Here's NAFA's latest wild fur market update. With no auctions or major sales for wild fur lately, it's still mostly speculation, but things seem to be looking up a bit. Wild Fur Market Update - December 2016 December 22, 2016 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Please note: Our next Wild Fur Update will be published on Friday, January 27, 2017 Major retail … [Read more...]
Trapper, Naturalist, Photographer Wyman Meinzer
I just watched an amazing video. Wyman Meinzer is an outdoorsman to the core. He started out as a coyote and bobcat hunter and trapper in the desert country of west Texas. Trained in wildlife biology, he turned his passion for the outdoors into a career as one of the most successful wildlife photographers in the country. The video is sponsored by YETI, manufacturer of high … [Read more...]
Trapping Today News Roundup, December 2016
Low fur prices are taking their toll on trappers who trap semi-full time. Saskatchewan trapper Ryan Demchynski has been a sseasonal pro trapper for four years, but the low prices are forcing him to go back to trucking. Full story here. Meanwhile, most of us in the Lower 48 are dealing with even lower prices, making it tough to even cover the gas bills. Here's a local news … [Read more...]
Vermont Fur Auction Results, December 2016
The Vermont Trappers Association held their fur auction on Saturday, December 10th. It turned out to be by far their smallest auction, likely driven by the poor fur market. Here are the averages: Mink 10.75 Muskrat 3.14 Coyote 13.88 Red Fox 16.36 Grey Fox 15.67 Raccoon 4.50 Beaver 12.67 Skunk 5.00 Castor 36.44 Full Report … [Read more...]
2016 Maine Fur Auction Results
Here are some price averages from the Maine Trappers Association fur auction this past weekend. The MTA is one of the earlier auctions held in the country each year. These results appear to be pretty much in line with what we've been predicting over the past few months. Otter were a little better than I expected and marten were a little worse. The MTA long term averages are … [Read more...]
Marten Trapline Update, December 2016
It's been another tough year on the marten line for me. Having limited success but still learning. Picked up a few marten and a few pointers from other marten trappers, even some beginners who have had much better success than I have. A couple feet of snow and another strikeout on a prospect line have beaten me down pretty good, but I am planning for next year. New … [Read more...]
Eighty Winters on the Trapline
Ninety year old Pi Kennedy of Northwest Territories, Canada, spent nearly 80 winters on a bush trapline. I can't imagine the stories the old timer could tell. Full story here. … [Read more...]
Small Time Marten Line
It isn't always about putting up numbers on the trapline, and Tom Chapin and Dan Hertle are a great example of how much one can enjoy small time trapping. These two old veterans get out on foot during Minnesota's very short and limited trapping season. Most trappers these days drive their traplines, hopping out to check a couple of sets here, a couple there. Chapin and … [Read more...]