Being this is first year trapping beaver and I think most beaver are a dark brown to near black wondering if lighter or different colored beaver have any bearing on price?
Have one that I would call a burnished copper color and this one today that I would call 2 tone

This is my last year's catch, kind of a mixed bag. I don't think it made a difference where I sold, but I believe there ARE color grades.

The hat makers will dye it all the same color...

Thanks for the replies, just might have to keep the copper colored one

There are 2 main sections of beaver,eastern and western.
There are 4 colour grades in each,
Eastern colour grades are,Extra dark,Dark,Ordinary and Pale.
Western colour grades are Dark,Ordinary Pale and Extra pale.

"Brown" is one of the color grades for western beaver. Most of mine fit in this color grade.

Thatd be ordinary.

Used to get some of those pale beaver over on the coast when I was a kid. Probably the same bloodlines you're trapping now. lol. I always thought they were kinda pretty, but at that time the fur buyers didn't want them and would downgrade you pretty hard on them.

That's kind o odd, most of my coastal beaver tend to be darker...eastern Oregon are more pale as are most beaver from high pH soil areas.

Grade sheet says BRN.

Ordinary(B's) "These pelts are more brownish along the back and the underfur on the flanks is still blue"

We have NO dark colored beaver here.

Typical color here in Central Susquehanna Valley-

I have long noted that base or alkaline soils tend to produce lighter colored pelts of short napped fur critters, whereas acidic soils with lots of available iron tend to produce darker pelts.