I increase my marten average by $32 dollars on every animal by a simple method of preserving the feet and making a kids totem.Each sells for $8.Cant keep up with the demand.
I cut the feet off when skinning and throw them in a jar of secret preservative,then in the spring I wash them and form them and dry.
In spare time I punch a hole and string them.

Nice, like rabbits feet.


In the old days, we use to sell blankets and beads down here.

Sell to tourists that attend the pow wows.
The natives are mostly looking for more expensive stuff,like full tanned skins to use in their regalia,or tanned pelts for fur sewing.
Tourists will spend on inexpensive stuff for their kids.

I've always been a big believer in adding the value to a "raw" mat'l.

Instead of crying about it figure out how you can add value and sell them yourself.

Boco has done well and I applaud his wisdom in this matter.

I like the simplicity. I'm pretty sure I could oversupply demand.

Great job Boco! I would buy them from you if I ever was able to attend a pow wow!

Chris

I actually dont know how many it would take to oversupply the demand.I know I sell between 50 and 100 at each pow wow I attend in the summer.So I always sell out what I catch.I have turned down wholesale offers for that reason.
I have no interest in becoming a middle man sourcing feet from other trappers.It is just a use for something that is otherwise waste.
I used to have a box of fur scraps for the kids to take for free at my booth,but the same kids kept coming back until it was empty in about an hour.Now I charge a quarter for each piece of scrap fur that way it lasts a bit longer and more kids get to partake.

I'm trying to figure out a way to use the huge preserved lynx feet.Too big to go around the neck,any ideas?

crook..

Make a back scratcher outta them

Dull them some, put'm on a stick and sell them for back-scratchers.

Ear muffs!

Claws are too deadly,rip your ears to shreds.
De-clawed that might be an option.I will experiment.

A friend of mine figures his beaver earn him about $600 apiece by the time he's done with them. About half of the skin ends up as typical stuff like hats, slippers, and mitts, but the easy money is the cheaper trinket stuff like Boco is talking about.

Impressive

I make a good return on the inexpensive stuff because of volume.I make good money when I sell a few tanned wolves,otters lynx beaver etc but not everyone has several hundred dollars to drop on one item.
But everyone attending a festive type event wants to drop 10 or 20 bucks,and kids 5 or 10.You need to offer an entire price range of goods to make good money.
I can undercut competition because I am my own supplier,that is why I always get offers to wholesale my stuff to the competition.But I dont often need to do that,as I know what I have will sell out at retail.
When people see the crowd of kids at my booth it attracts others to come and buy.Its like a big bait when trapping-attract the birds and voles and the big stuff takes notice.

so your a carny???

Boco, how about a beaver nose with whiskers to adorn the kids face masks?

Might be a bit prickly.I sell surplus tanned beaver faces to the kids for $2 bucks but the noses have been removed prior to tanning.

No I was going to pow wows long before I started vending there.
They are held in beautiful spots always on a lake or river and camping is free and everyone is very laid back,get up in the morning and go for a swim,and the food is good,lots of traditional food,fish,frybread etc.
I really enjoy going to the pow wows.