Clarence wells in Lawrence ks.
Carl ditch in Leavenworth ks
Boals and barrow in Denison ks.

Any in this area ever sell to Louis Bell? I did from the time I was seven and older. He was buying out of Harveyville Ks, but ran routes all around the area. Was a big rosy cheeked Irishman that loved to help youngsters. I sold to Louie till after I got home from Nam, but the best story I have about him was when I brought a big box of rat pelts in when I was in the service before I left for nam. Was stationed in Colorado, and had a few beaver and those rats. First thing he said, after the howdy do’s, was where did you get all those Co mushrats? I couldn’t contain myself and said, how do you know that those rats came fromCo? He grinned and said, he!! boy, anyone can see that they’re all the same size, that’s the way they are in Colorado! I miss that old boy, he was a good one, and sure nuff got me off on the right foot!

Sold to Ed Bauer a few times too in the following years. He was a dandy too!

Bernie you may not remember me the only time I remember meeting you was at the Gourleys in Ventura the night there freezers had gone down. I believe it was you me Lance Thou and Tracy there . My name is Rich kriegh . I distinctly remember a story you had told about a deer chasing dog a rag and a dog house. I'll leave it at that, I can tell you Mr bud hall spoke highly of you when we visited . He was impressed with your ability to trap coon. I know I saw more than a few coon toggled to a heard wood stake by a cable, but alot more spins lol .

eedup
I think I sold to Richard between 85 to about 92 maybe. When did you work for him. The last time I remember being there I ran in to Tracy Gourley he was telling me about a mink set called the know nothing set. I think it was a Hall set, Richard had asked me if I had figured out how to snair mink around the neck because so many had snair marks on the neck. I miss long lining for mink and coon in the great fur state of IA.

Gulo
I sold to Lars and Gary. Another local buyer was Stan Sweet from Bonners Ferry. I always felt they treated me well and were happy to see me when I walked in the door. Another buyer had a business in Sandpoint called the Stove Corral, his name slips my mind right now.

Ken Russell was the buyer from Sandpoint.

Irwin Goldberg, I nearly always did better selling him my beaver than I would get at auction.
I loved going to his original location on Western Ave near the waterfront of downtown Seattle; back when Seattle was a nice place.

Sold to Les Carol in Skidmore Missouri and I always liked saling to Don veirs in unionville mo.

When I was in South Dakota in the early 70's, I recall selling to Mardians up around Pierre. I also sold to a man in Belle Fourche.

When I started trapping in the late 70s early 80s, i knew nothing other than the fact that I wanted to trap. Things were a lot different then. There were many great trappers, but every one was closed mouthed when it came to advice. I had a local buyer named Harvey Cole in Northome MN. I would bring in the few furs that I accidentally caught, and he would buy them for prices that I couldn't imagine! He would also show me how to treat them better, and give me tidbits of advice on traps and trapping. I still remember the first fisher that I caught paying more than my week's wages. I would always buy more traps from him and still have extra money to give my children something special for Christmas. Without Harvey, I doubt that I would have stuck with it and ended up where I am today.
Thanks Harvey!

Louis Paisly out of Sherril Iowa was my hero. Anyone here remember him ? Had a trap collection on the walls of his fur shed was amazing. Ginseng roots hanging from the rafters, Burned coon fat in the stove and while he scraped and stretched fur. Always had a cold beer or us teenagers. Bought our first rats coon after teaching us how to put them up.

I grew up and went on to be a fur buyer myself for awhile, flying into villages buying fur in the dead of winter, and selling tanned fur and supplies, attending auctions are some of the best memories I have in the old noggen.

When I was in HS I sent the few furs I would catch along with the two fox bounty trappers that took their fur to LaCrosse. This was 1964-66. I started trapping again in 1980 and took my furs to the huge WTA sales in Cleveland WI. These were 2-day sales with over 100 lots per day and all day affairs. Usually 20 or more buyers were there bidding and many carried their beer or drinks with them as they sorted, graded and bid. They all had helpers the WTA provided but many had assistants that would bring them lunch or drinks. Many were in pretty tough shape by mid afernoon. Semi loads of fur and yes some loud exchanges at times as well. I can't remember the total numbers of all the fur but the piles were huge.

Bryce

Dean, unless I missed it, you're the only one here to mention Ludy, I'm kinda surprised by that. He was a character few people who ever met him would forget.

We've sold fur to Joe Mattey and Dean Wilson. Both were helpful, and we usually got more than we expected. I had the distinct pleasure of tagging along with my friend Jimmy on his trap line one March, and Dean Wilson came along too. I ran a 7-dog team, Jimmy and Dean were on snow machines. They hoped local wolves would smell my team and run our trail. Dean gave me lots of compliments on my team, and at night in the cabin, he told us lots of dog stories. He was such a positive person to be around. He was especially fond of my big leader Andy. I treasure those memories, and I miss visiting with Dean.

Old, Grand Groenwald bought a lot of furs around here too. I started out at maybe 12 selling to Gene Davis in Barnes City. I guess that would of been 40 years ago now. Jim Smith in Toledo bought a lot of my stuff back in the day too.

The first guy I ever sold to had the last name of Ryan and was in Troy, Ohio. He paid very very poorly. I talked to a friend who coon hunted and he recommended a buyer whose last.name was Long, who was just outside of Troy. Long paid much better. Twice when I was selling to Long, Ryan came in to sell to him and I learned he was just buying cheap, driving a few miles and selling what he bought for 2 to 3 times the money.

Later on, I sold to Lester Ison in Greene County.

Keith

Used to be several around back during the fur boom. S E Iowa Messler, west Burlington, Mershmans St Paul Louie Season Fort Madison. There were several traveling buyers then as well.

Nobody mentioned Ludy Sheda - Iowa and a guy 1st name Ray (forgot his last name) from Shenandoah Iowa,,,,,,, or Willy Stevens - Michigan (when I sold him my coons in '77 he claimed he bought 40,000 coon in 1977-78 fur season). And a fellow still in the fur game selling supplies Keith Winkler of Sterling Fur and Tool - Ohio. Marvin Mallow - Ohio (I think). Sold or bought from these guys a Longggggggg time ago........................................... the mike

I remember Ludy Sheda! He used to be auctioneer at NFH conventions. Quite the character. Sold me a pile of old coyote boards plus some used Montgomery 2s and always made me feel like I just got the deal of a lifetime.

Some buyers I’ve sold to around here since about 1980s…

Roger B. At Crete, NE Turkey Creek Furs
Dennis V. At Pickrell, NE Blue Vally Fur
Allen Papp at Nebr City Papp Furs
Burr Furs at Adams, NE
And sold some coon one year to Petska Fur at Ord, NE

These days I sell to…
Kevin J. (Grizz) At Palmyra, NE Jones Fur Buying

Ken Conley, Shell, Smith and Warren Crum in NY and PA buyers, Fowler, Mott, Doney, Schaefer, Bridlestein