Very nice job on the mink,trappergbus

Thanks Boco, that means alot from a fur handler like youself.

Mink look real nice Gary. So far all of my mink go Northern at FHA. I haven't shipped to NAFA before. Might make a difference? Anyway, they have always graded and sold well at FHA. I have only been downgraded on ticks or scars as well, never any damage. Even then the tick/scars have barely made a difference in price. During the "boom" year I got a $36 average on my mink. Most will usually go extra dark as well, with the occasional (rare) being graded brown. I rarely get any as light as what you have shown in the upper shot (could just be the photo).

Didn't see any otter so thought I'd show some. One was just boarded and the other 2 had been drying for a couple of days.

Thanks, The lighting in my garage makes fur look pale. But I do get some pales but most are dk,med brown. I averaged 27 that year, may send some to FHA next year. I've noticed that Mink normally do better at FHA.

Nice looking fur Doug!

Good looking otter Doug. Sure wish we had more of those around here. Only allowed 3 total in the state, but where I am it is one. Not even worth trying for, and supposedly just designed so that the incidentals don't have to be turned in-which is a good rule.

Gary-I figured that the lighting might be affecting it. I have always been pleased with how prices for mink and beaver come out at FHA. I only sent in 3 mink this season (didn't even set a trap specifically for them based on market forecast, and wish I would have). Turned out that my average on the three was over $10. Not great, but not as bad as I expected.

I sent 20 to NAFA for the may sale, we'll see what happens. Wish I would have ran a longer mink line too. 10 ain't great but is better than expected.

Well folks, dragging this back up again because this came in the mail recently.

When I made this post the mink I sent in were just the two pictured, and one other. This is the result from one of them. You can't make the fur better, but you can make it worse...

Here is an otter, beaver and mink that I put up

All look pretty good. I would suggest some minor adjustments in your processing.

--Square off your otter butt and leave tail more natural like "Doug66" picture.
--Trim nose off of beaver.
--Lengthen mink and square butt at same time by following this put up procedure:

The following mink pelt boarding procedure will provide the greatest length possible for a mink skin along with dense fur in the inspection area. This is accomplished by putting the fleshed pelt snug on the board. Then, without any pining, with your thumbs on the lower belly and fingers on the back message the belly up and the back down. Then:

1) Grasp the butt end of the tail and lift up off the board an towards the tip of the board at the same time,
2) Now pull the tail down the board taut and pin in center of the board.
3) Then knead the tail upward along the board, making it shorter and wider and thus increasing the fur density in the butt area.
4) Pin the tail out in that position with cardboard or wire screen.
5) Now with a push pin grab about ½ inch of leg and pleat over to edge of the tail. Repeat until most of both legs are pleated onto the back side of the board forming a square butt.
6) The final step is to trim out the inspection window and cut off any excess leg remaining on the edge of the board.





I do my otter the same way as mink.

Good looking mink! Those are the directions I follow when putting mine up as well.

Further to my post above, creating the inspection window while trimming excess leg of no value off, remove lower lip and tuck front legs in.

Excellent work by all. many don't like putting up fur but I sure do. Regardless of price I'm always interested on how the grades come out. Its that time of year and I have a freezer full to do.

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Here is a heavy pale fox I did up for taxidermy,for reference.

Hey Boco, is the cartilage removed from the ears of the fox or simply split?

Looks very nice.

I took the cartilage right out,and skinned out the feet,and left the lip on.Thats about it for a taxi job on canine.

Back up so anyone can add this season's tips or tricks, put up pics.

We think alike. Caught three the other day - one a 50 pounder. At 67, I was not about to haul over 100 pounds of beaver and my gear out of the woods for a mile! Heck with that noise - I skin them in the woods and make coyote sets...

This will be a huge help for those just starting to put up fur.