I didn't notice any prices in that letter?

Buy low-sell high.
Beaver is in demand.Good chance for profit for the middleman.

Middleman can go catch them himself for fun then.

Nope, neither did I. Only thing I've seen from GFW are top prices in their earlier media releases. How often does that get paid out (rhetorical). All I see is GFW wishing trappers to sell them beaver so they can make quota and profit in the hatters market at the trapper's potential expense. Personally, I would rather have a guaranteed bottom price with a hope of higher prices due to quality than a hopeful price of the top that 99% never see with no information what downgrades will cost the trapper. At least then trappers would have information to make informed decisions. JMO! But then again I can see were the middleman may have to give back to trappers some of their profits or suffer $$$ losses from missed quota numbers when trappers can make upfront decisions rather than being presented an unrevealed take it or leave it price after expending vast amounts of time, energy and money.

I also understand that some will continue to trap for reasons other than and exclusive of the fur prices they will receive.

is there any hatter makers that buy direct from trappers

Sounds to me like low prices and the lack of trappers for the same reason we are getting near the low and prices may soon increase. GWF is hunting for beaver and some other items and not that many to be found.

The fur market has reached the point where it really doesn't matter if there is a FUR market...ar least down here in the deep South it doesn't.

most all the "middlemen " and country buyers are gone now. that tells you what profit there is in buying. i miss the old time country buyers, groney provides a good service whether you like the prices or not! where will you sell when those buyers are gone? supply and demand contol the market prices not the buyers... keep whinning and merry christmas

FHA provides the trapper with a platform for open bidding from all the hatter buyers national and international. Then they take 11% That's as close as you'll get to direct sales into the hatter market.

BTW, I've heard from reputable sources that both Australia and Belgium are very active in this market.

you forgot a few more add on prices for the buyer
per pelt charge
shipping
broker charges
fuel tax charge
and a few more additions maybe Miss W can shine in

I once researched this. NAFA put out the video "From Fashion to Flowage" and it was claimed, I believe, that only one place in the U.S. removes the hair for felting? I don't know if hat manufacturers buy the pelts and have them processed into fibers, or more middlemen buy the pelts and have them processed and then sell the fibers to hat manufacturers. Much of the felt is a blend of beaver and other fibers. I often have wondered why we don't just shave the beaver like wool?

I was just referring to the trappers charges. There is a little bit more for 'express' charges as well.

I will be going with FHA this year and hope there is a positive bounce .

Dont forget those charges go back to the trappers to run our auction house.Not out the door to someone else.

Still not in the trappers pocket no matter how you slice it.

Comes right down to it with the commission on the trapper, per pelt fees and commission on the buyers there's not enough difference to argue about.

Yes it is in the trappers pocket,otherwise we would have to keep it going with money from the trappers pocket like when we got it started.
And when fur prices are high beyond what is needed to keep our auction house going,the RPC pay out directly to the trapper.
And that decision is made by the board of directors.

Knowing where to sell your pelts depending on a rising or falling market can make a huge difference compared to a steady market.

You also did not mention that FHA only provides an opportunity for trappers in some select areas. There is a lot of the lower 48 that they do not serve where beaver are plentiful. NAFA served a lot more areas of the country but FHA does not even want to discuss providing opportunity in most of the now unserved areas. And they will not accept direct shipments even to their US warehouse. Pelts have to go through their agent that does not exist for many states that were served by NAFA.

GFW and other independents are the only opportunity many states have.And GFW has expanded service areas a lot since NAFA folded.

I certainly do not see FHA as a knight is shining armour that is going to be the trappers best friend. But I also understand that your mileage may vary if you live in an area that they serve.

The same thing happens with country buyers. The profit they make goes into buying more fur, and keeping on the road and doors open. You don't think they have expense?

I dobt anyone got a profit sharing cheque when fur prices were high enough from a company owned by someone else.Or a say in how the company is run.
The profits go back to the trappers at FHA.
Lots of trappers are cashing in their RPCs right now to tie them over in the down market.Which is OK.
Me,I will leave mine with our auction house.
Another thing,the fur drop offs and local pick up routes are done by local trappers and they are paid for it.

Nothing wrong with selling fur anywhere you want as long as you are happy with what you get for it.
A lot of trappers are loyal to FHA because they or their familys had a hand in getting it going.