Huge shout out to Annie McWilliams for crunching averages from her motel room back east while on business trip (she jumped on a plane a few hours after leaving fur sale). Annie and Kim Smith spent many many hours entering lots and were working past midnight a couple nights. I know we had a hiccup with the no sale list that cost us a couple hours but I assure you a fix is already being looked at to fix that.
John McWilliams was a rockstar cooking food from Thursday evening clear to Sunday afternoon for the board, volunteers and food buyers. The volunteers and board were great during the entire sale and breaking tables down. Folks just jumped in where needed and every day was a 16-18 hr day. A sale of this magnitude with literally thousands of pieces of fur and parts cannot be completed alone and it really bothers me when folks say "Rusty's sale". I do most of the promoting and pre work, but during the sale most of the work is done by the board and volunteers. All I do is run around putting out fires and providing guidance. I was a little bitey yesterday because we had a lot of fur left over that was no saled and bid on and not picked up. The calls and texts were getting overwhelming after 5 straight days working at the fairgrounds.
I felt averages were great on most items, fox averages were disappointing with some collections of stale fox pulling averages down on them. The top cat was bought by Western Montana for $1,424.32 but the top end of cats was very competitive with Colt Furs, Allan Steele and Western Montana all competing. Rocky Mountain bought a fair amount of higher end cats as well. 21 total cats went for over a grand. Western Montana bought the most beaver with Wyoming Fur Trader getting some lots. Western Montana bought all of the marten I believe. Hindman Fur Co, American Hide, and Fort Benton split the coyotes, which really seemed to have increased interest. The craft buyers really pushed badger, skunk, nutria, squirrels and skulls.
Over a half million dollars sold in this sale, 222 different trappers selling fur, 34 different buyers buying fur and parts and fur from 23 different states. I'm very proud of our sales but I'm even more proud of the family we have all become. These fur sales are like a mini convention and but a better description is a family reunion. Keys are in vehicles, wallets are laying on tables, work is shared, food is shared, and hugs are given when we leave. Fur is defiantly not dead and don't believe the naysayers that say it is. Again, thank you for all your support from buyers and sellers, the fur can't happen without fur and buyers. Trust me the commission dollars will be put to great use to protect trapping in Idaho and anywhere it is needed.
I'm working feverishly on getting the checks written but waiting on dealer checks to clear before mailing.
Last but not least I can't thank my lovely wife enough for here support. I have been getting calls from 6 AM (some folks back east forget the MTN time zone) and clear to 11 PM some nights. We haven't eaten a meal in a month without a couple phone calls and some days had over 30 calls and dozens of texts. I couldn't do any of this without her support.
Thanks
Rusty Kramer
ITA President
Idaho Trappers Association March Sale Results
Item Average Unit Offered Sold % Sold
Antler, Deer $10.93 Pound 25.75 25.75 100%
Antler, Elk $15.08 Pound 57.45 56.45 98%
Badger $40.97 Each 76 70 92%
Beaver $32.21 Each 919 902 98%
Bobcat, Eastern $65.29 Each 35 35 100%
Bobcat, SW $377.80 Each 145 78 54%
Bobcat, Western $412.17 Each 841 768 91%
Civet Cat $32.60 Each 14 14 100%
Coyote $29.58 Each 785 760 97%
Ermine $4.13 Each 73 73 100%
Fisher $41.44 Each 3 3 100%
Fox, Cross $43.81 Each 18 18 100%
Fox, Grey $13.58 Each 589 500 85%
Fox, Red Eastern $11.15 Each 848 782 92%
Fox, Red Western $17.67 Each 134 133 99%
Fox, Swift/Kit $21.91 Each 6 6 100%
Marten $56.22 Each 564 557 99%
Mink $6.55 Each 207 199 96%
Mtn Lion $354.32 Each 1 1 100%
Muskrat $3.29 Each 2446 2438 100%
Nutria $9.62 Each 82 82 100%
Opossum $4.77 Each 64 63 98%
Otter $55.23 Each 137 130 95%
Porky Hair $22.71 Ounce 56.46 54.16 96%
Raccoon $7.98 Each 255 250 98%
Ringtail $30.67 Each 2 2 100%
Rockchuck $3.52 Each 13 13 100%
Skunk $19.90 Each 171 166 97%
Squirrel $3.34 Each 409 409 100%
Turtle Shells $24.91 Each 13 13 100%

$9.62 average for nutria!? What's going on? I'm obviously missing something.

Awesome job to all! Thank you!

wtg everyone out there , good prices,

Can’t believe nutria and possum brought more than muskrats. Look like pretty good prices on western cats

Wow! Fantastic averages! Nice job to ALL that ere involved....what a committed group.

Yeah, what’s up with that?

From what I heard, there was one guy there that wanted possum and water possum. No idea why!

I've heard that they're experimenting with nutria as a cheaper felt source. Don't know if that had anything to do with it.

Beaverpeeler, that would be great ! New 5x Stetson nute hats. I’m wondering if the civets are sold with feet on or off? Looked to be a good sale. Wonder how many of those buyers will be in Oregons sale coming up?

wws

More square inches of fur.

Those are great averages on most of the fur. Coon and mink weren't very good.

Some of them had feet and tails, which may have jumped the average. As far as the high prices on possums, I've no idea. Neither are a local animal, so it is possible that some were bought by local crafters/attendees as a novelty.

On the January ITA sale (Rusty's fur sales) I brought 5 nutria with tails on them and got a little over $13 for them (each).

Hey Bp, they sold 82 nutria, even if 20 had tails and feet I'm not sure that would change the average that much? Hoping you where right on the felt market, that would be a better long term improvement. Looks like they have been making nutria felt hats for over 100 years.

wws

Awesome job to all involved!

Just thought people might be interested in what the top dollar cat looked like on the hoof. $1424.32. Caught another the same day that went for $988. After commissions still a pretty good day.

Guess I'm moving to Utah!

It would take at least two guys present at the auction to achieve those prices; maybe three bidders.

sealed bid auction 1 bidder could have bid those prices