Is there that much of a difference between the 2? I can't say I have ever seen the fur quality of a Midwest coon but it's crazy that what I would think are really nice eastern have no value?? Maybe there is a video that shows the difference in fur quality?? Thanks guys

Numerous videos on YouTube about grading raccoon. Just search "grading racoon pelts". GWF has a video there, maybe start with it. I personally don't know too much about raccoon other than I don't like them in coyote and bobcat sets.

Thanks Yes sir!! I will check it out!!

I've never dealt with eastern coon, but I've handled tens of thousand Midwestern coon, and I can tell you there is a big difference even between regions of the Midwest. Both in fur quality and color.
I could always tell when a dealer nears Galesburg Illinois was trying to slip some Indiana coon thay he had bought at a trappers sale in with his coon that I was buying. The coon from his part of Illinois were of much better color.

Dont worry no one wants our coon either!!

So is the difference due to genetics or environment?

Can anyone ID areas on a map where the best come from?

Shame they are not worth anything. Thick as ticks around here.

Corner of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois has some of the best from what I've heard.

Depends on what you're calling Midwest. My coon in SE Ohio are basically semi heavy. Farther nort and west you start getting into better fur quality

This without a doubt.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to skin in this market either.

Easterns have darker colors in general then the western heavies. Their guard hairs also are not as straight there is more curl or twist in them
There is a progression from eastern, north central to western heavies and then there are others that are centrals, semi heavies, then coat coon. There are all sorts of sub grades in each of those very general groupings I have listed.
Where I live in WI I average percentage of north centrals are usually higher then westerns. I also have more C and D colors then even 30-40 miles west of me. I would think it is similar throughout the coon range but my females are usually better color with thinner hides and if they are big enough are my more valuable coons. Canadian is also another grade and they are just a thicker, generally darker colored as well.

In todays market I would even think the regions have shrunk even more and color along with fur quality is really critical.
Back in the days when coons were marketable many WI trappers would start day one catch a 100 or 200 in say 2-3 weeks and get $7-$8 averages in the grease. Those who waited a month generally would catch less then half that number, (fewer coon and harder conditions) and many times could not get $2 more then the earlier ones. Putting up and shipping helped but still there really was not much sense in waiting from a return point of view. Now we live in a totally different market, where the bulk of wild fur has value below the cost of processing.

Bryce

Difference between eastern coon and midwestern coon…. About $1.50

Just substitute "raccoon" when Wyatt Earp says "Ringo". Coon need revenge for being born...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqF7ZD64bwY

If humans manage to wipe out each other without killing off the mammals, it will be raccoons and coyote that will rule temperate North America.

Awesome information guys!! I truly did not know 75% of what was just discussed! Really appreciate all the reply's!

I get a few blue hairs here each year always hoping they over take the nasty yellows, all have good heavy guard hairs

I'm in SE Iowa. 50 miles from missouri border.
50 miles north of me is US80. coon north of 80 are more desirable than mine.
At least thats what the buyers tell me.
I've sold good size well furred december coon for 5.00 in a good market. Also sold as much as $50
Waggler--Please tell the buyers around here about the good color of Galesburg coon. Galesburg is further south than me. lol
I'd like to see some coon from much further south.
Ark. tenn. etc.

just

The guy I bought from was in Galesburg, he bought from trappers and I assume he bought from around the region. He had really nice colored coon. He was also about the farthest south that I bought. Kind of at the southern edge of the coon "golden triangle". The only exception was one guy I bought from in northern Missouri; Harvey Payne.

Here's a southern coon.



This coon was killed probably late November, early December. It is an average Southern coon. It is a coon I would have ditched in Iowa.