I was able to predict marten going up these last two winters, and was prepared, and profited. What say you Canadians, Russians, Alaskans, and lower 48ers with experience? Based on the surplus after this last auction, I'm guessing the prices will be a hundred dollar average for me in Western Alaska this coming season. Averaged 150 in the June auction. Generally can't get to where I trap till January to make the March Auction.

It's funny, I predicted 150 average to my trapping partner for the June auction... he asked how I was always so close on my guesses of weights, distances, time, etcetera... I told him I was born last century before the internet did all the thinking for you, and listened to probably the last generation of men who lived mostly by their learned experience dicker over prices at farmer markets, flea markets, gun shows, etcetera. Growing up by a redneck bar and betting all the time with other boys before I got over that addiction gave me a keen appreciation for time , space, and matter.

Kind of hard to closely predict at this time of year.
After christmas and just after the international fur fairs FHA and other dealers will know how the manufacturers and retailers did moving their product from last year.The retailers and manufacturers will be placing requests for next year based on that.
I will have a good idea after christmas how many buyers will be attending the auction and what they will be interested in after I talk to the boys at FHA at the convention in January.

Right now I plan to harvest as I always do.with emphasis on Marten and Lynx (as populations on the land indicate) and beaver of course are always harvested at the same levels.I believe Marten and lynx will still be in good demand going forward and beaver is always profitable for me with larger undamaged ones going to the auction and others sold tanned to fur sewers,and some utilised to make fur articles.Otter is still disappointing at the auction although the sale of tanned otter continues to be very profitable with demand outstripping the supply from my traplines.Weasel is in demand for both raw and tanned skins and I make sure my marten sets take all weasels that visit.
I harvest mink while doing fall beaver so this year I will activate my sets in place for mink also.
I also like to take at least some wolves every year to maintain beaver quotas,The odd wolf here will bring good money at the auction but most I get tanned and sell or utilize in manufacture for sale locally

Our trapline is excellent marten and wolverine country. Lots of fox and beaver, but by the time we get there the fox are rubbed, and the ice is too thick for easy beaver. Rare to see lynx and wolf tracks. Planning on trapping as always. Always expanding the line a little every year, regardless of prices. Love to be out in God's land, especially after counseling suicidal folk or officiating at suicide funerals. My therapy for myself. Enjoying getting young men busy in the land that have been coming to church since they were small children. One of the lessons I teach them is to be busy, but do something that turns a profit. By God's grace, I always turn a profit on the trapline. I want to get better at it, I've learned a lot from you guys on here since I joined in 2013. Much different trapping up here than in Florida. Big thanks to all y'all old hands on here, appreciate your wisdom.

There didn't seem to be a huge surplus left over this summer, so hoping there will be not bad a drop in prices.

I will have a pretty good idea in March. I am rarely wrong.