXX\XXl.Cost of dressing is much higher per sq inch for smaller beaver than large ones.

Has anyone ever published or figured out the price of different species of fur by the square inch?
I would also be interested in the difference in price per sq inch between a small shearing beav,and a XXXL shearing beaver of the same grade.

Perhaps with Trumps easing of environmental and other regulatory roadblocks we may see the dressing industry expand in North America which was decimated by the implementation of these regs in the past.

International market?

This pic sums it up.

Last night I heard the Russian economy is so bad they have raised the age to draw pensions.

The harvest only top quality fur is a good idea for trappers. But since buyers don’t have to and won’t buy junk what possible difference does it make to the market for good fur. None, When the market is hot ,junk and southern fur have some value. When it’s bad it has none. It ain’t a glut of section three fur that’s killed our market

Back to what comes first, the chicken or the egg? Higher winter beaver price or better quality and more production? Maybe this item just dies out. The market is the market.

I agree that the market is the market.

But don't tell me that shearable beaver are the star of your skiing market and that the problem is lack of production when the prices that manufacturers are offering is an insult.

Ranch mink stole your shareable beaver market years ago. Fellas should read those magazines that the auctions put out. There is no hope for beaver when Herman is telling you beaver can't compete with cheap ranch mink and this was in 2013.

The market is in the marketing. There is a world of difference between ranch fur and wild caught...such as Canada Goose embraces. Wild fur should not be shy about embracing this distinction, and that can only happen through marketing.

If we had furriers in this country highlighting wild fur it would make a difference on fur sales in this country. When I bought my wife a sheared beaver vest a few years ago, I had to hunt for it had the fur store and they were pushing ranch.

Also, the upper middle class black woman is a market with huge potential in this country. Advertise to them, make it available, and they will buy all kinds of wild fur.

I sold a bearskin hat to a Black woman once.
When she put it on it was like a time machine back to the 60's.

Good luck with that, trappers don't want any part of that nonsense.


https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6275789/1

Oh, they want it.....just don't know how to get there from here! Trappers do what they do best, untill we get some furriers that want and know how to work and push wild fur, we're gonna be in this situation. They prefer to work with ranch crap, because it is easier. That is human nature!

Be fair! Some trappers support Certification, some oppose and some don't care. As far as the ride alongs,who knows, CG may be just looking to confirm what the anti's been saying about trapping so they can justify dropping coyote ruffs.

The one company on the face of the Earth promoting wild n.a. fur, and trappers, and the trappers overwhelming response to them?:



"POUND SAND"

ain't no western coyotes in PA last i checked.5 states does not a market make.open your eyes to the other 45 states.

As far as certification goes I think there is as much down side possible as there is upside. We already harvest fur under the rules of state and federal laws, what more do they want? Will it really increase price and volume they use, or will they see an actual harvest and be completely turn off by it even if it is completely legal and humane as possible?

Will certification stop you from buying snowmobiled or dog caught coyotes?

I was trying to keep an open mind and learn more of this, certification, the part about peta buying stock in cg made that a little difficult.
What does peta say when asked by their donors about this?

The scary part we should be concerned with is that PETA has the cash flow, liquidity and assets to invest in markets that create much more earnings and thus more funds to use to promote their cause. They are rapidly learning that the best way to win their battles is to join in our activities such as WCC attendance and being elected a county rep and by investing in consumptive use investments that create earnings and opportunity.

Bryce

The reductio ad absurdum of this is that you are letting PETA dictate your actions, and that is exactly the type of influence they were seeking when they bought the stock in the first place.

IMO both Al and CG want the same thing. They want trappers to supply all their wants and desires at unrealistic prices.

Do you have any clue how many coyotes CG buys? Take them out of the picture and the coyote market goes below production costs for the majority. When a market is below production costs it's as good as dead.

Nah, Al and the rest of the shearable beaver users are at unrealistic prices. CG's prices for the articles they want aren't bad. Not at levels that one could feed a family on but a profitable level non the less.

I am guessing that since they are only buying from one region of the country, CG is buying a very small fraction of the coyotes that are pelted.

Don't get me wrong, I am glad they are buying what they are buying. More money into the fur and trapping industries is great.

I think that the future of the fur market does not depend on CG.

You might be right,you might not be right.Maby you should go and spit in the face of a Canada Goose representative,and tell them we don't need them.Thats a great business model.

What is your definition of a "small fraction" and what areas produce the most coyotes? Don't forget they are targeting at least 3 Canadian provinces.

The future of the fur market depends on every manufacturer we can get to use our products. I don't know about you Shane but I don't like trapping fur below production costs.

I am not sure how you took away that I was advocating for spitting in CG's face from my post. I said I was glad they were buying coyotes.

They want and need those coyotes. I am no CEO but it seems like that should give the producers of those coyotes some degree of leverage.

No sir I do not like trapping in the red. It severely limits the amount of time I can spend trapping.

Like I said, I am just guessing on the percentage of coyotes that are pelted compared to how many CG are buying.

I dont't have the answers as to how to have a consistently thriving fur market. I don't pretend to. I read these threads to get more perspective. I agree with you Steven, that we need all the manufacturers we can find to use wild fur. I just think that all that we already do to produce fur in a humane and responsible fashion may not be totally appreciated by some of the manufacturers and consumers in general. If it were then maybe their would be more demand in North America for our products.

There has to be a way to use the current trend toward sustainable and environmentally sound production to market our fur. The modern trapper produces the epitome of what that movement wants.

Please explain why certification is even needed, when everything they are requesting from certification is already in place, like traceability, and accountability. It's not spitting in anybody's face when you just show them the information they requested is already accessible. Maybe the problem is with those that we as trappers have entrusted to market our goods ?? Both auction houses have the ability to trace pelts, and if that information was the best approach to marketing those goods, and with the current consignment agreement that all fur shippers agree to when shipping fur in place, that gives the consignment company almost complete control to market those goods at their digression , then why have not the auction houses already implemented traceability ?? The auction houses better be able to provide traceability, and if not then why are we shipping them fur to market ??


RTT

I don’t believe that is the case at all, they buy a select bunch of coyotes. They didn’t buy the top lots at either auction this year, I have been told the Chinese buy in the neighborhood of 300k of all shapes and sizes. CG is the most vocal but far from the only markwt

i'm takin this all in but it's makin my head hurt.

[/quote]

I don’t believe that is the case at all, they buy a select bunch of coyotes. They didn’t buy the top lots at either auction this year, I have been told the Chinese buy in the neighborhood of 300k of all shapes and sizes. CG is the most vocal but far from the only markwt [/quote]



True that !!

I had no idea that I "SET" the market. Does that come with braggin rights, and more important, can I sell them for anything?

There is a certain segment within the trapping industry, and fur trade that wants a more limited market, and certification is that avenue for those select few wishing to achieve that goal. This segment has been around for sometime, and many of the people that fought against this in the past are no longer of this world. They knew that this could divide trappers, and with that division trapping could very well become an activity that was only limited to a few certain individuals. They wanted trapping to be an activity for everyone that wished to take on the endeavor, and they believed in free markets, and creating more opportunities for more people to become involved in trapping. education was fine, but certification was an element that could be used so many different ways, and many of those ways could be very detrimental to trapping as a whole. The risk was not worth the reward, and thus they fought this tooth and nail.



RTT

I've been told that 2020 is the year NAFA will start to implement traceability.

I’ll believe it when I see it, just like when they were going to 1099 trappers and fur buyers a few years ago.

It is real simple Al, I can't produce below production cost and a reasonable rate of return, no matter what the market wants. If the market wants fur below production cost that is what hobby trappers are for.

No doubt, the proof is in the pudding.

Looks like a Pro-Life/Pro-Choice argument to me. Aint gonna be no winners, aint gonna change any minds.

I just bet ya a bunch of coyotes get whacked regardless.

I get the potential perils of certification but just looking at this from a manufacturer's end, how will a limited amount of trappers be able to provide enough fur to them without prices going through the roof? Why would they want to drive the price of a fur item they want to use up by limiting the supply? What am I missing?

[/quote]
You might be right,you might not be right.Maby you should go and spit in the face of a Canada Goose representative,and tell them we don't need them.Thats a great business model. [/quote].....how many PA coyotes do CG buy? no ones spitting in there face ,all everyones saying is that we are all ready in compliance with what they are asking for, with BMP already in place! don't need ride alongs from there hand picked trappers to represent all trappers. especially for a short lived fashion trim trade item....if you think by complying it will insure high coyote prices forever...haha they wont! fashion changes fast.

Steven, if that is true, then we are talking about a company that already has the name, address, and license information on file of every shipper they have dealt with. The very idea that it would take them two more years to implement traceability is laughable, and speaks volumes in regards as to how this company conducts business.


RTT

It was suggested the other day that they don't buy coyotes at all but only ready made ruffs.
So, I ask, do you have any idea of how many coyotes CG buys? or if they just buy ruffs, how many coyotes the ruff manufacturer buys? If not a number, an approximate percentage of production?
However many it is a good thing and it would be even better if they used some more, but for sake of discussion, some notion of just how big an impact they might have would be good to know.
How many coat ruffs can be made from a single pelt and what becomes of the rest?

i think we are gettin a mushroom treatment.kept in the dark and fed a bunch a poo

That is the part the the "don't question them" crowd is avoiding.

Every one of these posts several of us say this, they have all they need IF traceability is all they're after. I'd like to see one of them address this. Monster Toms said that is all they're after, so i'll believe him until i see different.

If they step over the line and start on our methods, as BOCO has, then they will get resistance from me and hopefully others. Dollars ain't worth losing traps/methods.

AMEN

What did I say about your methods?

hippy they won't start with you and western trappers have already accepted this as the best route for them to go. You saw the post the other day from a trapper who said he had been chosen for a ride with trapper. This is happening now, if I have read the posts correctly, it's a done deal.

I'll assume you read it, so i deleted it. A word that shouldn't be used on here. IMO.

There are some trappers in our area that have been pushing the auctions for a long time to develop the traceability tags and get them in the hands of trappers.These trappers have felt that some of their pelts had been mixed up before they were barcoded with the old system,and have been wanting to seal/barcode/tag their own fur.

I hear the auctions will have a tamper proof tag/seal that will go thru the entire line from trapper,auction ,tanning process,and manufacture by 2020.This is one of the necessary steps in the traceability process that they have been working on.

If Al could only find a Dresser who would dress hides for the same price he paid in 1985, he could pay me 1985 prices for beaver. Try telling a tanner you will only pay him 1985 tanning/shearing and dyeing prices and see how many pelts they will do for you. The cost of my beaver even if trippled the current rate of $15 would be cheap.

No,i didn't see it hippie.
PM if you wish.

Here's another issue i brought up on the other thread about this, that got blown-off.

Canada Goose went public, and that dilutes the morals/standards the company was built on.

Here's an example of the founder, the guy who built the company being pushed out of his own company........

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/papa-johns-fou...topstories.html

coincidence that after 50 years, once they go public they are now wanting these changes?????

I'll get back to ya after bit Boco, i have some questions about the mother land i want to talk to ya about also. Busy.

what impact do you all feel this would have on the recruitment of new trappers??

How long do you think it will be before China knocks off your tags ?? How long before someone is selling, or trading tags on the sly ?? How well did all that special label, or tag thing help the ranchers in regards to knock off's, guess we already know the answer with ranch mink prices in the toilet. A tag is your answer to traceability, that is laughable, and an insult to trappers to boot. I guess trappers will have to have a decoder ring, and a secret handshake, and the tags in order to sell fur. You guys are just creating more difficultly for trappers to market their goods, and it's a ridiculous idea. Out of all the things plaquing trapping this is your groups great idea, if so please quit thinking, because your killing us.


RTT

Dirt, I don't think you understand. There are no guarantee's in life for producers of any commodity, oil, cotton, gold, ask anyone affiliated with agriculture that works hard and is only sometimes rewarded for their efforts. Why should someone provide you with a livable wage for producing something you want to work to produce when the market for that product is really a much lower dollar amount? That was life in the former Soviet Union, they pretty much proved that that concept didn't survive. I would guess that in 2013 you were not saying this is to much money for my fur, I need to give some of those poor furriers some cash back, they're paying to much! That really was the case in to many circumstances, it didn't work well in the end.

Just another hurdle of the already many in place. Low fur prices combined with added requirements, many will say the reward is not worth the effort, and seek out other activities more open, and accessible. Who would want to jump in the middle of a mess like this ?? Hard not to blame them for taking up some other type of outdoor activity. The anti trapping groups love to see this type of BS between trappers, and would love to see a more limited pool of trappers marketing fur. The anti trapping groups could then pin point their efforts, and bring the full weight of their financial war chest to bear upon trappers, with focus and precision. Trapping should be for everyone, and marketing fur is a part of trapping, thus I feel everyone should be able to market fur equally in a free market system. No special tags for that special person with the brother in-law that was able to get tags, that lived in that special area, or state, see where this is going, or what it could become ?? it would do a great injustice to the recruitment, and the overall health of trapping.


RTT

Al there is only one guarantee, I won't trap beaver if it is impossible to make money. What other business model expects the first guy in the process to always lose money?

Tamperproof,like cites.
If they are cut off then the pelts will no longer be C+T,thus not saleable in the outlets that demand such.
RTT you have a very childish understanding of C+T.

Boco I put Cites tags on pelts. They are not going to follow the pelts or parts of the pelts to the finished product and show on the fur side.

What happens when you tamper with them in transit?That was the gist of the comment.

The only reason I’m trapping today, and the only possibility for my grandchildren to have that same opportunity long after I’m gone, is due to the fact that trapping regulations here in the United States are determined at the state and local levels. It’s a democratic process that gives me and others like me a genuine voice in the outcome.

As soon as you hand over that control to a non-elected, corporate, foreign body whose only interests are maintaining their bottom line and/or appeasing hostile interests groups, you’ve given up your voice and opportunity for self-determination.

Remember that all this certification and traceability nonsense began in the European Union as a means to appease European animal rights groups. And on top of that, the Grey Goose “traceability program” came about because the Humane Society of the United States took legal action against Grey Goose and host of other retailers by exploiting a provision in the 1951 Fur Products Labeling Act.

Certification and traceability has been an artifact of the animal rights movement from day one, and it's being fast-tracked by Grey Goose and NAFA as a way of bypassing state and local trapping regulations.

I agree good post

Again,C+T has absolutely nothing to do with appeasing Antis whatsoever.
On the contrary it is a powerful weapon against the antis propaganda.