Why trap now? Why not wait?

Because it's the season

It's called "Ethics"!

Because if we don't trap now there will be over a foot of snow and ice covering every pond and swamp.

Critters may change their patterns and move off the land we have permission to trap.

Some of the surplus animals may succumb to the elements and or be shot by deer hunters and not benefit our fur harvest and check.

It will take longer to do everything and the trap line will be shorter.

We may be able to get off work now but maybe not so much near Christmas time when others at work have off.

The Wisconsin dnr wants harvest info for beaver in November.

Rifle season then muzzle loader season then antlerless season then the holiday hunts have two leggers walking through every piece of public land and leave gut piles that change patterns of animals.

Some of our landowners want certain critters removed as soon as season opens.

I am sure I can think of more if you are not satisfied.

I don't understand gatekeepers the, "if you don't do what I do you shouldn't call yourself a "real" trapper" mentality.

I never said this. ^^^^^. ........ I have no problems with people trapping or hunting during any open season. I was just asking for people's opinions. That's it.

because they want to get less for there fur and back up the supply of worthless pelts

Because the taxidermist market is paying me better than the raw fur market will this year and they are buying and have orders to fill now. Coon are prime now, fox and coyote are close. I can catch more in these conditions than when it is frozen and snowy. There are many reasons to trap now.

Just to be clear never said you did. Was not attacking you Spring. Sorry if it came off like I was. I see how it seemed that way.

It was more a comment on the tone these threads usually take. Give it a few more replies and that sentiment will almost surely show up.

Some good looking skunks in the last week male coons prime up first had a guy drop off a badger the back was flat but like said the taxi market is not buying fur for the primeness. But I’m not trapping yet but the fur is coming in anyway. LOL

What is the price difference this year between prime and unprime?

A buck tree fittey

Castor,,,,,,,, I am a castor trapper,,,,,, “ hi castor trapper “

Because they decompose faster in warm weather.

I have time off from work now, I'll be out of town for the next 3 weeks.

For my craft work, the fur right now is plenty good.

I don't plan on selling much, if anything, this year to a fur buyer. I'll tan it and use it in crafts.

One can have "prime" fur that has lost or is losing value. To me it is better to state at what stage of fur development is the pelt or fur at it's highest market value. You can get prime coon pelts that are starting to rub, one can get prime rats and beaver that are showing wear as they go in and out of dens etc. Coyotes can be prime and have their necks rubbed so to me this prime stuff really is a very questionable or subjective issue. I have caught 4 coons in rat traps and all will be 3xl-5xl. Will flesh to see how slate or blue they are. One was a very nice big barren female with no blemishes and good color. She is marketable for sure but at the current price levels.
Several trappers can not trap during the "prime" seasons and thus they catch fur that has less market value but they are doing what they like when they can. Back when prices were much higher most of the coons caught in WI were not even close to being "prime" and we did not hear any concern about that then.

Bryce

There's no shortage of fur bearers to trap and land to trap them on in most of the country. Once your catches drop off, for the most part, you can just trap somewhere else. You can likely trap as much as you want.

There's no significant value in most fur. Most trappers could make considerably more working overtime on their regular job than fur trapping. Animal damage control is where most of the money in trapping is. Fur trapping is becoming more of a hobby and less of a profitable occupation.

Keith

It’s about the quality in times like this. Only offer for sale quality hides. What you do personally and/or teaching the next generation is a personal decision.

Ok, hold up here a minute. This is a post I would like BOCO to chime in on. I hear prime, blue, rubbed and a lot of different terms being tossed around. It is my understanding that prime has more to do with the leather side condition. A well furred animal is totally different. Where I live the coyote probably have more fur in July than a southern coyote does I. January. That doesn't make the Southern coyote less prime. Less value maybe but has nothing to do with primeness. Am I correct in this statement? Wait, let me get a soda and some popcorn before you all start in on me.

Butter with extra salt please

Well, for the first time in probably 17 years I can say I won't have a trap set on November 1st. I've been killing them already. Why? We are overrun with raccoons and coyotes and it beats any alternative I could find to pass my time. I won't set a single trap this year but I've already put down 35 raccoons and seven coyotes. Prior to the enjoyment I've found out of thermals trapping was definitely a big part of what I did every fall. Prices regardless. When it was time to trap I trapped. I was usually done trapping when most guys were waiting on the leather to prime and ended up fighting ice and snow. I enjoyed every second of it.