Fur Fish and Games / January Edition

[coyotesbluff]

I just picked up my January edition and Bold letters in the fur price section
they will not be posting prices on any fur because of the low economy.So whats this mean to us?
What are you all doing ? Are you gonna hold on to your goods until a "BOOM" hits or are you gonna take your chances? So much for those $1000.00 cats . When I first saw that come out it seemed too good to be true, though I haven't got any ,I wonder how many folks were out there targeting only cats  because of that forecast. It seems to me that F-F-G was getting alot of complaints about their fur forecasting,maybe I'm wrong but thats what I'm picking up.
Is it best to hold out til next seasons auctions or take the loss?
I'd be interested to know all of your opinions on this "BLEEK" fur economy.

[billy_56081]

This tells you just how bleak the economy is in the whole world. If I remember right in the great depression fur was one thing that was worth money and it helped some rural familys through rough times. BTW FFG if the best outdoor magazine in my opinion.

[Macthediver]

Well I'm fortunate that I don't have to depend on my fur money for house hold bills. A lower fur check will mean I play less at convention maybe do less supplies and raffles.
As for what I'm doing with my fur? I'm going to ship to auction the same as I have for many years now. Seems to me it has always been a gamble even in the so called boom years.
Unless your set up to hold large quantise of fur and have the permits if necessary?? It just doesn't seem to pay.

Mac

[camofry]

I would like to see FFG leave there fur market report like they have it now for a couple of reasons.

1. When you put a $$ on fur and print it for the world to see, you bring out the good season trappers. The guy with the box of traps in the back of his shed that have not been taken care of ,are not suitable for the job at hand and are older then I am.(this year started that way, but it didn't take long for them to pull them after one trip to the fur buyer). Watch you catches after this happens. You start to catch a lot of 3 toed coons,etc. for next few weeks till you them cleaned up.

2. I think we as trappers do a better job within our selfs as to whats selling and who's buying.


As far as FFG being the best outdoor magazine.I am with you on that one. However, I have seen it start to go down over the last few years. I have every FFG for the last 26 years and go back to them every now and them for help. Now with the computers, its just faster to look it up on here.

[coyotesbluff]

I too like F-F-G , I just took the time to read the whole article and it seems "pretty bleek",
for cashing in any furbearer,like you said if your in it for the pocket $$ and for the pure enjoyment and not to pay bills then it's probably something you can get along with. F-F-G didn't want to speculate on the prices til the first auction,but will go as far to say that any fur won't fetch much compared to last season.
They are predicting that people will be holding on to their furs to see what next season brings.
It's pretty sad to see the economy the way it is, I hope it gets better before it gets worse.

[Bogmaster]

 Anyone that has trapped for any length of time,has seen these type of markets before.
 The crash of 87 sent fur prices tumbling. In th last 20 years,I have sold put up beaver for as low as $4.97 average.Put up rats for 97 cents each--average.Coon for 2 bucks each.Then you have the other end of the spectrum--otter from 100.00 to 200.00 each,$10.00 rats,40.00 coon.
 The fur industry is a funny thing as are those that participate in it.Many are ---trappers,only when the fur prices are sky hi.Others will trap every year--regardless of fur prices.
 Many were not going to trap this season , because of $4.00 a gallon gas.LoL,bet they didnt trap with $1.50 a gallon gas either.
 The markets will rise again,but --they are sure to bottom out in the future,also.The fur market is a roller coaster ride--you will not get your thrills--unles you buy a ticket.
 Tom

[RdFx]

Hey Boggy, my ticket is kind of crumbly and cant read it anymore;  can you read yours?     

[Bogmaster]

 Lee, I need new glasses.
 Tom

[Macthediver]

So that is my problem not only bad eye's  but I don't have a ticket. I was always told to try to avoid getting tickets while trapping. Here I've been screwing myself all these years.
LMAO!

Mac

[RdFx]

Yeppers Mac you are getting older and smarter, now you can step up on the bandwagon with a tickeee   , LOL...