Wy.Wolfer stated that it's all about the tails. Any thoughts about just finishing the tails only?

Just be careful the tail can make or break a nice hide sometimes a little knife work is better than a lot of fleshing on the tails. Now it sounds like it’s even more important to go easy make sure it gets lots of air and wiped off often to prevent slippage.

How about a little borax on those tails?

Thought that was having a negative impact on the tanning process at least on cats? I’d check around to be sure.

Borax pull moisture out of the hide, so it dries quicker (in the right environment) you still have to flesh well before using it.

I've never used borax on skunk tails. Skunks need time to dry properly. Don't wait till the last minute to put them up. They are a greasy animal that needs proper fleshing. Also be sure to scrap the hide with the back of your long knife like a coon after boarding. It really takes some of that last grease of like a screed

Finishing just the tails?.....No. Even if they are using the tails I don't think they would be tossing good pelts. And if the tail thing is true there's still lots of tanners that need full pelts for hats and such

I just flesh them like any animal, not sure what the big deal is. Unless some don’t flesh properly. Dry it in proper conditions and they'll be 100%. When you get em, put ‘em up. Why wait until they pile up. I use a plastic fleshing knife it’s so easy……but I don’t let dead animals wait to be put up. Maybe it sucks if you toss em in the freezer?
Any tanner with borax issues had their own issues……old wives tail….lol.

Shakey, I've never seen a plastic fleshing knife. Is this store bought or homemade? I sure would like a picture or a link if possible. I'd buy one just to add it to my collection thanks

Some roadkills are blowup but the tail is still okay.

You could just make one. Dam Beaver just cuts an angle on a 1/2” piece of plastic. I put hockey tape on the handles for comfort.

Just the tails only is NOT a good idea. These folks are looking for various specific things in the tails. Not any tail will do. It has to meet their specifications. I know a fellow that sent them 60 dressed skunks with tails. They bought 27 and rejected the rest. That is about half.

A skunk without a tail is of very little value on the craft market. Process the entire pelt, you still have a saleable item if they don’t want the tail.

Are these 80.00 dollar skunks prime or are they buying summer skunks too ?

Who’s them?

Agreed. Put them up, it doesn’t take long at all. I think we’ll find out how many trappers want to deal with skunks….lol. It’s not bad.

My fur buyer said a big NO to summer skunks but he is buying tanned skunks with good tails.

I gotta admit my stomach ain't as strong as it once was...

You would be amazed at the idea of some who think they know how to flesh anything, being a buyer of fur for some time now !

It's very disappointing to pass on a pelt, especially one I need for hats I make that I know just by looking at the put up, they will not make it through the tanning process. Many skunks are just this way. maybe this will help others with their learning curve !

I buy skunks as well as all the others but not for $80.00 dollars, LOL this is top lot by some one needing a particular size and color and stripes as well as tails. I've paid as high as $50.00 most times for large nice striped and long tails put up clean and done right, with out any complaints doing so ! Even with that no one wants to work them over much !!

I read some where these top dollar pelts are not being bought for hats though, some other special reason thats heated up by some demand or sales push !

Them = the people who are buying and using skunk tails. I do NOT know who they are exactly. As with anything, lots of speculation.

I’ve seen hides I could see through not from being thin just held oil that I thought would not tan well, I was shocked when the civet came back in excellent condition I did not expect that. I need to clean out my freezer it’s looking like and see what I come up with for hides.

Seen that clear look on beaver hides before also.

So it’s only the 2 guys at the auction paying for that $ for them. There’s still tanned skunks for sale all over, unless their websites aren’t updated. I believe Mbcoonguy knows one of the bidders……and Johnny’s gettin all geared up for skunk….lol. That should say something.

Are they just not fleshed enough and dried/stored improperly? Then get all sainted and stinky? There was some coyotes dropped off at our convention last April that I didn’t even have to see to know they’re NFG, the nose did the grading….lol. Mr Gibb was sent by NAFA or FHA up to the northern reserves and isolated towns to show them how the auction wanted their fur. Northern prime pets getting a small percentage of what they’re worth.
When starting out, guy shouldn’t be afraid to damage a few pelts learning, it’ll happen to the best and you learn. I hate it when a guy asks if this wolf is worth taxi skinning, it takes long and they’ve never done it. I tell them “no, wait until you get a nice black xxl to try taxi skinning”……lol

I thought someone had posted they had a skunk at FHA that was missing half the tail and it sold for sixty-some dollars. Maybe it ain't all about the tails.

Shaky, it is quite obvious why, usually they are not fleshed near enough and most times not at all, sad really as they know people want them due to the heavy white color on them, thats why the try to move them ! Most smaller animals will always spoil quickly
if not handled right away, they don't have the body to keep lots of insulation on them, skunks are fatty any way, and will drip all over the pelt if you are not careful, although there are ways to help clean it off, badgers as well, it never gets completely removed until the tanning process !!

Where I read that notice of the people wanting them, it was for some sort of religious use, now whether thats true or not don't jump on me, LOL

Just saying if one wants top dollar on any pelt they should take the time to claim it, that means proper care and work at the correct time with the correct tooling !

Lots are intersorts - multiple shippers have goods in one lot. You have to buy the entire lot, you can’t pick and choose which pelts you want. Your friend lucked out big time.

Yes, it is all about tails.

Thanks for setting me straight yet again wissmiss.

So what are the tails actually being used for? I looked back through this thread and the other one but couldn't find the answer.

Jewish tradition hat making is what I picked up.

Lugnut - my apologies. I’m a bit cranky . I didn’t mean to belittle you. Just trying to explain the pricing on a half tailed skunk!

Oh no, I didn’t take it as belittling at all. I appreciate all the information you share.

Ok. Some times I put the fingers to work before the brain is totally engaged.

Glad I am able to help answer questions and explain how things work. 40 plus years in the fur business is paying off.

Did you mean "blowed up", being that you're from Nebraska and all? lol

Blowed out..........as in smooshed by a semi.

So those would’ve been lumped into one of the damaged strings I suppose?
Sounds like Mud may have had issues with black rats getting lumped into a different grade. With the poor rat market, maybe they’re loosening up the grades on rats and tightening up on skunks next time.

Sad really. Either trapping beyond their means or just lazy…..
The only animals I let spoil are my ADC beaver taken out of season. Kill permit stipulations……”Dispose on site”

Seen the FHA pay list last night on Facebook $80 some dollar average 100% sold $96 top if I remember right. I’ll see if I can find it on my IPad and post it unless someone gets to it first,

Thanks the posts come and go on FB it hasn’t pop back up yet. I have 2 to go get today the guy says they are not very big but that’s often wrong depending how it’s laying.

Yeah I was thinking 80 average not just the top lot

It's says "overall" which means all sections, so it is not just top lot. That's a real $80 average as far as I can see. Someone correct me if I'm wrong

Over all is the average of the total amount sold, top lot is the higher price of one lot or a single pelt !

Picked up 2 today not pretty just typical summer skunks bald spots, rubs with ticks nothing I’d ever put for fur usage. Early fall or spring a guy might find a good looking one but not after the ticks come out.

2 of mine had tick bites pretty good, still fetched $89…..lol. I ain’t getting any this summer, but buddy who traps for Delta Waterfowl is going to put up a few summers to send in, see what happens.
You guys know FHA has a website eh? No need to speculate. Be interesting to see the sold catalog once it’s out.

Ah ha! I know a guy who knows who the 2nd buyer was…..lol

Well.....who?

They’re making their way to Russia through back door channels. They plan on lining their stealth planes with the tail hair. They unlocked the secrets of the F117 and figured out the reason for this logo…

All I said was I know a guy who knows…lol. The buyer wanted it kept on the down low but rest assured, all buyers will be buying. Even the guys who can’t skin will get $$ in the whole.

I say it's the Tibetan monks making skunk prayer shawls. Hopefully the Dalai Lama doesn't condemn the idea.

It sure does tickle the funny bone to see that skunks got a better average than section 1 heavy marten on this sale!

Thawing out some this weekend but some of ours go for $50 if the right size and colors.

Found 6 today in the freezer one was marked 12lb another 10lb the other 4 are not as big 6-8 maybe. I think it’s funny the folks that said in the past they could not do will be doing it now! Get ready for some hilarious skunk stories coming up I can’t wait to hear them. LOL

I sprayed the outer bags with bug spray to hold the flies off then I plan on using a bug bomb in the back of the fur shed and run a couple fans to ward them off until dry then to ship right away to whoever’s paying a fair price. Lots of folks advertising doesn’t mean a lot of guys paying fairly.

LD there is a fair price and then there is a price that people want, especially after all of this discussion, I'm interested in what's a fair price now, but I don't even commit to a price until I see what I'm offering on !

I agree but that $80 average means not a whole lot of grading must of went on to get that high is what I’m saying. It what the buyer plans on making would be the difference now.

Does anyone think skunks will average $80 again? I am guessing that ship sailed. Were the $80 skunks bought by the end user or a fur buyer? If it was a fur buyer will he come out on them?

The buyer was not in the “fur business”. They are in a speciality business. Very unique product.

I doubt we will see an $80.00 skunk average next year. But I could be wrong.

Get the buyer in the backroom with the light bulb and get him to spill the beans!

Buyers on Facebook looking for skunks just yesterday so it’s not over yet if they are looking for more still. I’m putting up 6 and shipping them out ASAP to see what I get.

We will see what the future holds we can play what if until fall but we should know something by then so I’m not going to lose sleep over t. I’m not going to invest in anything to long line skunk either yet. lol

The buyer at the march auction had one other bidder this time for completion, that’s what drove them up. All this speculation is comical as to who “knows” what’s going on……lol.
If I say anything it’ll be the last time buddy gives me insider info…..lol. If you want to send skunks to FHA for the march auction, I think you’ll be happy. Or sell em whole or rough and let someone else do the work. The country buyer have to make cash too.

If you think that people are going to disclose who the end buyers are I got like 3 bridges to sell you.This is a specialized market right now and you will not be able to tap into it anytime soon.

lol. I hear ya…

There are several “main players”. They have every small dealer looking for skunks. Makes it seem like the demand is much higher than reality. They all eventually trickle down to the end market.

As I said before, not all skunk tails are created equal. You might be surprised at how particular the end users are.

So, any guess how deep this market is? 2000 skunks wasn't enough. WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN 10,000 SKUNKS? Would it still have been an $80 avg?

Until the Dalai Lama spoke it appeared there was no such thing as too many pale otters. And that couldn't have been a huge market just being prayer shawls for Tibetan Buddhists could it?

I guess I do not see all these strange markets as a fur market. Where are those hatter beaver now, that you said was going to last at least five years? I just do not see this skunk tail sale going anywhere. To me it is dead. We had a trinket market for skunks before this came along. I think it will remain. But I figure the day of $80 skunks is over, no mater what they used them for.

Like any other time we will send in our stuff and get paid what we get with hints along the way that’s as good as it ever gets. We know what was paid that’s about it everything else is pure speculation.

It’s your call as a trapper, make an educated guess and set your steel as you see fit. I don’t think it’ll be as long as the hatters were paying, but I’ll bet there will be one more decent auction for skunk. But ask me in 6 months, it’s only June. A lot can change before March 2026. It always pays to pay attention to the market, and helps having a friend close to the goings on.
A lot of trappers don’t follow crap about anything, the fur market or even regulation changes. Just wait until November/December when the ole “what’s a coyote pay now?” question pops up 3 times a week on FB….lol

What gets me is 100% sold we all have seen how some folks handle their furs new comers, short cut folks and so on so getting $80 average is almost unbelievable for 100% sold if you figure the odds of that is a stretch on any day. Must be more to it we are not being told.

Somebody needed skunks pretty bad. Same thing just in the rearview mirror about beaver felt.

The information I recently got was it was two buyers who don't like one another and we all know it rakes two to make an auction. My guess it was a flash in the pan and they need a few more skunks to fill the order. Hope I'm wrong but don't expect the rush to last long.

Even If they went to a $40.00 average it would be better then no value coyotes and $2.00 rats.

Every time a market heats up folks buying over pay for junk and the market adjust back to what the real demand is.

Ride the wave and see where it goes.

I've been selling skunks my whole life. They've always paid good money for easy handling in my opinion.
I never hold my fur over a year speculating and will sell all I get this year as usual. I don't have enough properties or skunks to run a hugh target line anyway. I'll enjoy higher than average prices if I get them. Or good prices all the same.
I just hope essence prices don't tank.But like castor I can see it lowering with a large harvest of Skunks. That's always been a steady by-product that pays well. I'm just not sure how many people will be extracting it.

The guys that have been working skunks over the years are prepared to deal with them so it’s no big deal for us do what we’ve been doing over the years. Markets have been developed during this time theres many options if the market goes up and down.

No doubt the guys we see getting into something then bailing the first time things get rough will do some harm but that’s just the way it is.

My guess is in one more year... trappers will say skunks stink!