What’s up with these? Actually pretty neat…lol

Can't imagine trying to skin a 'rat up the belly! Those beaver price's you got don't look bad to me, thought the market was saturated?

My post on Facebook
I’ll get totals and averages posted soon. Most don’t realize the paperwork and behind the scenes work that goes on after Annie is there for 4 straight days and going back to her regular job early Monday morning. We want to make sure averages are correct before posting them. I will say I had a small batch of super early mountain coyotes that averaged $41 and my marten with feet on averaged $66. The overall selection of bobcats was not very good and zero clear bellied cats in the room so don’t be alarmed by cat averages. Beaver prices were down drastically like we figured but I do know that Carl Berg’s big lot averaged $26 and he was very happy with averages. Western Montana did have a huge pile of fur but the craft and garment trade dominated the buying. I can’t say enough about our team of volunteers, the setup and cleanup was best it’s ever been. John cooked for four straight days for a pile of people all while being in tremendous pain. The fur volume was down drastically but I know March will be up. To keep the crafters coming I will have to work hard to pull in what they are needing and didn’t fill their needs: heavy raccoon, heavy coyote, red and gray fox, ermine, antlers, bobcat, marten, fisher, otter, snake skins, badger and certain raw skulls: badger/bobcat/fisher/otter/fox. Bottom line is, fur is definitely not dead and this huge ITA family had one (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) of a great get together and I wouldn’t trade you guys for anybody in the world. Not trying to get too sappy but I always get bummed when everyone leaves the event, we are such a tight group and everyone helps everyone out and jumps in wherever they are needed and it truly is one big family.
We couldn’t be what we are without all of you
From my heart, thank you
Rusty Kramer

The market sounds encouraging , I'll be offering my fur at our sale the end of Feb., haven't skinned this many skunks since I was a young boy! Congratulations to you and your crew--Its a good time to be a trapper!

There are trinket traders that want round rats for hooping.

Sound like it was a great time! Bummed that I missed peelers beaver demo. Big thanks to the ITA crew for putting on another great fur sale!

Rusty was wrong on my beaver average. Overall it was $33.27. My big lot of blankets bought by a crafter brought $41.21. Exactly the same as what I got at this same sale last year from the felt buyers for my blankets.
I was very pleased and surprised at how my beaver did. Heard the rumor ( from a buyer) that felt contracts that buyers had last year were in the $21-23/lb range. Currently they’re at $12
So crafters to the rescue!

To answer WissMiss’ question I’m hearing more beaver are wanted by some of those buyers. I lot accordingly size and quality the same to make it easier for crafters. No more than 30 in any single lot and preferably 10-20.

Skunk scent, I cleared out some pm’s. Thanks for letting me know.

I traveled a long ways to get to this sale but it was well worth it. Didn't have as much fur as I had hoped to be bringing, but I did get to see firsthand how the market is shaping up this season and it definitely is helping me make decisions about where to be devoting my trapping efforts for the rest of the season. Money wise I was sure excited to see $66 (each) for my little stinkers! Wouldn't have happened w/o the buyers being aware there was going to be competition on 'em. Only seven spotted skunks on the sale. Mine the only feet-on ones.

Also, it's great to see how the Idaho trappers put on a great sale. Everybody says how Rusty runs a great sale... but he had a ton of help. Jeremy ( our OTA prez) donated beef from his own herd for lunch. I had my fur checked in in record time with a multitude of helpers paving the way.

In the evening they had a fund raiser auction with George Kortum as auctioneer. All the years I've known this guy I never realized what a great sense of humor he has. What a hoot!

BTW, you got kids better bring 'em! It was a second Christmas for the kids there since virtually all the traps that got auctioned off were gifted by the high bidder to any available kid in the audience!

Our auctioneer:


Thanks to all the you Idahoans for putting on a great sale!

Interesting attire for an auctioneer, lol.

That is typical attire for George Kortum. Even at freezing temperatures. He created quite the commotion the first time he showed up at NAFA like that. Had everyone talking!!! LOL

I wouldnt say "typical", those shorts are a little long for George

Good point!!

any results posted

bch, it may take a while for Rusty to get those together. If there is one or two items you're interested in I have the master sheet of all sales and could get an average for you.

Sorry columns don't align from when I copy and pasted from excel.
2025 Jan Idaho Trappers Association Fur Sale Results
SPECIES Price Offered Percent Sold
Antler Deer $8.18 lb 45.3 lb 100%
Antler Elk $10.94 lb 226.85 lb 100%
Antler Moose $19.16 lb 53.65 lb 100%
Armadillo Shells $15.09 4 100%
Badger $ 35.69 27 100%
Beaver $ 24.66 297 100%
Bobcat Eastern $118.50 6 100%
Bobcat SW $261.72 33 100%
Bobcat W $206.20 23 100%
Castor $28.96 lb 29.7 100%
Coyote $25.65 304 90%
Cross Fox $50.95 4 100%
Grey Fox $25.63 63 100%
Lynx $267.1 1 100%
Marten $43.20 343 100%
Mink $7.15 100 100%
Muskrat $2.86 734 100%
Nutria $10.99 1 100%
Porky Hair $25.16 oz 40.53 oz 100%
Red Fox $22.16 87 94%
Snake Skins $27.88 8 100%
Spotted Skunk $37.39 8 100%
Striped Skunk $16.20 141 100%
Squirrel $2.46 36 100%
Turtle Shells $9.04 26 100%
Weasel $12.79 10 100%
Wolf $490.04 3 100%
Wolverine $351.00 1 100%
My lot of early coyotes brought $41 I caught early early season in wolf traps. Arizona coyotes brought down overall averages. Very poor selection of bobcats offered, zero A bellies and only a couple AB bellies in the entire room. My lot of marten averaged $67, but a couple large lots of damaged marten drove averages down. Even though Western Montana was by far the biggest spender the sale was helped drastically from the craft and garment buyers. Rocky Mountain Fireworks bought top cat at $450 or so. Buyers still really needing red fox, gray fox, heavy coyotes, heavy racoon, squirrels, turtle shells, weasel (all colors) and spotted skunks.
Thanks to all the trappers and to the buyers that made our sale as great as it was. Fur volume was half of last year but I predict March sale will be up in numbers.
Thank you
Rusty Kramer

Yes, I'm curious what the averages were on otters. They aren't showing up on the averages

Those boots are actually pretty low key for George lol

46 otters, avg was $53.37, 100% sold. Top otter $72, bottom otter $40.

The main difference in prices were how trappers treated the tails. Properly cared for wide tails brought the top prices.

This otter stretched 47" and even though had some leather imperfections brought $70. Virtually 100% of otter on our western sales are going to the pow wow trade for hair ties. Longer pelts (read that properly taken care of wide tails like you see in my pic) are what bring the better $$$

good info if shipping fur here the top otter buyer wont even bid on pleated tail on otter....but still very good otter prices overall on sale