Hello folks,
I am putting a fur sale update on here. If you have never attended one of our Idaho Trappers Association sales before we treat them like a mini convention. We will have trap supply dealers, IDFG trapper ed classes, trapping demos, fur handling demos, Moyle tannery pickup trailer, IDFG tagging cats and otter, fur sewing demos, skinning contests, live auction w/donations, general membership meetings, food, IDFG meetings, Miss Rodeo taking pics, kids activities, live band and much more. We get a fair amount of folks that come just to hang out.
As far as fur market goes, I know I will get a lot of flack on here but this is what my craft buyers are already asking for. High demand: striped skunks, spotted skunk, badger, squirrels all colors, pretty backed bobcats, wide bellied bobcats, otter, weasel (all colors), cougars, wolves, lynx, color phase coyotes, color phase possum, color phase coon, fisher, marten, ringtail cat, kit fox and cross fox. All of these are more desirable with feet left on, you will add $5-$50 a piece with properly handled feet left on. Medium demand: heavy beaver, heavy coyote, red fox, gray fox, some heavy coon. Low demand: early coyotes, early beaver, muskrats, mink, racoon. On the raw skull market: High demand skulls: otter, badger, fisher, bobcat, bear, fox. Low demand skulls: coyote, beaver, muskrats, coon.
I have been getting calls from buyers already needing fox, heavy coyotes and beaver. They don't need thousands of these but defiantly coming to buy some for the garment and blanket trade. We have a lot of craft buyers coming and they are looking for little of everything: snake skins, steer skulls, fur coats, tanned fur, badger feet, raw skulls, clean skulls, antlers, baculum, turtle shells, salted bird skins, practically anything wildlife related we have on our auction.
Last year we had fur from 20 or so different states. We do accept shipped in fur but you must call me first so we can discuss what you are shipping. I always get someone shipping a bunch of flat coon or coyotes and then gets upset they are upside down on shipping costs. If you are shipping fur then need to start making arrangements soon. Postage is super slow anymore and every year I get some boxes the day of the auction or even the day after the auction. Support a fur sale that is protecting trapping!
Commission is 6% in person and 7% for shipped in fur. A person must become a ITA member to sell at the fur sale.
Thank you
-Rusty Kramer
-Idaho Trappers Association President
208-870-3217

Thanks Rusty.

I made my first out of state fur sale last January at Glenn's Ferry and had a great time and met a bunch of great folks. I was especially impressed at how well organized the event was. As soon as I got in the building and filled out paperwork there was a chain of volunteers helping unload my fur and misc. Event was well attended by the best fur buyers in the west. I heard even Groenewold had a buyer there.

See you again this year!

Very nice

Sounds like a great event for ALL!

Up for the ITA. Less than 3 weeks to the sale. Time to get items shipped if you are doing so.

Maybe see if this post can be pinned?

Love

Vinke

ttt

Anybody on here going besides me?

I will be doing a clean-skinning demo Saturday afternoon. Had to run out yesterday and make a few sets to make sure I had a fresh beaver to skin Saturday. Pulled traps today and from six sets caught three blankets and one XL...The XL will be crossing state lines with me for immoral purposes.

Todays haul:

Sweet! Can you stop by K Falls and grab a couple dozen muskrat on your way? I'll flip you 10% of the take.

I’ll be there in spirit and in merchandise. Too far for this old lady to travel.

Hope every one gets the prices they are hoping for.

How about I take you up on that offer for K. Falls end of March?

I want more than what I expect I'll get. LOL

Carl - you always have high hopes. Here’s hoping the bids come reasonable close.

Good luck trappers!

BP, it would be awesome if someone could film your clean skinning demo!

Safe travel Carl!!

Good luck to all! However I'll reiterate that My own opinion is, that the market has yet to mature to the point that a buyer/speculator has the confidence to pay very much. This year's profit may be trapline memories and the enjoyment of being out in the woods.

It will be interesting to see how many beaver are harvested this year compared to last. I suspect the harvest will be waaaay down. There may be an uptick in beaver prices at the end of the season when the realization sets in.

For this sale I'm hoping/counting on the craft market to help me out. Pelts lotted accordingly.

An up tick from what is what I wonder. To have a up tick there has to be a demand with a lack of product. There is really no demand. A trinket market is not a fur market. It may work on low harvest years, but not for a fur trade.

ttt