The first international fur auction of the year has come and gone. Nowadays, the FHA January sale is really more of a mini preview into the year’s fur market. Only a small offering is up for sale, in front of a few buyers, and it isn’t the best representation of the market that we’ll see in the February and March auctions.
These sale results indicate a fur market that really hasn’t changed much since my Fur Market Forecast last fall.
Beaver sold at 84%, at pretty depressing levels. High quality eastern beaver pelts brought $12.05, while the lower quality beavers brought $7.56. The highlight of the sale was Castoreum. Grade 1 Castoreum went for a whopping $71/lb! Grade 2 brought $60/lb, and Grade 3 sold for $50/lb.
Male mink sold for around $10, with females a little over $7.
Otter and muskrat met limited demand – probably just not the right buyers present, and didn’t meet the asking prices, so they didn’t sell.
Raccoon prices looked encouraging, but only 35% of the 34,000+ coons sold – probably the top end – and averaged around $12.50.
Red fox hovered around the $20 range, with Cross fox and Arctic fox bringing $30-40.
Coyotes were a bright spot again. 90% of Western coyotes sold for a $81.79 average, and 60% of Eastern coyotes brought $51.54, better than expected.
Skins in limited demand, like wolves and wolverines, sold well. Arctic wolves averaged over $220, and wolverines brought $281.
A few weasels sold for a $3.79 average.
For now, it looks like more of the same. Keep trapping for coyotes and castor – I mean – beaver 🙂
For more on the fur market, check out my new book, Fur Profit.
Looks great, no cats?
No they held the cats back for the March auction in Finland.
1. No bobcats were offered?
2. I trap in the central part of Nebraska what section would I be in as far as fur quality?
Hey Shannon. They held on to the bobcats for the March auction where there will be more Russian buyers and better prices. I’m not sure what your fur will grade but I know there can be a lot of variability in Nebraska fur quality and price. How is your trapping season going?
Coyote price for Missouri
15
How about southern grey fox?
10 – 15 bucks
Not sure if informed,but any idea how long coyotes would be good northern Nevada?
If you mean prime, probably till sometime in February.
Thanks,I know it’s popular now to kill dogs 12 months a year,but still have a problem wasting a fur
What would the price be on Missouri coyotes? I have 17 to 20 of them.
About 15 bucks
what about Missouri Bobcats?
Thanks,I know it’s popular now to kill dogs 12 months a year,but still have a problem wasting a fur
Grey fox Nevada price I have had good luck 40 greys
Didn’t see any prices on gray fox
They didn’t sell any gray fox in this sale. I would expect 15 to $20 average on grays
What “condition” is castors sold ?
How about western bobcat? I trap in Utah and have held my first trying to see what a the market will bring. Anyone have recommendations on the best place to sell my furs?
Cris Draper, I’m from utah and I’ve always done the best at the utah trappers fur action in Nephi, another option is to go to Montgomery fur in Ogden utah. Montgomery will pay you or trade for trapping supplies .
Coyote averages looked good at FHA, but what about the few thousand that went for under $6.00 that they didn’t put in the average???
Coyote prices for central Saskatchewan?
What id the beaver price in Arkansas? Is there a price difference if the fur is green/not tanned?
How much for a coyote in Brown County, Ohio?