Terrible fur sale results

Just checked my online Fur Harvesters account for the recent online auction results. Wow! I didn't think the market could get any worse than it was but maybe I'm mistaken. A good 80% of my fur was re-offered (fox, coyote, coon,otter, most of my prime winter rats, mink). Everything I sent was prime, select graded so either there wasn't good attendance or buyers didn't want to pay anything for the product. I had 1X select beaver go for $18.00. Large and XL heavy winter rats for $2-2.50. Didn't even cover my fuel cost. Not sure what lies ahead for trappers. I feel sorry for the folk that are trying to use trapping as an income source. The only return for your time would be in teaching the trapping course and doing nuisance removal work. Sad to see the industry this way.

I was told that the fur market has completely cratered,especially,since several garment manufacturers have decide not to use fur for trim. That punches a huge hole in profitability. To continue as a full time trapper makes no sense,whatsoever. So,what are we supposed to do with Coyote pelts after we shoot them this winter? Just bury them? This ain't good.

To be honest, everyone should have seen this coming...the signs of a collapse have been evident for years.

Sad that a profession that helped to build this country is now no longer viable as a business.

Just curious but can you claim your expenses and record a lost?

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Originally Posted by Fenelon

Just checked my online Fur Harvesters account for the recent online auction results. Wow! I didn't think the market could get any worse than it was but maybe I'm mistaken. A good 80% of my fur was re-offered (fox, coyote, coon,otter, most of my prime winter rats, mink). Everything I sent was prime, select graded so either there wasn't good attendance or buyers didn't want to pay anything for the product. I had 1X select beaver go for $18.00. Large and XL heavy winter rats for $2-2.50. Didn't even cover my fuel cost. Not sure what lies ahead for trappers. I feel sorry for the folk that are trying to use trapping as an income source. The only return for your time would be in teaching the trapping course and doing nuisance removal work. Sad to see the industry this way.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

Just curious but can you claim your expenses and record a lost?

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Trappers should be able to the same as any other business. I'm no tax expert,so,I'm not at all sure how many years you can claim a loss without collapsing the business. I can't see it being a bottomless pit.

Ever since Canada Goose catered to the hippies and stopped using real coyote fur, The rest of the market has taken a sh#+ kicking.

All my pelts still in the freezer. Maybe I'll make the hounds a coyote fur bed for this winter, doubt ill try to sell them now.

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

Trappers should be able to the same as any other business. I'm no tax expert,so,I'm not at all sure how many years you can claim a loss without collapsing the business. I can't see it being a bottomless pit.

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It used to be 7 yrs...and you had to make over $5k to be a viable business in order to write off expenses.

Doesn't seem like most trappers make enough income to surpass the basic personal exception and have to pay taxes, let alone write anything off. .

Horrible sale but not unexpected. Only my best stuff sold at a lower price and my junk. Almost had a couple pelts cost me money between shipping and royalty fees [emoji15]

The traditional fur market has been broken for awhile. Only thing is to trap at a loss as a hobby or do animal damage control.

Not sure about everyone else but out my way everyone has a shotgun and takes care of there own problem.

Lots of fur carried over. Watching the auction and the raccoon north eastern section they sold one lot and skipped the whole section because of no demand.

Everyone wants me to trap raccoon for damage control but not worth it.

Lots of prime property available right now and no one to manage the animals. Expect the townships to be paying more for road work in the next couple of years. Have sheep farmers begging me to come out and trap coyotes but want it done for free, after the deer hunt(dec 31) when they are starting to rub. Not worth it.

Who knows maybe after the country opens up and they can hold a real auction the market might take off but doubt it!

Only way I see fur making a comeback is if people realize fur is green. Long lasting, biodegradable, does not produce micro plastic. Problem is the same people who usually champion this concept think all animals are noble and kind.


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Imagine being a trapper with a big registered line, trying to be able to afford a new $14,000 Skandic or BearCat, $2500 skiboose, plus a $3,000 trailer, add in a $12,000 ATV, $600 chainsaw, insurance on it all........... I have to laugh when I'm turning channels on TV and see crap on those reality shows. They had one on Mountain Men where the dude spends prob. four hours putting up a rubbed, green belly tainted coyote and spends another two hours stripping a $2 skull. Next week I'm sure they'll show him in a buffalo robe, snow shoeing to town with the hair-slipped tainted coyote to buy a 16 inch Bowie knife and a box of cartridges for his 38-55.

Yeah the prices on the shows are a little out of touch. Did like Marty though.


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Originally Posted by Fenelon

Imagine being a trapper with a big registered line, trying to be able to afford a new $14,000 Skandic or BearCat, $2500 skiboose, plus a $3,000 trailer, add in a $12,000 ATV, $600 chainsaw, insurance on it all........... I have to laugh when I'm turning channels on TV and see crap on those reality shows. They had one on Mountain Men where the dude spends prob. four hours putting up a rubbed, green belly tainted coyote and spends another two hours stripping a $2 skull. Next week I'm sure they'll show him in a buffalo robe, snow shoeing to town with the hair-slipped tainted coyote to buy a 16 inch Bowie knife and a box of cartridges for his 38-55.

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Mountain Men is one of my favorite outdoor reality shows. I get a kick out of Tom Orr. He takes and salvages those rubbed,green belly POS and turns them into a pair of mitts or a cap that gets him a couple of hundred bucks. The rest of the pelt gets scrapped. The man's an expert at making a silk purse from a sow's ear.