The Fur Buyer Came...How Did I Do???

Today, the Fur Buyer came.....I got about what I expected for my furs...which ain't much! The days of making a living trapping are over unless you live in a very good area. Today, you have to enjoy the lifestyle and the adventure of trapping. Hopefully the prices will come up again, but I doubt it will ever balance out with the price of gas and inflation. Even so, you will find me out trapping again next year.....as long as I'm able and it's still legal!
A Trapper traps....it's who we are and what we do.
Enjoy!

[@jonfoy9166]

Good morning. Well sure not much money for that hard work. I am glad its fun. Hobbies often are worth every penny in enjoyment they provide. Have a great day

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Good Morning! No, the trapping really just forces me to go out in the Winter. You sure won't get rich!

[@adirondacktrapper2423]

Truly unbelievable how the times have changed in the fur markets!!! In today's day and age you must really enjoy the experience being out there putting steel in the ground because it surely doesn't pay a hell of beans.! The best you can hope for is to break even on your fuel costs. Nice job Gary!!!!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Absolutely!! You are very lucky today to just break even. Some of those old price lists I have, you could actually get rich.....not now.

[@wildwes.]

Muskrat your videos are awesome brother I view them every morning and you make my day God bless you brother

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Great! Thank you very much!

[@masstrapper7645]

Not much to be made but there are good times to be had. There’s the control end of it also. Let’s hope things change in our favor.👍👍

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Exactly. 2 of those beaver, I got $20 each on top of the $30 for damage control. So $50 each. What I like best about trapping is the adventure. If I have traps set, I have to check them no matter what the weather is like. Once I'm out, I have fun, but without the traps, I probably wouldn't go. I sure hope prices change! If the big fur companies can't wait it out....we are done.

[@huckfinn2315]

Was the fur sanction ever lifted? Coyotes, beaver and coon crashed

[@wookieecantina]

Great photo and enjoyed the newspaper stories. The average person honestly doesn't realize how large wolves are until they see you next to the those beautiful pelts. WOW!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

They are big! It's easy to see how a pack of those needs a lot of deer and elk to eat.

[@danielmastin3606]

The Veiw from your place is Amazing. I could wake up to that everyday. Your Fur looked beautiful. Nowadays you get what you can for Fur. We really are doing it for the fun and to control population. It is what it is. $45 for your 2 Fox is better than around here. I think they are 6-10$. Thanks for

[@MuskratOutdoors]

As bad as it is, I expected these prices. The fur market is terrible this year.

[@solobushman]

Sure ain't what it used to be. It's the love for the outdoors that keeps us going. That's a great picture of you and cindy with the furs. Take care.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

It's really not. You are very lucky to pay for your gas anymore. Getting rich....well don't try to do it trapping!

[@mikequesenberry5344]

Having a year end picture for me helps is a sense of pride and accomplishment , good job Gary !

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Yeah, you have to. After you sell your fur, and spend the money, both are gone forever. A picture is the only thing you get to keep. I can't understand why you wouldn't take a picture.

[@jasonaffeldt7838]

Glad you enjoyed running your trap line vs the $ at the end. Thanks for sharing the stories out of your local paper 😂. Good stuff👍. You and Cindy have a good day. 🇺🇲🔪🔥🌲

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Money of course is the goal, but it's only a part of trapping.

[@jamestboehm6450]

You always find something to make an old man smile. My buddy sold his furs 2 weeks ago and took a beating also. Not like yrs ago when you could make a good check.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thanks! The fur market hasn't been good in years, but this is about the worst I've seen. If things don't improve, we might be at the end....

[@jamestboehm6450]

@@MuskratOutdoors I don't know about the end, but only the diehards will put steel out.

[@elkaholic338]

I used to get your newspaper years ago, it was good reading! I like your fur pictures!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Some of the stuff in it is pretty funny! Thanks!

[@reginaldwinsor2759]

Trappers aren't at it for the money, that's for sure. We got a heaping of snow here a few days ago. I got to go out now & have another round of snow clearing. Nice picture of you and Cindy with the furs. Have a nice day.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Exactly right. If you want to get rich, do anything other than trap!

[@WilliamWebber-wn3zu]

Wow !!! absolutely beautiful 😊 I love the harvest and hard earned bonafide knowledge and pure skill and years of down rite tenacity to hone your suffrage / labor of love. I salute you my friend. Great job.. great video!!!!!! See ya tomorrow 😊

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thank you very much!

[@MarkJLarsonOutdoors]

Kind of sad on the fur prices! Thank you for sharing the newspaper stories! Good luck with everything my friend!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

It is. Nobody believed me in other videos when I talked about prices, but it's pretty gloomy....

[@stevemccoy8138]

Hello Muskrat, I've always enjoyed looking at all the end of line pictures, just think about all the long hours and hard work that went into catching all those critters. Have a Great Day. 😊

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Me too! Ya gotta take pictures! In the end, that's all you get to keep!

[@user-bs5vk9vt1b]

trapping is like farming ,it's in your blood and you always think it a be better next year.much respect for you sir.enjoy yourvideos.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

100% Right!

[@virginia7191]

Nice picture! Those foxes came out beautiful!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thanks! They did. I probably should have kept them.

[@user-de8hi5kx9m]

Morning great picture 👍👍🇺🇸

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Good Morning! Thanks!

[@jeffryrichardson9105]

Great pictures of you and your accomplishment!👍🏽😀❤️🇺🇸

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thank you so much!

[@Mike-dj1ru]

We Old Trappers Are Being Ripped off Mostly, Yet We Do It Because It's What We Stand For As Men That Live Off The Land... Love your videos ❤

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Exactly right. I wonder how much longer it will last? I'll keep at it until I either can't, or it's illegal....

[@streeterboyzoutdoors]

That's awsome cool end of season pic and nice furs. The fun and adventure the memories of trapping is what it's all about and money I get is an added bonus some years are better than others. Thanks for sharing.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thanks! Yeah, pictures are needed in my opinion. It's great to look back on and triggers good memories.

[@paulsisco7595]

Got to have them pics for sure enjoyed it y'all be safe

[@MuskratOutdoors]

You do! You sell your furs, then spend the money.....without pictures, there's noting left to look back on. I don't understand why you wouldn't take pictures??

[@stephaniesmith7317]

Nice shot of you & yer wife with the pups. Good looking haul IMO!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thank you!!!

[@roberthealeyjr8151]

Great job fur brush makes looks. Beautiful

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thank you! It does! Combing them out really makes them look good!

[@raymitchell4220]

Shame about your prices, I think it's great to have photos of the fur or animals you got, we always used to take pics of the rabbits we ferreted and our pigeon crop, partly for us and partly to show the farmer, I just wish we could sell our fox or rabbit skins. Take care, Norfolk, UK Ray

[@MuskratOutdoors]

The fur market has been low for years, but this year, it's really bad. Yeah, you gotta have pictures! You sell your fur, then spend the money, and they are both gone. Pictures are all you have for the work and memories.

[@billiep4338]

Have a great day ❤

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thanks! You too!

[@leonardryan8723]

Hey same fur price from the 1960 you got , hey 👋 good to get outside and have a little fun . Save on the game animals like 👍 rabbits 🐇. Take care great video.😊

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Yeah....difference is in 1960 that was a lot of money!

[@rogerdontstopnowboyskeepit9461]

Hey ol boy you should’ve modeled those chaps when you took the picture. Back in the late seventies sold fox hides for 75 bucks, huge money!! I was working a 40 hour week for 100 bucks.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Ha! Hopefully some pretty girl will buy those and I'll get better pictures than me! 1970-1980's prices were good.....sure been lousy ever since!

[@bustersmith5569]

$100.00 bucks a week was that in the late 1870s????..

[@MuskratOutdoors]

@@bustersmith5569 Heck, all I make now is $200 a week.....honest truth.

[@rogerdontstopnowboyskeepit9461]

@ bustersmith5569 you must be some hot shot lawyer. I was just a country boy just starting out doing the best I could. Congratulations on your big earnings buster.

[@douglawrence9616]

When the price’s were that low we just kept our hides and wait for the next sale. Those prices are enough to make ya cry. We would never do all that work for so little money. Well I sure hope it gets better for you!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

I thought about holding them over, or having them tanned, but tanning costs too much, and I've had bug problems holding them over unless they are in the freezer. I knew they wouldn't bring much, the market is terrible this year.

[@stevehamilton6070]

Sorry to hear about the bad fur prices.Love the dogs in the last picture. And you guys also.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thanks Steve. The fur market hasn't been very good in a long time, but this is pretty low....

[@WALLOWINGBULLS]

Good Morning , nice photo

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Good Morning! Thank you!

[@IdahoHillbilly]

Good Morning 🌄

[@MuskratOutdoors]

GOOD MORNING!

[@thecamocowboyoutdoors5693]

Good morning Gary. We're not going to get rich this year with our fur, lol. But that's not why we do it. This year with beaver it sounds like they want big. FHA doesn't sell them by the pound so the big beaver with the most fur on them are in demand. I still got some biggies in the freezer from last spring that I have to get boarded. Then it will be time to catch some more! Have a good day my friend.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Exactly. I've never seen them weigh the beaver before. I had a stack of 4, and he didn't even look at them, just grabbed the whole stack.....coulda had big holes in them, there wasn't, but it wouldn't have mattered. I wasn't expecting much for any of these this year. Prices are terrible.

[@markmakuski2489]

Good morning Gary and Cindy! To bad about the value of the fur. Maybe, someday, fur prices will rise again. I trap now just to try and keep predators and beaver populations down. Wish the government would “delist “ wolf as an endangered species. Went for a “look-see” yesterday where I trap and deer hunt… found all kinds of fresh wolf scat and wolf tracks on the forest roads.

[@REAPERMILITIAOUTDOORS]

Good thing it's fun an not a job lol. It's cool to see the paper still going. Although I don't pay attention to it anymore after reading some book's. But still cool nonetheless. Are paper just has all the garbage in it spewing from evil mouths lol.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

That's for sure! I enjoy our little newspaper. It comes out once a week, and not much in it usually, but I like it!

[@dlansburg2673]

I’m setting at the Idaho fur sale ,watching your fur sale!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Great! Let me know what the prices are.

[@user-ht6bp5im1z]

Good morning, New Subscriber here today 03/12/24 from ole New ( Cow ) Hampshire USA.. Listening to you read the paper, that poor fella who broke his leg a 3rd time, sounds like he maybe slept on ground all night, till his neighbor found him, thank the Good Lord. Seems like those furs should be worth little more than that. But at least you're having fun like you say.. I'll try to catch up on your videos. I saw your channel today while I was watching Idaho Billy. He recommended you as a friend. God Bless you and your family, my friend. Take care for now. Big Jim New Hampshire USA aka Boston Strong

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Good Morning and Welcome! My best video is the bear one. Look up "Releasing a Big Bear From a Wolf Trap". Kevin, Idaho Hillbilly and Miss Kitty are great! We went to see them last year. I wish we could have stayed longer. We have been friends through the computer or telephone for years, but haven't been able to spend much time in person. We only live 150 miles or so apart, but to get there is a 7 hour drive because he lives on the other side of the Wilderness and there are no roads through it. Driving around is a LONG ways!

[@chrisholmes6029]

I too am from NH. Good to see a fellow state on here.I am 64 and just began trapping last year. 13 beaver, 4 otter and 2 snapping turtles. The most fun I habe had in a few years. Also took up foraging, mushrooming and preparing natural plant medicines. I really enjoy listening ti Muskrat Outdoors. Have you seen him let a huge bear go thst was an incidental catch? Unbelievable!!

[@WilliamWebber-wn3zu]

Good evening my friend 😊.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Late again....so Good Night!

[@ImixSpb]

Trapping is enjoyable thing, although it may not be very profitable. The newspaper had some interesting stories. Have a nice day!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Sure won't get rich! What I like best about trapping, is that it forces me to go into the mountains even in bad weather. Without it, I could go, but when it's cold and not very nice outside I probably wouldn't. Once I do, I enjoy it.

[@WildAboutBeingOutdoors]

I have my for sale at the end of the month 30th. G FW is going to be buying fur. I hope to get $30 for my beaver. I liked, how you took the pic of your end of season. Thanks for sharing !

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thanks! Good luck to you. I hope the prices are better. $30 for beaver is better than it's been, but not high.

[@curtisshippy4602]

Good morning How much is Wolves worth and also why is the price that low on everything else Back in the late 70 or early 80 a friend of mine was getting substantially more for his catch Love the picture with the furs Have a good day

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Good Morning! Wolves from this area are selling for anywhere from $100-$400. Quality, color, and how they are handled makes all the difference when you are selling fur or any kind. Wolves without feet are nearly worthless, you need to skin the feet! The last big "Fur Boom" with decent prices was in the 1980's. Fur prices have been low for years now. A company called "Canada Goose" was using coyote fur trim on their coats and parkas. That drove the price of coyotes up around $100 each, but they quit doing that driving the prices down to nearly nothing. Russia is the top fur buyer in the world, and the USA has sanctions against Russia. Changes in fashion, and world politics make all the difference with the fur market.

[@ALs-Outdoors]

Wow. I used to sell fox green for way more than that.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Yeah, hard to sell for that, but what do ya do with them? I have several tanned already.

[@destryhaslett698]

I'm at glenn's ferry, fur sale ,over 1000 bobcats, 400 beavers,,,,just waiting on prices,,23 buyers on site

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Bobcats should bring a fairly decent price, and beaver are more than they have been, but none of this is selling for much. I hope you do well. Good Luck!

[@shelbyburgey884]

Thanks! And yes, an end of the line photo! Have a good day!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thanks! You too! Yeah, you have to have pictures!!!

[@shelbyburgey884]

My hunting and fishing buddies always said if you don't have pictures it didn't happen! lol Tuff bunch to get along with! @@MuskratOutdoors

[@impalaman4546]

Good afternoon friend hope you have a great day

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Same to you! Thank you!

[@raymondbrowning663]

I think the best reason for trapping today is that the world could change drastically, and then the experience would be quite valuable.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Very true.

[@martybritton267]

Wow it would be nice to get a couple $ 1.000 bobcats but living here in Virginia I don't think bobcats would bring that kind of money might be lucky to $ 400.00 we do have a few here I myself have gotten 2 hunting at night with electronic caller its relaxing just being outside at night it's so quiet

[@MuskratOutdoors]

The $1,000 ones are rare. I think mostly they pay that for a handful just to boost the over all average.

[@martybritton267]

I'm ready to move to Idaho you everything out there ​@@MuskratOutdoors

[@brucemitchell4581]

Hello my friend! Fur buyers are wolves in sheep’s clothing! Been there done that for years and years !!! They are the best trappers of all! Yup they caught you brother! lol good video though!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Good Morning! Ha! Actually, from everything I've read about the market reports, I think he gave me a fair price. The Fur Market is doing really lousy this year. I was hoping for more from the fox, but it works out to $22.50 each.....more than the fur market report is saying. Also, I have no shipping costs, comishtion fees or drumming fees taken out selling direct to this fur buyer.

[@maddog45auto66]

I call them trophy pictures.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

To me, it's just a hunting or trapping picture. It's a picture to help you remember a good trapping season, or a good hunting trip. It makes no sense to me not to take pictures?

[@joshrice5894]

Hi Guys well shoot I was hoping the prices were up on the furs but at least you got about what you expected but yeah it sounds like the value is in the fun of doing it and being out in a neat environment but yeah that is similar to farming and raising some cattle I don't make a whole lot but I keep doing it cause I enjoy it and I like being out in a neat environment and yeah that is what we do a farmer farms and a trapper traps thanks for the video GOD Bless You Guys

[@MuskratOutdoors]

100% Right! I really enjoyed ranch work for the same reason. Anything outside!

[@joshrice5894]

I forgot to say that I thought that was pretty neat at the beginning when you were zoomed in on that mountain top and then zoomed back out all the way back home and also that was a darn good picture of You and Cindy with all the furs good looking furs too well You Guys take care @@MuskratOutdoors

[@mattstarr8203]

that last one 50 years ago (Damm hippies)

[@MuskratOutdoors]

I bet so! I guess they could have stolen more, so there's that....

[@bustersmith5569]

i remember getting $6.00 $7.00, for nice rats,, not sure what happened maybe peta ???? great videos,,,,👍👍👍

[@MuskratOutdoors]

That, and sanctions against Russia. Also there is a lot of ranch mink out there. My fur buyer said the ranch mink are almost used up, so hopefully muskrat prices will come up some again.

[@deadpinecollective]

Buyer up here isn’t even buying coyotes, or he’ll give you $5 Canadian 😂. I just tan them and give them as gifts.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

A lot of guys aren't buying coyotes this year. This coyote wasn't really very pretty the hair was dull and flat had a lot of brown in it. Even at $10 that was probably Fair.

[@fabiancanada8876]

Imagine being an electrician making and somebody offers you 2$ for working 20 min (around here they making between 80-300$/h). What money got got for your product and time is a joke at best. However, actively being out there trapping and everything around it (setting traps, walking, taking care of the fur, etc.) is a great thing to do in my opinion. I have trapped a few animals myself and just kept the fur for us (it is such a great product!). My wallet is made from beaver tail and the last beaver we caught we actually ate (was not bad at all. The one before we boiled the meat and fed it to the chickens). All the best and greetings from Nova Scotia! PS We pay 330$/month for home insurance and property tax alone. The cost of living is very high where we are with wages being very low for most people. You are talking 20$/h and a home cost you 300k and everything is very expensive (food, insurances,..) and lots of rules&regulation that makes it slow&expensive to do anything

[@MuskratOutdoors]

It's a losing battle at best. Nothing I do, including my job is getting me anywhere. Dying in a cardboard box under a bridge is a very real possibility for me.

[@fabiancanada8876]

@@MuskratOutdoors Sorry to hear that but a lot of people are in that boat (I recently gave somebody a deer to eat as I heard that they are eating roadkill). I really like the song "rich men north of Richmond" but of course it was not even played in the radio here in our sheep/censored/propaganda province. We have some land and I was thinking of building some tiny houses (off grid) and find good people to form more of a community. Its the only way I see that we have a chance against the tyranny (of course they would be kind of illegal and the government is very powerful and brutal so I dont know if it is really a good idea). But finding good people that work together is a huge challenge.. I am not sure what to do. I recently started looking at Equador, Belize, Thailand.. but we are 20 years away from retirement and have two 10 year old children.. not sure what to do.

[@johnnelson5659]

Everybody talks about the foreign fur markets. The big problem is nobody wears fur in this country

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Both are true. Russia and China are the two biggest fur buyers....and we don't get along great with them. Sanctions against Russia has been very bad for the fur market, but yeah, if folks in the USA would wear fur again, it would sure make a difference!

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

Hey buddy, its been a while, good to see you. Those old stories can be amusing. how come you did not sell the wolves?

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Hello Joey! It has! We have a program here that refunded me for expenses on the wolves. $2,000 each, and I don't need to sell them to get it. They are much too hard to come by!

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

@@MuskratOutdoors seems like a good deal then, especially when it's doing something you like to do.

[@ritasidwell8578]

Well nothing like back in the 70s Gary I trap little now mostly for control around the house and for a few hunters buy me hope for better days have a good day

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Exactly. It's more for the adventure than anything else.

[@jameswelch1054]

They are not paying much for fur these days. Won't get better until we get back back the big Russian, and Chinese markets.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Exactly! Fashion and world politics make all the difference.

[@Jason-copper1776]

Central Michigan here, If I wanted to buy a tanned hide around here "fox" it would cost about $200.00. I think your being screwed. Remember the movie Mountain Men with Charlton Heston and Brian Keith ? The part when Charlton asked "whats beaver going for in Saint Loius?" He replied, "five dollars." Charlton said it will be cold day in hell before I sell my plews for five dollars. Guess times were tough all over and still are.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Tanned they are worth about that. Raw fur is cheap right now.

[@hunt_trap_fish]

I can't believe you were under $2 for muskrats. Seems like we're getting around $3 per here in WI / Northern IL

[@MuskratOutdoors]

2 of these had holes/bite marks in them, but yeah, I was hoping to do a little better.....

[@hunt_trap_fish]

@@MuskratOutdoors sheesh. I’m only selling one ‘skrat this year. I put the rest of em up w my mentor, and I’m just getting ‘em tanned and I’m gonna make some teddy bears for my daughters. The one I caught w the beaver just got unlucky and will be sold 😂😂

[@MuskratOutdoors]

@@hunt_trap_fish Making Teddy Bears is a good idea! Sad to say, that might be the future of the fur market. I should have kept mine probably, but I've got other furs tanned already I haven't done anything with....

[@hunt_trap_fish]

@@MuskratOutdoors I’ve only been at it 4 seasons and I got 6, 4, and 2 yo daughters so my time on the line is limited

[@MuskratOutdoors]

@@hunt_trap_fish Hopefully the prices will come up some !!

[@AA-gj3kt]

Three bottles of vodka? Some people got no taste. 👍👍

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Ha! I would have gone for the whiskey! I'm not big on vodka either.

[@IdahoHillbilly]

Damn I should have bought all them furs for that price!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Pitiful, ain't it? Nobody believed me when I was talking about fur prices in other videos. I was hoping the fox would do better, but this is about what I expected these to sell for. That's why I haven't been after these animals at all. Wolves, the F4WM is refunding me $2,000 each, and I get to keep them. The fox were accidently caught in wolf traps, that coyote was given to me, and some of those beaver were damage control that I got paid $20 from the land owner on top of the $30 fur price....with beaver, I get the meat for bait, or to eat, the tail to tan, and the castor to sell, or make lure out of.

[@tallcedars2310]

Good point!

[@IdahoHillbilly]

@@MuskratOutdoors I think next year if the prices are like that you find out what the fur buyer would give ya and I will buy them plus shipping

[@MuskratOutdoors]

@@IdahoHillbilly That sounds good to me. Heck, I'd rather give them to you for free than sell them for so little.

[@IdahoHillbilly]

@@MuskratOutdoors 👍🤠👍

[@godsoffspring4195]

Nice still shot, Gary. Too bad the prices aren't better. You might of did a tad better if you had fluffed up the fur on the critter you had positioned under the air conditioner. 😆

[@MuskratOutdoors]

HA! Maybe!

[@deanQ3805]

Good morning bubba

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Good morning!

[@dw6090]

Doesn't pay for gas u burn, if u sold the wolves would it have, and maybe u said sometime but what u doing with the wolves, u can put in future vid if u want.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

It doesn't. Nobody believed me when I was talking about fur prices in other videos. The wolves are worth it only because of the F4WM. I got $2,000 each for 4 of them, and I didn't have to sell them to get that. None of the rest are with enough to mess with.

[@amyeteel5379]

😊

[@sandyc6569]

Well if it's something you really enjoy then that's what matters,not the price! Thanks for sharing!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

I like just getting out in the winter. I could do that without trapping, but having traps set forces you to go. Without having the traps, I probably wouldn't go as often. This is why I have really been only after wolves. None of the rest are selling for much. The 4 wolves I caught, I got $8,000 for and I didn't have to sell them.

[@sandyc6569]

@@MuskratOutdoors Yeah i hear ya! Well that's not bad then!! 😊👍

[@charlesjenkins615]

The fur trade has always been Boom and bust it may be off right now but give it a little time 👍✌️

[@MuskratOutdoors]

It has. Trouble is we are down to just one big fur company. I hope they can hold on without going out of business. When NAFA shut down, that was a big blow against us.

[@patriotpreacher43]

The prices sure don’t make it worth it financially. Being out in that beautiful country does. You said you don’t sell the wolves. What would they bring if you did? Just curious.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Exactly. There's more to this than money. Wolves from Idaho and Montana sell for about $100-$400. Alaska and Canada wolves sell a lot higher, $400-$800.

[@frankherbert6476]

"I don't have time for a long letter, so I shall write a long one..." I used to do fur runs with my Father in law through your area pre COVID. He passed last year and I somewhat "inherited"....which means in fur buyer language "ahh crap, what do I do with a freezer full of gallon jugs of coyote buttholes and 400 small nutria in the cooler?" Yea, being a skinner and buyer both it's hard not to make a beaver NOT look presentable when it's just getting weighed for felt anyhow. Hell, the damn things don't even get tanned. I peeled off my ugliest, nicked up (those who skin well are trappers and sellers...those who can't are buyers!) damaged ugly but otherwise quasi-primed hides off and they sold them at St Maries this weekend for 30s average. A grandkid of a friend did a handful cased to attract some craft folks and they sold for mid 30s! The Hell?! When Groenwalds and big buyers get them green, they just run them through big industrial washing machine wringers like we'd see the old timers do with muskrats, hang them up by corners and call em good. We'll see how long it lasts....Ok, here's my 1.5 cents as a small time fur buyer watching the craft market as well as the big time old buyers at auction and these country fur buyers....As far as a Cross fox or some hybrid that's a decent fur, or a good furred light colored coyote, I'd respect the value of that hide and say thanks but no. Now, to us "old" guys that may seem counter intuitive, as even 10 years ago the "take my baseball and go home" would make you feel good for 5 min but then now you're stuck. But if you're on youtube, you're on facebook and social media. Crafters are DYING for all sorts of stuff, especially with feet on. You could sell a decent coyote to a crafter raw for 20-30 bucks easy and they are getting a deal because 5 years ago none of them could get a coyote for under 40 bucks worth anything. All skulls you should sell raw frozen 5 bucks each. crafters are looking for furred on feet! Hell, I have a guy begging me for full carcasses after I skin a critter, but I don't have freezer space. Depending on the work, and one's "ick" factor, a bobcat heart is $20.00 as an example. I assume you're saving castor. Muskrat put up round vs traditional sells dollars more! What!? Fur dead?...especially here in WA State...it may seem like it if you think traditionally...5-6 years ago we were skinning 4-500 coyote a year because Canada Goose was buying every single dog west of the Missippi. chopped legs, didn't save skulls. Same with cats with Russia. Now, better read tea leaves and break out chicken bones...but then, I get crazy phone calls for oddest things. What's next, cats and dogs living together? Crazy times!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Very true! I think for now, the real market isn't the fur market. Those beaver...shaved for hats...I wonder what the leather would be like? I have a cased one I caught last Summer on a damage control job. It's dried fur in, because I was going to try to tan it and made something....now, I'm wondering if maybe I should slip the hair, and cut lace from the rawhide? I used to do a lot of braid work, maybe a rawhide braided horse quirt with a beaver tail handle? It would be more work, but probably get $100 or so from it? So what do they do with a bobcat heart? Never heard anything about selling those?

[@frankherbert6476]

@MuskratOutdoors for hatters they remove the felt underfur, they don't shave it down. As far as the hide, beaver is a rodent so it's basically rat skin and about as good as such. As far as bobcat heart, who knows.

[@martybritton267]

How much is a good prime bobcat worth

[@MuskratOutdoors]

It all depends on color, size, how it was handled, what part of the country...hard to answer that really. On average, I'd guess about $400, but they can be as little as $40 and as high as $1,000. The fur market is kind of a crazy thing really....

[@aardhond]

Thats allot of work for that amount of money ,,, do you have to sell them to the furman or can you also sell them to bob at the grocery store ??

[@MuskratOutdoors]

It sure is. The fur market is bad this year, and has been actually for a long time. Sanctions against Russia has hurt, as well as a change in fashion. You could sell them in other ways, but usually you will need to have them tanned first and that's not really cheap to do. This really is about what I expected them to sell for, but it's still disappointing.

[@lobopropredatorcontrol]

Im afraid fur will never shine again! Sure hope im wrong. With your leather working skills have you ever thought of making things from the catch and selling them that ways? Well take care old code. By the way i like the end of the line picture for what its worth

[@MuskratOutdoors]

I think that's what we are down to. I don't think it will shine again either, in fact, I think we might be near the end. I wish the Rendezvous were still as big as they used to be. We could sell to them, but tanned fur and hats or something. I had some furs tanned a year or two ago to make things out of, but haven't done anything with them. I'm not really sure what to make someone would want to buy? To come out good at all, you have to charge more than the average person is going to want to spend. I think it's a pretty small market and sales might be pretty slow? I'm going to try though. How about you? Yeah, got to have pictures! You sell you fur, spend the money, and have nothing at all if you don't take pictures.

[@krusty1490]

hey there thx for the video!.im a little confused i and my father are trappers and we just got results from our fur sale and the prices where not bad!.we averaged 32 bucks on coyotes! y was yours so low.is that just because its a local buyer and not the fur sale?. Weird,to me i think the buyers that come to town take advantage of us.ive found the fur sale gets better prices.is this normal?id love to know what u think .thx again.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

That's a really good price you got. Most of the sale results for this year that I've seen, the high average was about $17. This coyote was not a very pretty one. A lot of brown color, and the hair looked dull and flat. Also, it was hunted with a sewn hole. Not a high dollar pelt even with a good market. Be thankful for a $32 dollar average, I could sure live with that!

[@tomriblett2979]

What camera are you using nice close ups.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

It's a Panasonic 180V Great camera! 90x zoom!

[@finpainter1]

1980 i got 75dollors apiece for fox. now thanks to haters the price is down.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

I know....it's sickening really....

[@roygorman6624]

That is pitiful income for your time, hope you enjoyed it for itself.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

It was! The Fur Market has been down for quite a few years, but it's hard to justify these prices.

[@TheAlaskacabin]

Can you sell a hide or two if I would ask for them? Thanks

[@MuskratOutdoors]

I can. I have a couple coyotes and fox, but I was planning on selling them to the fur market, instead of tanning them, so they don't have feet or legs. I was going to try to make a few things and maybe offer them for sale on here.

[@TheAlaskacabin]

Do you have a way I can get in contact with you, instead of on the forum?

[@Britanniatrapper]

I just sold 70 marten and ten wolverine for 9,500,00$ canadian

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Wow! Good Job!

[@tomhinkle2517]

Sorry about the fur price, the prices we got in the 70s will never come back, but a man needs a hobby

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Exactly right. I was hoping the fox would do better, but it was what I was expecting. The fur market is terrible right now.

[@murrayandru7527]

Furs do Much better at Auction , Fur Byers have to make money, never used em !!!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

True, but shipping, drumming and commission fees add up too.

[@murrayandru7527]

@@MuskratOutdoors Usually you let the auction place deal with if you sell to them directly... You may be too remote for that ?? Maybe I'm outdated now, lol. Times have Changed , Take care .

[@myronbenware4452]

How much did it cost you in gas, etc. to make $205.00?

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Ha! I don't even want to know! Way more! The beaver and rats were on purpose, the fox were in my wolf traps, and the coyote was given to me. That is where the Foundation 4 Wildlife Management (F4WM) comes in. You save your recites for gas and expenses, and they will reimburse you for each wolf caught. This year, in my area, it was $2,000 each...and I caught 4. So they saved my trapping season and then some! None of these other critters are worth enough to go after. The beaver, 2 of these were damage control, so the landowner paid me $20 each on top of the $30, so $50 per beaver there.

[@darreldwalton8763]

Somewhere, (I think my crazy sister has it squirreled away and ain't sharin') there's an old Polaroid of the meat pole from fall of 1966, the first year I could legal hunt in Idaho. Dad put me and him in on a party hunt for elk in Island Park, he and I shot two spike bulls out of a herd of 30 head or so about an hour before sundown at a water hole. We shot from the edge of the timber, and they had no idea where we were. Couldn't have been 75 yards with an old top eject 1881 Marlin 38-55. Oh, the meat pole, back home, besides them bulls, we added three mule deer, and several pheasants. That photo of me, Dad and Mom and that meat pole with our guns and my "Shish-Plop" boots is seared in my brain housing group! Might have to suck up my pride and apologize to her for say in she's crazy for marryin' that Shoshoni kid from high school there in Blackfoot. Anyways, that's a helluva shot of them furs, and that furry guy that's posin' next to 'em looks to be a right handsome feller to boot! Makes a good shot to hang onto for posterity! Have a Great One!!!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

To me, a picture is as good as a head mount on the wall, and a whole lot less money! Pictures help bring back good memories. Ya gotta have pictures! With trapping, even more so. You sell your furs, you spend the money, then both are gone......the only thing you have left is pictures.

[@darreldwalton8763]

@MuskratOutdoors Well, there's the stories. Sometimes, if the tellin' is good enough, they spread a bit, and become legends.... If nothin else, it's fun tellin the kids and grandkids when they look at me, then the pictures, and it sinks in that even though I wasn't ten foot tall and bulletproof, I did leave a mark or two. My friends, well, they just call BS and tell their version and we have a good time!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

@@darreldwalton8763 You bet! Heck, we only live once and life is about Adventure!

[@user-rn6hr1qw3l]

Lame bro need some elk deer bear seal sea otter and sea lion pelts , not bad for a ROOOOOOKIE though 😂

[@MuskratOutdoors]

HA! True!

[@mikewilloughby2092]

do you have any castor ?

[@MuskratOutdoors]

I do, but didn't sell it. I'll use it instead.

[@user-se5hb9kh5o]

That's not worth it all the time trapping and then to skin it....😢😢

[@MuskratOutdoors]

It's not. That's one of the reasons I wasn't as gung ho as I could have been. The prices have been low for several years now. Wolves are really the only thing worth chasing, and there aren't many of them around.

[@robertlively741]

I've trapped for a number of years, and I was a certified WildIife Damage Control Agent here in NC for 10 plus years. I find it ironic that you're complaining about the money BUT you don't sell your wolf fur?!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

I got $2,000 each for them without having to sell them. Look into the F4WM/ Foundation 4 Wildlife Management. I've trapped since 1976... nothing compares to a wolf. Why sell them for money that will get spent and have both gone?

[@NoreasternBladez]

It seems that fur trappers are getting the shitty end of the stick these days.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Yep....it's been that way a long time now too....

[@NoreasternBladez]

@MuskratOutdoors can't you take a stand, and say : "my time and sweat are worth more than your offering".?

[@This-time-more-than-ever]

Sell them online, You got ripped off friend.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Actually, that's the reality of the fur market today. $30 beaver is considered to be good, and the rest was fur market value. Pitiful ain't it? Tanned, I could get more, but the expense is higher too.

[@robertmclean9737]

Your lucky if you broke even.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

On these furs I didn't probably. The wolves made it well worth while thanks to the Foundation 4 Wildlife Management. The regular Fur Market is really terrible now....

[@robertmclean9737]

@@MuskratOutdoors Has gone up and down like a yo yo through out history. When it crashed in the Nineties it was bad, WY Bobcats brought a 90 USD average. I Quit Trapping then and concentrated on building a business. Resumed trapping in early 2000 as a pro.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

@@robertmclean9737 I doubt it will ever come up much. I make better money with damage control trapping.

[@robertmclean9737]

@@MuskratOutdoors I trapped damage control too, but getting Ranchers to pay up was frustrating. I made real good money when prices were up on Cats, 2007 snared 8 cats in a day, 4000 in a day wasn't bad, paid for half of my new 4 wheeler in a day. Had a record year that year caught 67 in two months. For every cat I caught I caught 3 Coyotes as non targets, and didn't bother skinning them. Good luck! Fur will shine again!

[@joemorganeatmyshortschannel]

All in all id say you had a great season im mentally drained after a week of hospital and life happens i have a pizza to bake and im gonna watch some john wayne after i check on my mom

[@MuskratOutdoors]

You bet Joe. If it was about money, I would do something else! I hope your Mom is doing better. Pizza sounds good.....I think I have one in the freezer....

[@yougonnaeatthat9889]

GFW doesn't want beaver put up he wants them skinned flat folded and frozen. Don't have to flesh them either. He has a flesher/shaver like they use for sheepskins to process their beaver. Pretty slick machine, he had a video last year of his workers using it. He pays more for less work, the ones I've seen selling put up beaver are getting a lower price.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Wow! That would be nice! Lots of work and time in a beaver.

[@yougonnaeatthat9889]

@@MuskratOutdoors I've always put up my fur myself, it was a satisfying effort. If you did it properly you'd get a little more $$$ if you paid attention to the details. When I was first learning my fur wasn't making as much selling green so I learned to do it myself with lots of help from Fur Fish and Game. I still think it's worthwhile knowing how to finish fur but you also have to follow market trends and buyer demands. Coyotes aren't worth the time and raccoons really aren't either. Iowa is trying to increase numbers of raccoons trapped to increase turkey pheasant quail etc... numbers so a tail bounty was proposed in the legislature. I'm not sure it will pass but for $5 a tail I'd say a lot of people will be trapping them if it does. Biologists don't think trapping egg eaters is worth the effort.

[@philliphaney9468]

Trapped and furred in the 70s and 80s. Best times were 70s with Alaska pipeline construction. Coyotes bringing 45. 40 for good mink. Beaver 25 to 30. Late 80s, market crashed. Similar prices u got for yours. Sold all my traps. Wouldn't kill another beautiful animal today for good prices. They're worth more alive to environment, especially beavers with drought. Why u people still kill them for pennies is beyond me. I'm sure you're a good man, but y????

[@MuskratOutdoors]

It's a struggle to be honest. The beaver were mostly damage control jobs, so add another $20 each to that $30....$50 per beaver. The fox were in my wolf traps, didn't want to catch them really, but since I did, I took care of the fur. The coyote a neighbor shot and wouldn't have skinned if I didn't do it. I didn't want it, but didn't want to see it go to waste either. The muskrats, I did catch on purpose, but only set 2 traps for them all season....hardly aggressive trapping there....the only animal I went after hard was the wolves. Thanks to the F4WM, I got $2,000 each for them and I don't have to sell them.....does that answer your question? If you were a trapper, you should understand it's not about the money. It's the connection to the wild and being a part of it. Not some city fella looking in from the outside and believing the crap Disney tells us.

[@philliphaney9468]

​I grew up in the woods of Eastern Oklahoma. Fishing and hunting since I could drag a pole to the creek. I call squirrels and turkey with my voice. Yes your explanation does make sense. Didn't think bounties on wolf still exists. With environmentalists and all. Realize muskrat can ruin a pond dam. I apologize if you were offended. With Cherokee and Cree blood. I ain't no city slicker. Just came to appreciate the animals place and went through massive changes when Sasquatch found me. Our interactions opened a different perspective. I know you are a good man and wish you and your family fair winds.​@@MuskratOutdoors