To stretch or Not to stretch

[Gordie]

Back when I was trapping in the 80's the fur buyers didnt like or really want you to stretch the furs. I know that some of the guys flesh and stretch the hides now just wondering what all of you trappers are doing.

What are the price differences?

Is the dollar to time ratio worth it or is it just part of trapping for you?

[Random guy]

Depends on the market. When the going is tough I will skin and streatch so it can be sent to auction as you do make a little more...then wait a few months for your money to show up. Last year I sold about 90% in the round. Yes I lost some money on it but instead of skinning/fleshing until 2am and struggling to get out of bed at 6. I spent my evenings prepping for the next day and was up and going with the sun expanding the lines and moving to better spots. All in all I think I came out better letting somebody else do the skinnig and just focused on trapping.

[swampman]

like jonny said kind of depends on the market and maybe what you are putting up. I myself mostly chase muskrats early in the season, I am lucky and have a guy close by that does custom fur procesing I drop my rats off and he skins them for me and freezes them ,then I stretch them later on when I have time, rats are esy to skin but when your sometimes catching 100-150 a day it takes time at night and I would rather get the extra rest.

everything else I have put up for me, I may not make any extra money on it but it gives me more options for selling.

As for price difference I would say on rats you will gain about a dollar mink 2-3 bucks coon 4-5 on good stuff and beaver and some of the other stuff I am not sure.

[kobear]

It does add some dollars to the pocket but does detract from time out on the trap line.

As previous I mainly skin and stretch to have more marketing options.

It costs $2 to get a muskrat put up, I skin and stretch 10 an hour so I save $20. I could have caught 4+ muskrats that hour if I was out trapping and sold them for $5 carcass so it's about a wash.

[JBar]

I've always and prefer to put up my own fur. In my mind theres a reason why guys can afford to buy it from you at the price they do. But it's all preference.

[swampman]

Hey kobear never talked to you over here only on trapperman. Wow 2 bucks to have a rat put up that guy ia doing alright, my guy only charges me .35 cents to skin and another .35 if I want them put up.

[kobear]

Well $2 is what they were getting me for. Still making money compared to carcass prices at the fur buyers.

Only $0.75, good grief.

I can, if I have really been at it all day, skin 20 rats an hour. With another 20 minutes to get them fleshed and up on stretchers. Greased Lightning I am not, generally I only get 10 done an hour from carcass to finished. I'm getting faster but no where near the "500 a day" I hear some skinners mention.

If you know someone who will do them for $0.75 can I contract them to put up 500 rats for me next November?

You can PM me on T-man if needed.

[Random guy]

I would pay for that also! My rat skinning speed can be wicked fast...as long as you don't mind holes and those deep stinky cuts that happen.

Rats are like trying to peel a grape.

[Gordie]

I would pay for that also! My rat skinning speed can be wicked fast...as long as you don't mind holes and those deep stinky cuts that happen.

Rats are like trying to peel a grape.

Its been a few years but I learned from a old timer as we drove down the road in his truck his son would drive and he would skin rats and mink and every once in awhile opps Sly would hit the stink sac on that mink and then it was pull over both doors open on the 68 dodge truck and of course he blamed it on the driver..

So I will practice on a few grapes this summer to get ready for next season.

[Ray1]

You should be able to skin 150 rats in about 5 hours so to me that is pretty good money. Watch wday news at 10 tonight if you want to hear a little about fur and prices.

[Random guy]

I don't mind mink, fisher, beaver or even yotes but I hate those soggy squishy rats. I love having a buyer that buys in the round. Cut the tail off and stack em in the freezer like cordwood.

[Random guy]

Watch wday news at 10 tonight if you want to hear a little about fur and prices.

I just looked it up online and watched it. Now that’s regional! WCCO out of the Twin Cities has men in tears about dogs, cute raccoons or hunting the great wolf but not good old Dakotas TV. Dead coyotes stacked up outside and even dragging a few around for the camera while reporting the excitement of rising fur prices.

[IceRube76]

which news station?

[Ray1]

I just looked it up online and watched it. Now that’s regional! WCCO out of the Twin Cities has men in tears about dogs, cute raccoons or hunting the great wolf but not good old Dakotas TV. Dead coyotes stacked up outside and even dragging a few around for the camera while reporting the excitement of rising fur prices.

[Gordie]

Great news and its about time and I wish I could of gotten into it this year.

Good stuff Ray,way to pass it down

[Random guy]

That was a great report. Thanks Ray.

Some nice yotes over in the Dakotas thats for sure. Ours around here look like they have been running through the Alder brush all day...oh ya they have.

[HunterLee]

Your a TV star lol, never seen it so clean around there. Thanks for posting.

[Ray1]

Your a TV star lol, never seen it so clean around there. Thanks for posting.

Yeh they called at 9am and were there by 10am. Didnt give us long to get things organized. But Dusty did have the place fairly clean already. Now the floor is back to being messy. Lots of coyotes comming in now. My wrists hurt from fleshing. LOL