We had a couple of really good years, actually historic good years on the hatter market around 2023, and even into 2024. Damaged blanket beaver were going for around $40! But all the sudden on the early 2025 FHA sale there were no takers and the whole batch of GD DMG went unsold. On the June (2025) sale hatters sold, but at a top of $16! In the FHA wild fur forecast for 2026 we were told that that wonderful beaver hatter market we had been enjoying (as expected) had been short lived, and once again prices were where they should be.

....Then we had the March 2026 sale and KABOOM! Blanket GD DMG all sold for $43 USD!!!!! By the June sale that had come down a little to $38 for the blankets. But WOW!!!!

I sure am curious as to what Mark will have to say about that market when he makes his 2027 forecast in the next month or so. Will it be March of 2025 repeat? Or 2026.

Come on 2026!

It all depends on what buyers show up at the auction.
Best prices for all beaver is when the garment buyers and the felt buyers are competing in the auction room.
Not every sale will have the competition.When they both sell out of fur articles and need more raw product at the same time ees goood
I imagine the garment buyers have the deeper pockets and will drive up the basis by taking the best goods at higher prices,meaning all other lesser goods will benefit accordingly.
Large good damaged beaver on the heavier sections can easily and cheaply be repaired by furriers.(they can often make as good or better profits on those)
The heavier beaver are also preferred by the felters.
Thus competition when everything lines up.

There used to be a cold winter, mild winter price pattern to beaver prices. People will harvest more beaver when it is open water than when it is frozen. Pay attention to winters in the upper Midwest and New England states.

I think some of it has to do with the felt market making sure that they have at least a year or two's worth of inventory lined up. They don't want to get caught short so they show up and buy. Alot of inventory and they stay home.

Since they are grading all dmg beaver GD DGD, not sure how a fur garment guy handles a mixed lot of decent stuff with garbage?

"GD DGD (Good Damaged): Good quality with large imperfections.
REG DGD (Regular Damaged): Average quality with large imperfections.
BDLY DGD (Badly Damaged): Extensive damage, little or no value."

Demand rises when celebrities wear cowboy hats. Beyonce had a big effect for a while.

EXACTLY!

Historic years?

Index for inflation and get back to me.

OK...if we go back to the 1830's you got me.

2012 for me was almost equal without indexing for inflation.


Figure in a 45 50 percent loss in the value of the dollar, well......

Section III beaver averaged $ 13.62 in Feb 2012 NAFA sale. Last few years Section III Beav have been in the $30 range. Peeler is talking about Section III prices.

At least Dirt's paying attention...lol.

So…we need $50 beaver to make up for inflation….good thing gas is cheap.

I only worry about what my beaver average.

BTW. Not only sec III are hatters.

I have often seen higher grades of beaver sell for less than the same size GD DMG (Section III) so you likely have a point there.

I pay the most attention to the Section III because I figure that is the ground floor for what I will get as an average. My late caught beaver will run heavy into that section.

In about 1980 I averaged $44 on 65 beaver. To make up for inflation we'd need about $400 average today.

If you do the math, I believe the number is $179/beaver in 2026.

I guess we ain't getting an answer for this question.

Inflation is killing everything, forsure. I will still trap til I'm gone, pays better than fishing.

Likely has a buyer for the left over skins he cant use.Or has another use for skins of different character intersorted in so called sec 3 lots
The buyers do look at the sample lots and know what they are bidding on and how much money they can make from them.
If there is not enough skins to break out into their own lot,its not affecting the offers.
The auction house knows what the buyers want.And the buyers know the auction collection they are bidding on.