I’m looking for a detailed explanation, with pictures, of the differences of Mn vs Ohio vs NJ vs Louisiana raccoons.

We have BIG coon here in Minnesota. My buyer routinely says he rarely sees coon smaller than XL. That’s about an 18 pound animal. A 4X will be 28-30 pounds. And yet, I’ve seen videos put up by Ohio trappers who talk about large coon being 12 pounds. New Jersey coon are in that range. Louisiana coon might be also.

Feed stock has to be different. And so does winter temperature. But Ohio has a lot of corn and snowy conditions so it probably isn’t just that.

The fur density is another difference. But women don’t like carrying heavy coats so I would think southern and eastern fur might be in higher demand because it isn’t so heavy.

Would someone, a buyer from a wide range of states, Fur Harvester’s etc, please weigh in on the differences?

Thanks in advance!!

All that info will be in the fur bible (WFMC)
Every trapper should have a copy or access to a copy thru your fur council

All I know is our coon here run on the small side, only ever saw 2 over 20 lbs. most will be L, or 2x, maybe 5% will hit 3x, plus they're mostly brown and yellow, only saw 1 silver black....
When people say they regularely catch 30 pounders, it's hard to comprehend....Has to be in their DNA somehow....

lots of 30 pounders here when put on a scale wont make 25. we get good color though

That's everywhere Danny.

Teacher you should make a drive to Groenwalds in Il. some time. I bet they could show you first hand and give you a lot of information that you seek on this and other questions. Prepare a list of questions. You could make a short vacation out of it.

ive caught some big coons here out of barns but the average coon is probably right around the 10 to 15 pound mark

11 of my 16 coon stretched between 36 and 39 inches.
We have big heavy coon. The colors varies quite a bit.

Minnesota, North Dakota, Manitoba and Saskatchewan all get 30lb plus size raccoons. I have always been told and believe that warm blooded mammals( fur bearers) get bigger the farther North you go in North America. Take a look at Whitetailed Deer for example Texas Deer are much smaller in size than the northern deer-maybe I am wrong but maybe not. Food could be a serious player as well. What I am saying is that if they are eating corn before winter they get very fat and heavy quick as where I believe the coon eating strauight fish won't gain that weight anywhere near as fast-there's a lot of factors that can lead to heavier coon.

Just for clarification……
Are you saying that an 18 lb Minnesota coon will only make an XL? (27” to 29”)
An 18 lb coon here will stretch 3x all day long.
Just curious if we’re on the same page on sizes.

I’ve had the opportunity to handle coon from a lot of states. Tremendous difference between a Georgia coon vs. an Arkansas coon vs. a Missouri coon vs. a Minnesota coon. Only thing they have in common is rings on the tail lol.

Used to live in SE PA, my grandfather started trapping before WWII, our family caught a great many coons, and I hold the record for weighed coons with one at a whopping 19 pounds (Gigantic for that ares) 15 was considered a very big coon,, and a few larger ones 20-23 pounds caught up in the mountains of Potter county PA. Fur on them was OK, lots of yellow neckers, fur color was typical black/brown/silver, with a brownish cast. Never has one in PA ever go 4XL and rarely 32 inch jumbo's as they called them in the 80's
.

Moved to IA in late 90's and WOW the coons here AVERAGE 15 pounds or more, with many in the 24-28 pound range, and the elusive 30 pounders (only 5 or 6 since 1999), the fur was much longer, silkier, denser, and an oh so lovely jet black and silver. Several 4XL plus and mostly 3XL with 2XL and smaller being a small % of the cacth

Danny my Dad has said forever when someone says they caught a 20 or 25 pounds coon (in PA) - "How far did you have to carry it?"

I catch 20 pounders all the time here in PA, digital scale makes liars out of most claims of 25-30 pounders. I cannot speak for your state, but 15-20 covers most of them here. I followed my Dad and a pack of Redbones thru the dark in the 70's 80's and they haven't got bigger or smaller here.

I blame that Monsanto seed for those zombie coon yall chase out in Iowa. Something in the feed, lol.

The coon here in the golden triangle have gotten much poorer color wise over the years. In this market I got sick of all the big yellow males I catch. Even in November way too many of those. Now while running bobcat sets the last two weeks 80% of the coon are yellowish mostly scratched neck males. Females and young coon run much better but they don’t travel a lot as winter sets in. Seen a lot of better color coon in other sections but we do have a big heavy coon.
A picture from probably ten years ago of a nice run of our coon. Surprisingly despite no pressure we have less and poorer coon in recent years.

Not sure on weight but if you catch a 33" coon here in west central Arkansas you got a good one. Lots of yellows but do catch a few with good color.

IMO its because they are not getting thinned out like in the past. Coons are thick here. No season no limit like coyotes they are so thick.

Probably, another result of animal rights wackos actually hurting wildlife instead of it being managed by having a good fur market.

Claycreech, I misspoke on the size. Still, we have big coon here. The yellowish cast around the neck bothers me a bit. Doesn’t seem to bother my buyer, but it bothers me.

My biggest coon were in the 5x category this year. The rest were 2x and bigger. Most were 3-4x. I averaged ~$8.50 with a top of $12 and a bottom of $4. Everything was put up.

I’ve read many times the best coon, for color, come out of the panhandle area of Texas. Size wise, they’re not all that big, I’m told, but the color is supposed to be excellent. And yet, the market seems to favor size, fur density, etc, because bigger seems to do better with buyers.

Huge coon in Maine but ugly colored.

I didn’t think we were on the same page lol.
An 8.50 average on 2X and up Minnesota coon. And I bet there weren’t many 2X in the mix.
Chinamen are loving it lol.
I’d sure like to get a coon market again before I get to stoved up to go hard.
A finished coon market north of $10 on our coon (North Missouri) would have you all looking at an average pushing $20.
My coon traps are staying in the shed other than a nuisance job until then lol

I never have seen a yellow belly coon until I trapped Arkansas.