I should be close to a hundred this year,


Different trapping system then what you have.

100%. There is no incentive to push prices. Add insult to injury, speak candidly on how it’s not a concern if trappers prosper.

Better to be silent and thought a fool than speak and leave no doubt. Not a fan.

However in today’s world I’m not sure FHA is up to the challenges. Sad reality.

Raccoon and muskrats harvest numbers are pretty low due to less demand so trappers and fur buyers may send them. Beaver numbers at auction should be lower because fur buyers can move them into the market and they do not need a middleman.

And that is the reason that trappers get less for their fur than dealers (normally) do. It's a dealers job to separate fur and sell it to who wants to buy certain items, that's what the auctions do. The analogy I like to use to explain this to trappers is, if you went into the grocery store and HAD TO BUY everything on a shelf to get what you want you'd want to pay less or go elsewhere. Same with the fur business, you get more by selling people exactly what they want/need and find markets for everything. I don't think there will be a market for early, not quite fully prime, or late past prime fur for a long time. With the exception of beaver for the hatter market, for as long as that holds out. High quality shearing beaver will sell for much more at FHA than the hatter market will pay for them, they were a good item at retail this year and manufacturers are searching for these quality skins.

Good points Wy Wolfer. M Downey told me a similar story/ the high end mid winter heavy beavers are getting a premium over the hatter goods. Important for the long term survival of Beaver market. Underice trappers like myself should get rewarded on at least the top end pelts. Surprised at low harvest numbers- would increasing prices even help that much? Beavers are hard work for all - especially if you don’t have proven handling skills … so many big beaver trappers are long gone - or getting old. The guys that caught hundreds every season/ not 15 and 40 etc. still happy to see beaver prices advance (while ignoring what was vs inflation)

Yep^^^

Those that continue to trap beaver may have a few more to put on the market, but there are no "new" beaver trappers producing beavers just because of this increase in prices. Ain't happening.

Looks like ole Trapper Ron's system where you use $60,000 worth of equipment to catch $5,000 worth of fur.

Yep that's about right.

Dirt you are well aware that Trapper Ron was put up in North Bay with a collections site just to be a thorn in FHA ( Gibbs) side and pull fur from them.

What am I suppose to make of that?

A hundred is a good catch, a lot of work goes into it.

You are correct, our systems are much different.















What levels are we talking? 80 dollar basis for shearable blanket beaver? That's USD, not CDN. If not you guys are just blowing smoke. If so, i've put together probably the best collection of beaver I ever have. None taken before Dec 1 and 2/3 taken in the last month with traps still in the water. If anyone is interested they will be for sale shortly. '

Boy howdy there is a lot of truth in that statement. I cringe when I hear from a buyer that 30 dollar beaver or 5 dollar rats is good money. Lets see how long the buyer produces them at those levels.

Five dollar rats,..that seems so foreign aside from a one or two adjustment.

I'd take 5 average for spring rats on the carcass.

I would too straight across.

I think he is pretty sure of himself among Kevin Bacon ( Thank you sir! May I have another? ) trappers.

That about sums it up

Just so this does not go to page 2 and nobody sees it
Just a month away 22 March 2024
a little reading
https://www.truthaboutfur.com/chang...e%20Changing%20Fur%20Auction%20Landscape

Good article,but he forgot all about the Russian fur auction houses.

Boco, dirt, gibb and any body else “in the know”, do you agree with the second paragraph - about most North American fur being sold at public auction.

Not looking for a fight - just opinions. Thanks.