John Epler/Epler Fur Company Retired

I just read that John Epler has retired from buying fur this past spring. This is a great loss for trappers in my area and elsewhere.

Although I haven't been up to see John in a few years, he was my primary buyer and trapping supplier for many years after my daughter got me back into trapping about 17-18 years ago. We took our Cable Restraint Certification classes at John's place and it we always looked forward to a trip to his shop. We have lots of good memories from those trips.

John has made the decision to stop writing the Fur Market Report for Trapper's World as well.

It is not good to lose another long-time buyer.

Thanks to John my fox furs went from ok to top lot.
Great info source on the old Pa forums.
Good guy to talk with at conventions too.

been him and the Mrs life for a long time.enjoy a break folks-you deserve it.

John has been a friend for many years and deserves a break from a busy sometimes stressful lifestyle. He and his wife have made great contributions to our industry over his lifetime to trappers. I know how John feels as I am nearing the end of my busy devoted life as well.

I hope he and his wife have an enjoyable relaxing time in what ever they decide to do.

The best to you John and the wife. You will be missed.

Bob Jameson

Yeah, I forgot to mention all the tips John gave us to improve the quality of our put-up fur.

funny story--went to the convention in little valley 2 yrs ago and they moved John from his spot right as you walk in the front door.he'd been in that spot since moby dick was a minnow and something honestly just felt wrong all day.

W H A T !!!!! wow will miss him. He was not at Neil Olsens this year either.......jk

I purchased most of my traps from Epler.

Keith

I have never had a desire to buy fur. Who'd want to?
-The fur buyer is always seen as a money grubbing shark out to screw people.
-The majority of sellers don't understand grading. I still hear trappers say "cotton mink" is a conspiracy invented by the fur industry
-I know of many fur buyers who have been bankrupted or never made much money for their efforts.

John, I will miss your market reports!

Mark.

Yes I will greatly miss John's reports and also his articles on the ins and outs of the business and how to build, sustain and grow a business such as fur buying and or trap supply etc. I wish him well in his new venture. I would hope that he would be inclined to offer periodic articles regarding the fur industry, trapping etc.

Bryce

Thanks for the kind words. At this time we only closed the fur-buying part of the business. we are still selling supplies and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. We wish everyone a good season, have fun be safe. John and Linda Epler

Good to hear!

Best of luck and enjoy yourselves........jk

Can't believe you turned over that fur market report over to such a light weight, lol. Thanks for your contribution's through the years.

I enjoyed John's reports over the years. Good to hear you will still be in business with the trapping supplies, that should mean he will still be attending conventions.

Hey John, thanks for popping in! Maybe now, will all the spare time on your hands, you can drop in more often. You are a wealth of knowledge.
You payed me good money one year (the only year that they were worth trapping) for nutria and taught me how to put them up correctly. I went on to catch 100 of them the next year and put up the prettiest nutria pelts ever. I hope NAFA in still choking on them. Not a total loss, as I was on a mission to rid my favorite section of muskrat habitat which they had taken over.
You also turned me on to a guy who ties flies from nutria. Best money I ever got for nutria, even if it was for only 2 pelts. BTW, the guy sent me two of his highly prized flies. They are as ugly as a nutria, but he says that there is no better hair available to catch trout up his way.

Pillars of our community! Wishing them the best.

I will be checked in from time to time. Perhaps there will be some future articles. John

I loved sitting in on his talks at conventions over the years. And I have a few of his books on medicinals and raising ginseng.

I hope he still does one every once in a while at PA conventions.