Hi All.

Question: In NY, should one keep trapping racoons for the entire season or not?

Meaning: An older gentleman has told me many times he stops trapping after whatever date (December I think) because they're "(This word is unacceptable on Trapperman)" and sleep in their own urine and whatever in dens and they're "all denned up."

Is this an old wives tale or not? And would I get even better coon pelts later in the season?

Thank you.

Coons definitely go down hill after being denned up for awhile. Breeding season is also hard on quality. In general, late season coon are of poorer quality than what you will catch right now.

If you're trapping for damage control, sure. If you want to sell fur for a dollar or two, forget it.

Sleeping in their own urine or peeing on one another In a den I think is an old wife's tale I would continue trapping into Dec. Then just keep a eye on how the fur looks.

Rubbing is a real problem if they are denning a lot, but that's gonna vary from year to year.

Groenewold said you folks in NY are good for about 1 week after Thanksgiving. After that, maybe not so much.

I shipped 20 fall coon and 20 spring coon to two separate accounts at NAFA one year. The November coon brought a $22 dollar average and the March 20, April 30coon brought a $20 average. I can not say off the top of my head if the size was 100% equal, but I would say it was close. I did not skin every spring coon I caught. If they were rubbed bad I sold them on the round local. I have skinned coon up through May, but I can look at them an and tell if they are worth skinning. I was getting paid to trap and could keep all the fur.

Thank you everyone for your answers!!

I will now also keep in mind this "rubbing" which I don't think I've seen but will look for it. I did get a mangy coyote a few weeks ago and might think rubbing looked similar but I will keep researching. Thanks.

Coon rub on the back of the neck most the time first. It is real easy to spot once they are rubbed. When does your season close? It could close before it is a problem.

I think it's more about scratching then rubbing. Some of my boar coon have what I call scratch backs but so far it hasn't damaged the fur, but the leather on necks looks pretty rough. I think ticks and other vermin concentrate in the neck area and cause the coon to scratch in that area.

Do you think the leather ever clears up? Is it maybe scaring from the year before. I don't see a lot off leather damage with out fur damage. The more fur damage the more leather damage I see.

Feb 15 but I was more planning just through December or January.

[img]https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/fi...map.jpg?itok=dwA-pjNB&upd=1763275226[/img]

I would think they would be fine through February. I skinned a coon I took on June 6th and it was in the NAFA spring coon bunch. I was also throwing 99% of them out at that time. I shipped a 1 April coyote and got $80 for it. If I would have had ten of hem taken that day it would have dropped my average to $10-15 I would guess.