Note: This is an old update. Click here for the 2020-2021 fur price update and market forecast.
The second major fur auction in 2019 has come and gone, and there weren’t many surprises. With the exception of coyote and bobcat, fur prices for most species remain low. Here are some details:
Beaver sold at 75%, with a wider spread than the recent NAFA auction. The better Eastern beavers averaged $14.56, more than $3 better than the NAFA sale, but Section III beavers averaged less than $8.
Western coyotes averaged about $88. These same pelts averaged a little over $100 at last year’s March auction. The coyote market may be seeing a slight pullback on the higher end skins, but the demand is obviously still there, and prices remain very profitable for Western coyote trappers. Similar to the recent NAFA auction, demand for lower end coyotes has risen considerably. Perhaps some manufacturers have found recent success using these as parka trim, and are bidding up the supply of lower cost substitutes. That’s great for coyote trappers outside of the Western states. Eastern coyotes averaged a whopping $59, and Centrals averaged $33!
Western bobcats, averaged $416. While this is a great price level in the overall scheme of things, it is considerably lower than the nearly $600 these cats brought in last year’s March auction. On a positive note, cat prices increased in other regions, with Canadian, Southern and Central cats all averaging around $90. Not bad for the lower end cats.
Muskrat averaged $3.80, a little higher than last year.
Red fox ranged from $24-27, but only sold at 42%, meaning only the better pelts likely sold.
Raccoon sold well, at 83%, with averages ranging from $4.62 to $12.28. These are considerable lower prices than the NAFA auction, but the FHA coon collection may have been of different quality overall.
Lynx averaged around $73, a small improvement, but still far below long term averages.
Marten prices took a pretty big hit from last year’s levels, ranging from $76 for the biggest and best heavy Alaskan and Canadian skins, down to $29 for the large semi-heavies. 70% sold.
Mink, Otter, Fisher, Grey Fox and Weasel mostly didn’t sell, and were retained to be offered at the next auction.
Skunk averaged $3.90, Badgers $26, and Oppossums $2.
Trapping will soon be a thing of the past
As there are no benefit to trappers receiving
Less than 1960 fur prices.
Patrick kelley
I hope trapping doesn’t die. I have just turned 30 and have been thinking of getting back into trapping. Loved it as a kid.
Hey Michael, get back into it! Still a lot of opportunity out there.
I’m in maine.been trapping (short line,same area) for 39 yrs.in 1981 I was getting $130 for a female fisher,and $110 for males.and that was through (middle man) a fur buyer.dought we will ever see that again.
The government seems to put an end to anything that you make a living off the land with I was a trapper a freshwater commercial fisherman and a freshwater mussel diver and thay have managed to put me out of business at 60 years old
That’s bull, you should be able to do that to this day, if for now other reason than historic value
meat trapping may be the new frontier until prices go back up. helping farmers with predators also can get you deer hunting rights.
Looking for otters by bulk mabe pending on price and be in nb canada sr.levi1@yahoo.ca message me there
I trap for the love of it. Not the money.
Exactly
I trap for predator control.
I trap because I love it not the money. Might sound odd these days. But I love racoon and beaver stew.
I 100 percent agree. Beaver makes great sausage also
I too trap because I am a trapper. This year will be my 50th God willing
Yes but also barbecue
To the man that says trapping is to be a thing of the past we don’t do it for the but for the Heritage
I’ve been trapping sense I was a kid.n I’m n my 50s I love it an always will.
Trapping is great , theres no money in it.
The real problem is all the red tape involved these days
Any body know of any good fur buyers in south central Iowa or North central MO. Around the Leon Area?
Should be able to look up a list of registered buyers for your area.
With fur being a renewable resource, its surprising its not coming back a little..
I am looking for 50 weasels… Anyone have a good Bulk Price?
In Alberta Canada
Try Washington DC
Haha love it
If you are trying to make money you have to target specific animals that are bring higher prices, all those guys that trap marten are hating it, half what they were 2 or 3 years ago, but look at the yotes bringing $120 for big westerns that good money, I sell them on the carcass for $65 it’s a hobby that can pay for itself if you just try and target a certain critter. Main thing is to have fun and enjoy life and the beauty of outdoors.
I’m 20 years old started trapping at around 13 or 14 years old I love it good way to kill time and pick up new skills
What’s grey foxes selling for
I will tell u trapping will never come to a end. My state Arkansas has just passed a change in are trapping cause of are decline in Turkey quial all are ground birds and now decline in are rabits and other small trapping game so now cyotes are a year round hunting no limit and same with raccoon opossime red and greay fox have limits but season has been extended much more but the are not going to pay for the pelts but to controle this
Tony, I live in Newton County, AR and killed a Coyote a couple years ago that had a tag in her ear. One side said “Unlawful to Remove” and the back had a hand written “21”. Looked to be written with a sharpie marker. Any idea on what the heck the AGFC are doing that for? Also killed a big black one last year.
In my part of Arkansas the stray dogs are causing as much of a problem as the coyotes. I just got my predator control permit and a dozen traps. I hope I can get my wild game animals and birds back to normal numbers. It’s way out of control.
I put myself through college in the late 70’s by trapping and it will always be part of my life. Today
I focus on beaver, otter and only trap a few fox, raccoon, and coyote. Road kill provides almost fifty carcass pelts a year and I average around 800 dollars a year so it’s not all that much. But it keeps me active, outside, and in touch with my family heritage. I will never willingly stop, and please volunteer at your local trapper’s association to keep this alive with our youth. Thanks to everyone who donates their time at association events.
Hi I’m 12 and I need a few pointers on beavers and muskrat
Try pepsodent tooth paste as bait on your muskrat water sets it the best bait I ever used
So sad to see these prices I trapped as a young teenager prior to turning 16 back in the 70s. I grew up in Connecticut, and was getting between $3-$7 for a muskrat depending on quality and size, and anywhere from $12-$25 per raccoon, again depending on quality and size. Incredible to see the pricing that’s listed here,very sad!
trapping for me is a great outdoor activity like hunting or fishing. if fur prices are low you can look at it in another way – meat trapping! with store meat prices going up these days we are at an advantage. beaver, muskrat, groundhog, etc. are great in a crock pot, slow cooked with potatoes. you can also tan your furs if prices too low & sell for more that way. enjoy your traplines