Thanks Trapdog1 I do appreciate it!
Mnratman

I do appreciate the help beaverpeeler!

I believe Swamp has hit what the issue is. Low beaver prices for just about a generation has not produced a lot of new beaver trappers and us older ones are declining in numbers and health.

But who knows...maybe the reason FHA agents are not seeing a big influx of beaver is because Groenwold beat them to the punch with low $20 offers.

Groney and others buying green probably did get a bunch of them. Most of the new beaver trappers I know lack the know how and or gumption to finish their fur. It just ain't worth it to them.

I had zero ambition to be a beaver trapper when I started a couple years ago but beaver was the first season to open and I wanted to get some steel down. First check and there’s 2 beaver in the truck. Took me 8 hours to finish those beaver and it wasn’t pretty, & very frustrating. Now beaver is my staple because it’s fun and I can trap the dang near anywhere I go. After around 50 I got my system down and I look forward to seeing a beaver in a 330. I’ve met a couple old trappers that said they tried it in the 80s once and said screw that, too hard. Some of the veterans on here and the Canadian forum gave tips and said to keep at it. Once you hit 50 beaver, you’re starting to get good. 200-500 and your pretty darn good…lol
Problem is that people find out you’re a trapper and they want you to come over and clean out a pond 4 hours away. Or “I’ve got wolves by my place in Sprague, can you come set for them?” But they don’t want to even pay for fuel. Na. I’m too busy.

In the iowa sale 48 of the 199 green beaver were meds. donated to the ITA by a trapper in western Iowa, that hade affect on the avg.

I wondered about the size on the green beaver being there was quite a spread between them and the finished average.

works out to $ 60.38 / beaver
new math for those trying to grasp this market conditions

Hats off to you for putting in the time and effort. When I was young, a guy who taught me a lot about beaver trapping and handling beaver, told me something I'll always remember. He said that the best beaver trappers should have a large shirt size and a small hat size! I didn't get it at first, but I sure do now!

I wouldn't even consider trapping beavers just for fur value...even if castor was still $80/lb. Especially if I had to scrape them, board them, box them, ship them.....heck NO!

But, I'll trap em, skin em, and even sell em for cheap as long as saleable green and folks pay me my trapping service charge. If that ends..I'm done. Will have some good beaver gear for sale.

This post is right on the money. I experienced a very similar timeline. Also can relate to people asking you to trap for free in terrible situations. Middle of July, "I'm not paying you for those beaver, you'll make enough from the fur".

The markets down compared to what Jerry sold his for last year.

He averaged 30.30 each..across the board...all in...kits, all sizes and there were even a couple that were half eaten by bobcats included. The guy knew and said throw em on the scale.. and he got 30.30 for those too and he got his money when he sold them and he didn't end up having beaver that got bug damage waiting to be sold at FH and he had no commission.

If ya got em ya better dump em fast.

In 6 to 8 weeks the beaver markets gonna be different, it's fixing to take a hard hit.

"It's the end of the world as we know it " !!!!!

w

....and the Rat Wagon will never move again!

i think beaver will average over 30 at the idaho sale next saturday

What!?!? NooWay….LOL

I think people are going to be blown away by what beaver average at the first FHA sale. Have heard rumors of some folks holding their beaver back for the second sale because they think it will be even better.

Yep,not a good plan to sell early on a rising market.
I will send some to both.

People make all kinds of stupid decisions when it come to selling fur. Do the holders know anything about the beaver market or are they just hoping. I always felt if I got market value the day I sold, I did good. Who cares what happened before or after. I have seen more people loose money holding fur than make money. Right now the beaver market is as good as it has been in how many years? And people are betting it is going up more in six months?
Boco why sell any if it is raising? I would guess maybe you are not sure it raising.

Cause I got too much.