fur buyers

[lilwalter]

My son is interested in following in my footsteps into the hobby of trapping. Unfortunately I have not trapped in over 20 years. Before I give the go ahead, I need to know that there is a place within an hours drive of the metro that will buy furs. Any help is appreciated.

[Muthagoose]

Save yourself contact the MTA...Sending your furs to a auction is the only way to go.. Take a look at the market price and see if a rural buyer even comes close.. No chance on that...

[lilwalter]

MTA--I'll assume Minnesota Trappers Assoc.? I can't find it on the Web doing a search. Or does it stand for something else? Any further help is appreciated.

[swampman]

Lee's furs, prescott wisconsin right across the river from hastings, good guy been there a long time. cumberlands owatonna mn don't have there # in front of me. sending fur to auction may get you higher prices and it may not.you may also have to wait along time to get paid because your fur may or may not sell at auction and get held over until future sales. if it's a kid just starting out I would sell local.

( Note from admin,please read forum policy before posting again,Thank-you.)

[Muthagoose]

Ive yet to have furs held over at a auction.. Yep Thats what MTA stands for ..Contact Tim Caven at Mn trapline supply he will get ya on line.

Ill agree if its a youth starting out go local if you only have a few coon mink or rats.. Even rat prices your going to see a huge difference in profit. Ive been trapping since the early 60, going to the local was the norm.. It sucked listening to the $.25 off a$1.50 rat because of a big eye on a "shearing rat" or that your early dec mink was burn from cold. What a crock...........

Dont take deductions on any coon mink rats or beaver that are "NOT" coat quality they use them for shearing/ making felt...

[walleye101]

If you shipped any muskrats to North American Fur Auctions last year I'll bet you still own some of them going into this season. I know I do.

Local buyers are the best bet for a youngster just getting started. Don't get all worked up about the grading your buyer does. Don't assume your are being taken. When fur is sent to an aution house it is commonly graded into dozens of different lots. The grading is real and reflects the acutal value difference of your individual furs. Pay close attention and try to learn as much as you can about fur quality and grade. It will only help you in the future when marketing your catch.

I would be much more leary of the buyer who gives you one price straight across for an entire lot of fur. He is most likely low balling the average and profiting considerably on the better skins.