Was just reminiscing old times spent at the country fur buyers. The 1st buyer a can remember by name that I sold to was Larry Shoover in Chelsea IA , Richard Reagon,Walt Boyd and of course Mr Grant in the rat wagon, maybe Bernie B can remember some of these north IA boys , oh yah there's the Gorly boys Rusty and Chris's I believe, selling fur in the old church basement in Ventura IA. Don't know if Bernie remembers me but I met him at that church fur house when they had some freezers go out and some local trappers helped finish some fur.
Rich

Here in the interior we had H E Goldberg buyers in the 70’s. Then Ron Long and Dean Wilson started.

Dean Wilson was responsible for many young trappers getting their start with his encouragement and fair practices. His shop was the place to meet many of Alaskan bush trappers. I truly miss my time with Dean!

Here in the middle of Lower Michigan we've had a lot of fur buyers over the years.

Where I'm from, a man known as Perry Steele bought fur for so many years most don't remember when he didn't. He was a 6 foot plus 300 pound man.
A couple of guys came up from Saginaw once when Perry was i good shape to steal from him. A mistake to say the least.
Years later when Perry and wife were a lot older a repeat this time and the two of them were beaten up. Some money was taken.

Back in the 1960s when I was a young trapper I sold my first furs to Ezra Vincent from Chippewa Falls Wisconsin. He worked with my grandfather at the old Gillette Tire Company. I also sold to Leon FYE from Lake Hallie. Another fellow from Earl Wisconsin bought a lot of fox from me back in the '70s. I also sold some Furs to Lance Squires who is also a T-man member. His dad who has passed was probably at the time the best under ice Beaver trapper in the state.

Back in 1980 sold fur to “one eyed” Al Gordon. With just one eye he could still grade very well. lol Was really nice to young kids.

Sold my fur thru most of the 1960's to Larry Plante of Culvers Lake, NJ. He was the first president of the NJTA. Great guy who like so many others now traps in the sky. After he passed his wife asked me to sell his traps and related stuff. I kept a homemade trapping hook he had and have used it trapping snappers since 2008.

Sold to a buyer in Gilbertsville, named White always called Skunky White, was an amazing place for a kid to watch and see all the things that mattered to me.

I sold most of my fur to "Dutch".

How bout Hollis Perrin then Don Perrin. In Corning Iowa, good people there.

Great to hear about these old buyers and there stories, many of them trapped and most were willing to help with advise an old buyer in IA showed me the correct way to skin a rat and in no time I was skinning rats in 30 to 40 seconds. Ceep em coming guys realy enjoy reading about these men and you're experiences.

Sold my fur to man when I was a young teen to a man in Eden, NY. Can't remember his name. He was more than fair with his prices to me and my buddy. We stood in line and you could watch and listen to him grade and buy fur with the people ahead of us. After a month or so of bringing in fur every 2 or 3 days in the round he sent us around back to his fur shed where 3 guys were skinning and fleshing. He told them to teach us how to skin and flesh. Went to that fur shed a few times and was hooked. I wish I could thank that man for what he did for two curious trapping kids. Because of him I try to pass it down to others and teach put up and proper handling of fur.

I believe I sold to them once, don't remember there names. I remember them fleshing rats In a ringer and giant burlap bags full of rats and fur out Coons that were snared and sewn.

nate.
I looked up corning, I'm pretty sure that was the place. The buyer had mentioned heading down to Shenandoah to trap. I olso sold some fur to a buyer in MO. I think the town was leon. He was an old man who said he just dabbled in buying.

Before I went to AK, I wrote to Dean and asked what I should bring for trapping equipment. He wrote me a nice letter explaining what he thought I should bring. During trapping season when I lived in North Pole, my wife and I would go to Fairbanks to go shopping. Well, she went shopping and dropped me of at the Klondike Motel where I visited with Dean. Dean bought fur out of a motel room there. Dad came up for a visit in 89 and we went to Copper Center to dip salmon from the Copper River. On the way we stopped at Dean's and had a nice visit. He was a good man, and I miss talking with him.

Same here, started selling to him in the '70's at his barn. Bought and sold with him ever since and really miss him.

It was in the 80’s and I dropped by to visit Dean one afternoon. He was handling lynx pelts. As we talked Dean said he is loosing money on the pelts. He went on to say that he is paying too much. Well Dean you should stop then I replied. Dean came back with, but those guys out there trapping hard and are counting on me. We need you here next year my reply. He stopped buying and thanked me several times.

Dean first of all was a Trapper. He did a lot for the Trapping community. He was selfless. I considered him a friend and best of all after riding along on my line and breaking the mystery of wolves 2 days after his ride along I caught my first wolf after a bunch of years trying.

I don't remember the year. It was in the 1990s (maybe spring 1993?). Loaded up the airplane with beaver plews. Drove to Fairbanks. Rented a car and drove from the airport to the Klondike. Dean and Ada always a joy to deal with. Beaver prices had plummeted, and I was ready for the poor prices. Dean looked through my 70 pelts and gave me an offer. I was more than happy. Took the little scrap from Dean over to Ada (she wrote the checks). She was not happy, as she thought he paid way too much. Dean told her to write the check, then he told me they were the best-handled beaver he'd seen that year. I was one proud puppy. Many times, even when I didn't have fur, I would stop into the Klondike just to sit and chew the fat with Dean Wilson. What a fine gentleman!

Sold my first furs to Ned Stark in Eldred, Pa. Always sold it green when I was young but he always went out of his way to make a kid feel like it was the best fur he ever saw. Then he would kindly give you some hints on how to get more next time.

I sold my first muskrats back in the early 60s to George Mace of West Brooklyn ,IL. Then to Grant Groenewold. He had a daytime stop during the week at a gentlemans residence. I would leave my skins there on Wednesday night and pick up my check after school the next day. Always treated me well.

Back in the late 70s and 80s...in Georgia:

Plott Fur Company..Griffin, GA
Luther Overstreet..Tifton, GA
Hoke Arnold...Argyle, GA
RM Horne..Glenwood, GA (if I remember correctly)

There were at least a couple more...I can't remember the names.

Oh, and Jerry Lee...Alma, GA (late 90s and 2000s)

I sure miss those days......