Beaver from my area were bringing $35 in 1996 . Adjust for inflation today that would be about $67 . Gas was around $1.12 here back then . So this season they are saying $20 tops on beaver - so what ? $12 average??? With $4.60 gas now ? If they need them so bad , let them go out and trap them. Once again the trapper gets the crumbs.

Could create an opportunity for the “fun” trappers. If the regular money folks don’t trap, the hobby guys might be able to take them to the truck and see just how high they will pay to get them to leave them at the truck.

THAT would be interesting .... if everybody played along till there was a commitment to price made.

Just say 10 guys show up with 20 beaver each and they all so no to $20/pelt. Would the option for a needy buyer be to let them walk or haggle on making them stay?

Wow. What a comment.

Jerry is far from dumb and he's trapping right now.

If you get 9.00 for a pelt and another 9.00 for the castor ..that'd an 18.00 beaver..add 2 bucks for the tail and you're at 20.0tge oul.sacs and skulls also have a market


That's a good price for a beaver.

Jerry sold his beave for 7.00 a pound last sason..except his large ones that the furrier wanted.

You left out half of the equation - how much does it cost Jerry to catch and process and deliver those products?

I do think calling Jerry dumb is too harsh and uncalled for. Anyone is allowed to lose money or break even on something they love, and if it does not bother him that that everyone else is making money while he does not or maybe barely makes a profit - maybe - then that is not dumb, it is a choice he makes. I might make the same choice on a few beaver just because it is in my blood. But my question remains, what is his cost? Comparing cost to price received is what determines “a good price for beaver”.

“He just likes doing it so it doesn’t cost him anything.”

lol

I got down a rabbit hole today looking up the process of beaver felt! LOL I kind of want me one of them hats, but I'll have to catch a lot of beaver to get one!

I have made simple felt with wool. Basic procedure is to layer it in cloth, roll or fold it, beat it, squish it, flog it, wet and dry it repeatedly, that kind of simple stuff. Made fairly strong felt about 1/4” thick. The lady who taught me did not want to try with beaver because her research always referred to removing the guard hairs. I think it would still felt with the guard hairs, it would just be prickly beaver. Felt. Prickly beaver felt…

I'd bet with a little research a guy could find a reasonable way to separate it. I ain't got time for it though...maybe if I live long enough!

I was going to post to his comment yesterday but decided to bite my tongue. It had me steaming most of the day.

I think there was a "How its Made" episode on it.
It was far more involved than I imagined, that's for sure.

https://youtu.be/EGOm9EnCyVk

Basic felt “primitive style”

I think I recall using 4 or 6 layers when I did it. Been a decade or two.

Maybe i will start making some beaver felt trappers caps and selling them to you trapperman folks. Maybe put a big ole magnebed logo on every one just for shameless self promotion, like sports teams do…

I’d like to offer my humble opinion on this subject…bear with me, I’ve only been doing it for 30+ years and maybe I’m still a ‘dumb trapper’ by Mr. Groenwold’s opinion. You can rest assured no one will see a $20 average on beaver this year. Even Guy Groenwold himself said $20 top…and I guarantee that’s the carrot to get you to his wagon! If you think that even 1 or 2% get that, you’re wrong. And he will more than average it out on the rest! Nothing more than a gimmick!

He wants to lure you in and buy your shearable beaver at bottom prices. That’s how he operates.

I'm getting $40 bounty per beaver from loggers, $10 last year for green pelts, and about $8 per beaver for castor from Paul. $58 per beaver- I think I'll trap hard again this year

Maybe I should just borrow the money for a sheet of plywood, and finish this fall. Then, sell when the market is more favorable. I've got several green that are frozen, I'd like to unload, but something tells me if he wants them bad now, he'll want them worse later if no one sells right away. I've never been good at making money when "the time is right" so probably won't this time either! Lol

ugh, Am I the only trapper that is glad someone is buying fur still?? Yes I'd like to make money but I very seldom have fun without spending $$.

At this point they aren't buying it , you're donating it to them.

Unfortunately not. It is all about standards.