Hi Bryce. Can you get down in the mud with me, I don't comprehend like I used to. I ask because I see a contradiction. Why is it that the suppliers are encouraging harvest as to handle more product, but yet that doesn't meet the criteria for supply and demand?

Groney has said the demand was up on hatter beaver for the last three or four years, until someone is at the wagon.

All of my coyotes are getting rolled vacuum packed and put in the freezer. Keep them off the market. As soon as they run out. They will pay us back for the high fuel prices. If you get what I mean. 🙂

I did not say that I like the way business is done, but it is the way many do operate and for those that respond due to money be that low or high then their pitch works. For those of us that mud on not so much. I will state however that my dry land lines have shrunk considerably over the last 4-6 years but as much with increased time searching for and trapping rats as not trapping at all.
If Bezos can be worth a trillion and not pay any taxes I don't feel too bad losing some dollars doing something that I find enjoyable and I don't believe me catching 50-60 coons is causing your opportunities to stay low, not with a few million in the store houses waiting yet today. For those not trapping now it may be good that you are learning not to as there may well be a long tunnel yet to go.
Bryce

Better to lose money on Trapping Hunting and Fishing than lose it on Hookers Booze and Gambling.
Maybe not as much fun but way healthier.

A lose , lose prop.... not for me.

Regardless of the market I have beaver to catch. Skinning or ditching them is the question?

Well I’ve got things to trap here whatever the prices are. I’ve blown money on way worse my whole life…like Husker games, fancy fishing crap, fast food, you name it.
At least trapping is fun.
Jim

I eat em'.
And have fun catching a few.
Win, win

I have a 2004 F350 CCLB 6.0 Powerstroke with 260k, a 2016 F150 SuperCrew, 3.5L ecoboost, and a 1997 Toyota Avalon. It's really not a concern about overloading the energy grid, but if you consider the price to drive the electric truck cost .02 cents per mile vs my other vehicles which are right at .30 cents per mile(not the avalon). Just depending on how much you drive is what is the deciding factor if it's worth it to you or not honestly, I have hunted twice a day since the opener(20 days approx, 50 miles each trip), and I would have got crushed in fuel prices had I had to buy diesel or gas.

@20 Scout. I'm not sure if it's that drastic, but I do agree that I would think differently if I lived in NY still.

You guys who are arguing against holding onto the fur this year just baffle me. When is one year when the majority of trappers got together and held a majority of the fur? We are literally the only industry that doesn't engage in supply and demand and instead just have been marching blindly since 1980 in hopes that fur prices will go back up. I'm trapping full time this year again, but I am planning to try something different with half of the fur this year. The math just doesn't work out especially with high fuel costs for somebody to drive to pickup furs and then to resell them.

LOL.....

I'm still trapping this year. I'll sell my fur no matter what as I have nowhere to store it for all the guys who are going to store it, good for you. I enjoy trapping and it gives me something to do.

I agree that losing money trapping is a lot better than setting at home grumpy that I’m not out trapping. my wife says she doesn’t want to put up with my attitude in the winter when I’m not trapping.

I agree with Crowfoot. I will be trapping beaver this year, primarily for the meat....and I really enjoy doing it.

Moosetrot

Alway loved trapping and discussions years ago I said I never did it for the money. I did not do it for the money. This year going to take my hill bow and mess around in the woods. Shoot a Turk or deer a doe I hope and stump shoot. Bird view and enjoy my days in the woods. There a shortage of everything to raise prices but not fur so that’s my plan. Around here beef is not fit to eat and a doe is definitely much better. When it pouring down rain in morn I just get up and watch bird feeder. Heck to get old but under these situations I at least got a plan. Good luck to you trappers. I been in all the years to present

Sounds blissful!

I say go ahead and trap but I agree 100% with that statement. The bottom line is that those who wish to buy the fur must be willing to pay cost of production plus a reasonable wage to those who produce the fur. If they don’t pay what it costs plus a wage, they are taking advantage of those who are just trying to get out and have some adventure. So I guess I would say trap what you want/need for your own use, but do not sell at under cost of production - unless you are comfortable subsidizing the businesses that are making money using that fur as a feedstock for their products. They make money, you lose money. Maybe the hat maker is your buddy, or maybe you just want to subsidize any business that uses fur, everyone has their personal angle, but I do agree that the buyers need to pay cost of production plus a wage if they really expect to have a reliable supply chain for the fur. Trap away folks, but it is just “taking what they’re giving” to sell fur under production cost. I cant bring myself to do it. I can’t afford to do it.

Edit : I also think that the businesses who rely on fur as a feedstock need to be aware that without the producers of that fur earning a fair wage, numbers of trappers dwindle, trapping as a whole suffers, and we lose more battles. Ultimately it is a threat to their business and their income as well. hsus certainly understands that.

Walleye, he wants a look at your shearable beaver with hopes of buying at hatter prices…don’t believe me? Take the to his truck and find out for yourself!

Ok so I don’t understand folks that are giving these guys a hard time. They are one of the few left keeping a market going for you guys. And you are knocking them. If you don’t want to use them fine don’t. But please stop the negative. Mama use to tell me “if you don’t have something good to say keep your mouth shut you might just learn something.” I appreciate him coming on and giving us something to look forward to. For all the negative that is out there. He has the best information I’ve heard in a long time. Thank you Sir for the update.

You’ve never met Guy, have you.