Nice video. Thanks for taking the time to do that.

So, a question: The prices you're anticipating for this season are in Canadian dollars?

And now a comment (or two); I've noticed that the castor market is usually a late developer and until the buyers get an idea of how much material is out there they tend to be a little conservative.

2. When I've shipped to FHA the % of #1 castor they've graded out is always lower than what I would expect.... like 20% or less. The pile of #1 that Gibb pulled out looks like about 50% of what I produce.

3. I've become afraid of shipping castor for another reason. Two times I had enough leakage that the box started getting soggy and the mail service threw in the the Hazmat pile making me lose the shipment. Once Canadian post and once USPS.
When I have subsequently shipped in plastic the pods rehydrate and the buyers have to re-dry them losing me another 20-25%.

George Brady (Cascade) has recommended shipping castor in a "Depends" lined box to absorb any leakage, so some day I may try that.

And finally, I've noticed sellers on Etsy selling castor from $1 to $5 a gram (bone dry). Do they sell much at all? Anybody know?

My castor:

Like Columbo always said: "And another thing....."

Gibb, what do you feel like you lose (on average) from starting fresh weight until dry enough to sell? Obviously the #1 stuff loses a little less than the other.

I put it on TrappersReport.com and took some quick notes during lunch so they can be printed out. Thank you Jim for all of the instructional videos.

He says Canadian in the vid, when discussing prices.
So like, 87 cents, US, lol

Great vid, thanks!

I don't know what a gram is
But that's nice castor there

Your castor looks great it has the right color.

About 18% shrinkage at Fha, but to be honest it has been a long time since I shipped any there.

When you ship a lot of the #1 castor just the weight of them causes some leakage, the reason why I mentioned a couple of times that it is a hard commodity to work with.

Last season all the #2 and #3 at the international sale in June did not sell. The market I mainly refer too is the end users who take hundreds of lbs per season. You will have trapper sales in different states that may have lure makers or small buyers using for other things than the bigger buyers who take large volumes at the auction. And yes some fur buyers will buy them with contacts to the bigger end users.

One of are biggest private buyers here in Canada is recently telling his customers to hang onto their castors, at first his prices had dropped to $70,$60 and $40 and as of last week he was not buying.

Green fresh castor in the #1 and #2 grade my best guess would be close to 1/3 of their weigh from wet to semi-dry.

A fine line between dry enough, to too dry. For sure it should not be leaking all over when you are handling them but some leakage will occur if down correctly.

As for shipping a good absorbent cloth or towel helps if you line the bottom of the box or paper bag. At least a couple of layers of paper towels is the minimum I would recommend.

When you ship to auction it can take at least 2 or 3 weeks before it reaches its destination plus time for it to be opened and received, may be as long as a month.

For myself I have been lucky and able to sell face to face without shipping the last 10 years and now I am buying for GFW.

As soon as I buy it in the freezer it goes until I am ready to ship it.

Having a freezer is your best bet plus it gives you the ability to hold if you don't like the market.

Not sure how much is sold on-line not how I have ever sold it and or moved any.

Got another question for you: Do you squeeze out most of the liquid before you hang them? I've heard it both ways from buyers. Do that.... and don't do that.

Gibb. Thanks for the info.

Great work on the educational video. Especially on the grading. Regarding drying, you need to find out how your buyer wants it. I’ve never had a problem…and I’d never agree to a standard deduction! I do exactly what they want and take a weight before I ship…if they dock me, it doesn’t happen again!

I've shipped castor to fha several times . Won't do it again. I sent some that hung for a week then froze and some that hung for 2 months. Both got hit for 30%.
I'll ship all my fur there but never castor again.

Good video. Gibb explains everything how to grade. Handling and drying can cause money loss if not done correctly. Gibb also explains why your castor has a deduction when it arrives at the FHA auction. There is a deduction when sold privately also because it does not go directly to the end user. It will dry before it is to be used by the end buyer as well especially if they are using it on a larger scale.

Thanks

4 days max to dry ? Wow. Seems way too wet at that point. I've dried it in heated room with dehumidifier and for 14 days and some still leaks. Are my buyers "getting" me as i was told it's a little wet yet if it leaks ? I'm talking some good quantity 50-90 pounds. I have 30 plus pounds green in freezer at this time and am just starting to trap bvr contracts.

When you squeeze the dry castor it should feel a bit leathery and no excessive juice come out.
i dry mine for about 4-5 days,then put it in the freezer,then I take it out of the freezer 3 or 4 days before selling and let it dry a bit more.

I've found that I only lose about 15 to 20% weight from fresh to ready to sell. Once it dries to that point even another 4 days won't make it lose much more weight. Of course the fuller pods that aren't full of liquid are the ones I'm referring to.

I have never squeezed dried any castor, nor do I recommend to tie them off with string.

As for drying them you would also have to keep in mine how much moisture there is in the air, I live an hour away from Boco and here especially in the winter which starts here in November we have very little moisture in the air.

If you have more moisture like in the spring you can hang them longer.

I always have a fan running in my skinning room.

The main point I am trying to stress here is not to hang up your castor and leave it hanging until you are ready to ship/sell it.

Like Boco has said you are looking for a leathery feel to them NOT a rock hard feeling.

Look closely at Beaverpeeler castor picture that is exactly what the buyers want.

If you have a buyer you regularity use, BvrRetriver comment is right on work with the person who is buying your castor from you.

I bought some this week that was blackish and moldy I did not pay as much for it because of that.

For me in this area 3 to 4 days,
after 2 days I flip the pods over to dry the center that was touching.
than into the freezer,
Before I ship or sell out of the freezer onto a paper towel for at least 24 hrs,
A fan circulating the air is important blowing the air around the space but not directly on the castor.

Another important factor is a constant source of regulated heat,

A unheated shed or barn will not give you the same results.

Fans running, electric heat, well insulated shed. But probably more humidity than you folks .

thanks for posting , very good read