I sold my fur and ginseng to an old man who also had an auto parts store. He called everyone neighbor and always treat me fair! I loved to going in the room he keep his fur and see what others had sold ! How they had handle the pelts and took pains with the process ! Dad would help me skin my foxes he took a lot of pride in skinning and preparing the hide! I remember I received 50-60 dollars for a nice red fox! A lot of folks trapped, no local buyers and not many trapper in this area anymore!
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Yes we had one guy that bought a very little and mostly coon.
I remember daddy taking ( treed) coon hides to a buyer in the next county
That’s really a thang of the past for us know.
Colt
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I have very fond memories of my local fur buyer and remember my first trip to him when I was about 12. I was so proud of my 11 possums and two muskrats. There were all sorts of furs hanging in there. He told me he had just bought them from one man. I was incredulous that one man could catch that much. I cherish the following trips and discussions I had over the years with him. I drive by there now and his little garage is still there. It looks so lonely now and no one would ever know it’s past life.
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I used to sell to Clifford Wilson, over in Russell Co. a lot back in the day. If I didn’t sell to him, most of my fur would go to the auction at E-town. I actually got to buying some bit of fur myself back in the day; as it was going up every year there for awhile. I made more trapping, and speculating on what I bought when I was around 17-18 than I did working at the time ! I wouldn’t mind seeing prices like that again before my time on Earth is over!
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I used to sell to FC Taylor in Louisville.My wife used to take my oldest boy to a bait store in Mt Washington there was a fur buyer there every Saturday who bought fur in the parking lot.I missed those trips because I was always working.
After that we always sold at E-Town.Get better money when you got multiple buyers wanting your fur.
I have been contemplating on this in relation to several of Kytrapper’s posts on the current mentality of people just starting out trapping. I think the absence of local fur buyer may play into their mind set. They have no one close by to sell to and to provide them with advice on how to best handle their fur. I was looking at the UTK fur sale info today it will be a 6 hour 300 mile round trip for me if I go to the sale. With today’s fur market it could very well cost a fella to sell his fur when you consider time, fees and fuel to go to the fur sale. The only other options in most places is to ship it or meet a truck somewhere. I can see where this would be discouraging to someone as far as learning to put up and process their fur. I know this is not the only thing contributing to the current trend but I think it could be a factor.
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I’ve said it for a long time.
IF a kid could walk or bum a ride to the other side of the county or town and sell a coon for even a couple bucks we would have new fur trappers even in today’s low prices. That’s how leons generation got the bug but that’s been bust for a long time know.
You’ve gotta plant the seed that grows into the obsession that threatens to bankrupt you and the best ground for that seed to take root is in the fertile head of a boy. Time you get to be twenty its far to rocky to take hold.
Colt
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I agree! by the time a young man starts noticing the smell of perfume, and gas fumes, the scent of a fur shed just can’t compete! Between the ages of 7-14 seems like the time when most are drawn to the outdoor pursuits to me!
I’ve seen many a prospective young trapper choose the perfume chasing over trapping. Or sports sometimes. I’m sure if local buyers hadn’t died out there would be more kids starting and fur handling interest.
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The cost of trapping isn’t cheap either, I think I’m going to try and find a young person in the community that’s interested and invite them to go with me! I don’t have a big line and have plenty of extra traps. I’m not the best fur handler, a little out of practice myself . But I enjoy it and get the job done! When I was growing up besides my dad, I had an elder trapper in the community that would share a few of his secrets that sure helped me! Maybe I could share what little I know and be a mentor to someone willing to try! Back then some of the veteran trappers didn’t share much information because that was a big part of their livelihood. I believe education is the key! Just my thoughts!
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For me to sell at the beechmont sell I will have to travel 320 mile one way, I also belong to wv trapper association , their sale is in Glennville wv . It’s 190 mile from my home so either way it a road trip for me !
We tried to have a sale in eastern Ky but had little interest.
Not many trappers that I know here in my county
We tried to have it in Paris. Would have been a lot closer for many of us.
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Kytrapper my comment was not mean to be negative towards the location of the sale but just pointing out for many it is time and cost prohibitive to drive to a sale or a pick-up point to try to sell their fur after they have gotten it put up. The country buyers are surely missed.
I’m 181 from Beechmont. I try to help when I’m there so I feel like even if I don’t sell fur I need to show up and help so I’m viewing it as club survive and keeping a viable option for selling fur alive in the state.
My other options are shipping or a car ride.
And even shipping could still be a ride to meet a truck.
Colt
No offense taken, it’s a long way over there. There’s more trappers in western 1/2 of state and Brandon stepped up and made it happen. With the current fur market I don’t see us having two sales. I think the buyers prefer one big sale. It was a long way to E town for years too.
Shipping is astronomical now. Out of the question for me.
I’m a 5 hr drive one way to Beechmont
Luckily I drop my fur off an Hr from my house
In Ohio done that last few years
Last year there was several Ky people dropping fur off one drove a considerable distance
Use to go to Indiana when they had a NAFA pick up but you know that story
K9 your comments mirror exactly what I’ve been
Thinking
Thank you for posting your thoughts
I understand UTK tried for Paris maybe someday it will happen
I’m very worried about Kentucky as a Hole
I believe UTK is going to have to be very careful
With there Fur Sale.
Will they accept Non Trappers as members just to sell fur?? There is no place left
I’m concerned that if enough Non Trappers joined it could really destroy UTK as we know it
Just some food for thought
Please don’t be offended
The UTK fur sale is a benefit for IT’S MEMBERS! Non members cannot sell at our fur sale. Most association sales nationwide are the same.