unny how that works J. If they would have skinned out the tails and left those on the pelts those possums they would have fetched over $10. Then sold the raw skull for another $3-$4 bucks.

On our western sales you need to cater to the oddities/crafters market.

Last possums i sold fetched me a whopping .10, lol. Swore id never put another one up and not planning to anytime soon, lol. Want to rent a u haul your welcome to come down here and get a couple thousand for the 'crafters' out there, lol.

I was working down on the Gulf last week so that would be a GREAT place for you to start! Joker's wore me out all week clogging up my cage traps.

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George Sovie too. He was always a good beaver buyer.
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Thanks Carl. Been trying to remember that name for two days. He bought a lot of coyotes at times too.

otter tails are not not put up correctly and sloppy. They also looked like they may be overdried or dried to fast . You got to take your time with otter. The buyer is correct about the put up.

I’ve had four different buyers tell me four different ways to put up otter. Never affected the price!

I’m not sure what all the fuss is out the put up on otter tails. Each buyer has their own preference. Doesn’t make on way any better than the other. Remember about 15 years ago when pleated otter tails were all the rage. Guess that “fad” is no longer around. It was a bad idea to begin with.

The graders at FHA called that the Gibb tail
They didnt want to see that pleated tail and all said natural stretch on the tail,not pulled in or out or up or down-pinned where it lays naturally,and strait across at the skirt.

Remember about 15 years ago when pleated otter tails were all the rage. Guess that “fad” is no longer around. It was a bad idea to begin with.

That was NAFA! Last fur i put up i had to pleat those tails as well as all my coons. Was a pain!

I've always pinned the back feet on same side with tail. Make for a nice inspection window. NAFA said so....

That’s how I always done mine also , does it matter which side they go on now ?

The other reason for pulling the back feet to the tail side for fur in species was to pack as much fur as possible into the inspection area, which required some pleating as well. I tried but never liked doing them that way.

Our big western buyer does NOT want a big inspection window either. The pelt loses valuable fur.

The way trapped4ever does his is how Dennis wants to see them.

beaverpeeler,
That's why I posted those pictures. I knew what "style" of otter prep you were referring to.
That is how one of my bigger otter buyers wants them too. With our larger coastal otters, you don't have a lot of choice, since the tail pretty much takes up the full width on even an 8" or 9" wide board. I've caught quite a few that will exceed 60" nose to base of tail, and over 7 feet, from tip to tip. The main point here being, I tend to prep my otter in the way the highest paying buyer wants them!!!

trapped4ever,
That is the best looking otter put up I've seen!

Is your buyer from Oregon? Just curious if it's the same guy I'm thinking of. He's usually the biggest otter buyer at all of our western sales.

And like you said, put up your otter however your customer wants them right? That was my point here.

Sidenote: Up at Goldberg's I got a chance to see the Alaska otter bin. I think I almost fell on my can when I saw the size of those coastal Alaskans!

If you are selling to the carpetbaggers put them up however that one guy wants them.
\If you want to have buyers bid on your fur at auction for top prices put them up to the industry standard like ranch fur everything is identical.
Makes it much easier for graders to properly evaluate and intersort your fur where it belongs without guesswork.If graders have to make a judgement call the trapper wont be the beneficiary.

Trapped4ever, your otter are absolutely phenomenal!
Are they on 72" boards? They look massive.

When the international auctions find otter markets that are $60+ I'll put them up however they want, until then if the main guys at our small association sales wants them a certain way, well that's how I"ll do it. I've noticed that the most of the crafters seem to pay extra for that wide tail. I got $100 apiece on the two in the pic I posted earlier.

If you care to learn how to put up your otter this is the correct way: Trapped4ever or Boco on the tail.I am not sure about the inspection window but Boco's looks a little large.