Personally, for myself, I could care less what the market looks like. When I have dreams about trapping, it's never been about the fur check. I dream of yellow eyes in headlights, or a big boar coon with its' hand in a tube. For me, its never been about money, and most of the time when I sell my fur to our local buyer, I just ask for store credit instead of a paycheck so its less of a financial strain on him. I guess I'm just grateful to be able to trap, and have many years ahead perfecting my craft. I tell my brother how lucky I am to love a hobby that has little to no competition, and that adds REAL VALUE to our local farmers and conservationists. I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to have other trappers all around me. As far as trying to figure out how to make it financially work, if you "rely" on the fur check to get you through the winters, I suggest working harder in the summer doing something different to save up. A common theme on this thread has been how all the profitability is out of trapping. IMO, this is correct, and it's not going to change. I'm just going to continue to embrace every season with nothing but gratitude and a positive attitude, and if the price of furs go back up in 30 years, I'll be able to make a (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) of a nice side income. Until then, Ill just keep doing it for free. It sure beats the heck out of sitting on a couch staring at TV.

I'll say it for you Dirt..... Enough of the touchy , feely crap....lol

Seems like a lot of people arent trapping this year. Are trapping supply places suffering?

Im not buying into the "junk" fur is killing the market. My best coon would be a lower grade Minnesota coon but premier to a Georgia coon or any species for that matter.

Good question, I placed an order with Ken at the trap store at FHA and they were having difficulty filling orders due to back orders from some suppliers. Not sure if that's an anomaly.

Fur industry is booming here.
Gotta make a delivery of tanned beaver to an out of town customer on Thursday.
Shipped a bunch of beaver to a new tannery a couple weeks ago.This guy does heavier leather(but nice and supple) than International Fur Dressers (I checked out his product a while back) but that is good,the heavy leather beaver are better for mitts,so its nice to have both the thin leather for hats etc and thicker leathered beaver on hand for custom orders.

And here I had to put my hip boots on for that post by Boco that you found so profound.

That wasn't what I said. I said it is plugging up the market. When you have thirty thousand II DMG coons in 1X size that you can't move, the auction house will throw them away, after all your work you put into them. That's the reality of this, or they may sell them for 25 or 50 cents. Because no one wants them, and it is very selective demand for the best. What I am trying to get across is don't put the time into the poor end, you will regret it. It will change one day, but for the time being, that's what needs to happen. And the rona go away, wishful thinking! lol

Just like any other industry-those who adapt to the new will thrive,those who dont will wither.
But there will always be a fur industry.

No idea. It could be. Covid has lot do with it. Temporary thing ? Long time improve. Just when things get slightly better, ranch fur cause bad fur market. Nafa close. Groenwold is doing pretty good in bad times. Lucky he still buying an surving

Tanned fur should still sell?

Hopefully the tanned fur still sells.

If the market does go the way some of you are saying it might, my friends and family will have lots of fur clothes and blankets

If the industry decentralizes then the smaller firms can and will be willing to handle smaller lots of fur and that may encourage more individuals over time to procure the pelts and develop markets and relationships with many different firms. I don't know how many pelts were sold or produced in the 30s to 70s when New York and Europe were the main production places but that may give us some idea of what a smaller but active market may look like or use. I would just guess that wild fur numbers would have been higher then the last couple decades and the ranch fur worldwide would have been lower. It would take some time and some hiccups to get that new old model back up to speed.

Bryce

Supply and demand and sub-par fur economy .
Until we hold ourselves to account selling because someone will take it off your hands for a couple bucks prices will not change until they have to raise the price,,, until someone will go catch them.
Sending in everything just will hurt you and us in the end .
Moderation,
Trapping will be demand for years to come just might not be selling fur in demand.
Beef steaks, lamb chops, chicken ,and eggs and bacon cost money.
And protecting them has a price also. Bartering, or cash, or lease for hunting and fishing. All have value imo.

OK, got it, I read ya wrong. But, as I said early on, my good stuff isnt getting much more if it sells at all. At least thats how my print out looks to me..Yes- many things need to happen for it to get straightened out.

I don't think you all understand. No shops of luxury items are open in Europe and Asia. Millions of garments that were made for last season are still there. The auction houses are full of unsold furs as well as every speculator and fur buyer has a stock pile.

Then you got people thinking they can still make it trapping. Its over for a while. Maybe a loong time. LLL

There are still plenty of people out there willing to pay to have nuisance animals removed. Sometimes you just gotta find another way.

Yet, as a number of people mentioned Groenwold is still moving (buying and selling) product at very low prices, and some are applauding his business model. While it is encouraging that some fur is still moving, it makes you wonder if this will be the final nail in the auction house and competative marketing of fur.

Maybe Groeney is just doing it for fun also, and isn't concerned about making money at it?