Selling Fur?

[EDDIE B 3,170]

I hate to say this but the market is opening back up in fox and mink.

They reckon the quality in Ireland is some of the best in Europe.

If the trade takes off it will bring the chancers and cowboys out of the woodwork the same as the venison trade has.

There'll be a lot of unchecked snares left around the Irish countryside and I truly hope the fur trade doesn't take off again.

Neil there's a lot talk/ hear say, lately about the fur trade opening again in Ireland, but maybe that's all it is, just talk!

 

I've heard that game dealers, are taking on the roll of fur buyers, and they will ship on the furs to Canada!

 

I hope there's no truth in it, or our sport is f****d!

 

One thing that the lad I spoke to said, was that the fox pelts he sold, were noted for their size and colour! That they went Mad for them!

 

The only way I could justify it, would be if a lad had to skin and board his own pelts, and sell them direct! He'd have to put in the work, so no such thing as easy money!

 

That would sort out the cowboys too! They don't like the word WORK!

[terryd 8,955]

I used to get a lot of satisfaction from selling the odd fur as a kid and looked forward my cheque from cobble dick . Had a little trap line I used to check regular all good fun thought I was davy crockett

[neil cooney 10,416]

November, December and January will be the months for fur and there's talk of 30 euro for fox, 20 for mink.

Snaring for the fox and trapping for mink will probably be the most practical methods although there will be lads out with small rifles trying for a few foxes at night as I presume the bigger calibers will do too much damage.

There's also talk of the buyers giving demonstrations on how to correctly skin them.

I hope the game dealers don't get behind this as some of them seem to be dubious.

They've recently asked some lads who have permits to sell venison to be the middle man and buy venison of every Tom, Dick and Harry and sell it through their permit.

The cowboys who in the last few years have decided to become hunters because of the venison market are ruining it for others, not just other stalkers.

If the cowboys suddenly decide that they are snaring experts it will only cause more trouble for everyone.

As for lamping ?

That just seems to attract messers.

 

Mind you, there's some difference between the £25 a good fox pelt could fetch in the late 70s and the 30 euro there's talk of now.

[gamerooster 1,179]

With regards to you all saying the sport is f****d if the fur trade takes off, i disagree, as for one, bar between november and february, all traps and snares.will be pulled up, as its pointless catching animals with poor pelts, and another pojnt is, atleast they will get put into good use bar fly food, but as i stated earlier, theres needs to be a governing body to stop the chancers, cowboys and idiots

[EDDIE B 3,170]

With regards to you all saying the sport is f****d if the fur trade takes off, i disagree, as for one, bar between november and february, all traps and snares.will be pulled up, as its pointless catching animals with poor pelts, and another pojnt is, atleast they will get put into good use bar fly food, but as i stated earlier, theres needs to be a governing body to stop the chancers, cowboys and idiots

Yea I understand where your coming from! But I for one would be totally pissed off, if the rivers and streams I trap every winter, is suddenly bombarded by other lads out to make a quick buck!

 

I know I can't lay claim, but I still wouldn't take kindly to these new found trappers!

[nans pat 2,575]

late 70s think we were getting 10 or 15 quid for them...drink money better than ditching em

[abarrett 462]

Let's hope cat fur takes off

[3175darren 1,102]

I bet the do Gooders throw big wobblers,it is about time though we put the skins to good use,

[weasellurcher 113]

I knew a bloke that said, as long as the fox pelt was in good nick that he knew a guy who would buy for £100 but that was a few years back. What my point is is that they dont all go for the same. Get the right buyer and you'll be making some money!

[gazjon5 925]

I wouldn't worry to much about chancers getting into it to make fast money, its true the fur market has picked up in the last couple of years, but it is still quite volatile and even the professional US and Canadian trappers are generally seen as in it for the lifestyle, rather than the money. Catching it is the easy part, putting it up into a sale-able condition is the tough part. Skinning, fleshing, washing, boarding, drying, combing, sewing etc all takes time and effort. Each fur is graded before auction, and final prices wont be known until after the auction. If you can find a buyer to sell to direct before the auctions they wont be giving you anywhere close to top auction prices for them, any damage, expect less again. The link shows one of the main North American fur auction houses, lots of info on it. http://www.furharvesters.com/index.html