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Jackalope's Coon Trapping Bonanza

Gordo

Senior Member
5,515
121
Athens County
Prices being that low can't be good for putting a dent in the coon population.

Don't know anything about it. Gotta think trappers usually put a big dent in it? Or is the coon population damn near impossible to phase?
 

Gordo

Senior Member
5,515
121
Athens County
Prices being that low can't be good for putting a dent in the coon population.

Don't know anything about it. Gotta think trappers usually put a big dent in it? Or is the coon population damn near impossible to phase?
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
Prices being that low can't be good for putting a dent in the coon population.

Don't know anything about it. Gotta think trappers usually put a big dent in it? Or is the coon population damn near impossible to phase?
The only thing that'll put a dent in them is seeing fur prices in the $20 range again, and they haven't been there in a long long time.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
The only thing that'll put a dent in them is seeing fur prices in the $20 range again, and they haven't been there in a long long time.

Or the zombie apocalypse. Raising money to motivate people only works so many times. Nature doesn’t understand the value of that dollar, sometimes you just gotta do what’s right to protect what you have. And that Joe, is what you’re doing IMO. The original trapper trapped for trade, you traded deer hunting (feeding your family) for trapping a nuisance animal in order to protect another animal. Fuck that dollar! Them coons are worth more then $20 already...
 
The old timer who taught me (20+ years ago) used to skin for profit and eat them. They were barbequed or made into stew. The barbequed coon was actually very good on the occasions he gave me some. I never tried to copy the recipe though he gave it to me. The buzzards enjoy them.
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
Last report said that there could be a increase in price coming but nothing solid yet. Great job!!!
interresting. Do you have a link, I'd like to read some optimism. Lol.

Here is the last i read from NAFA in September.

The Outlook
Reading such news at the beginning of September is not going to spark much enthusiasm into planning a long line. Our words of wisdom have not changed. Go west if you can and trap western coyotes and western cats if profit is your main drive, those markets will still be there come 2018. For northern trappers with access to marten, you can still do fine if you wait for fully prime pelts, and the odd fisher in your sets will sell fine as well. But for the vast majority of trappers targeting raccoon, rats, mink, or beaver; expect another tough year. Pay attention to the animals you harvest and be selective on what you spend your time handling. We have said it over and over again, but in difficult times, only the best skins sell, and anything with multiple damages or out of season is not worth handling. When the top raccoon sold for $75 a few years ago, even the low grades would sell for $5-8, but when the top coon sell for $25, a lot of the low grades have no commercial value. The same applies to all the species that struggle: beaver, mink, otter, or fox. Sell the best and accept, even if it is difficult, that some of the animals you catch simply have no commercial value. Do your best to wait until fur is fully prime, to reduce the percentage of lesser quality goods. But if you catch an animal with multiple damages and hardly any fur on it, do not bother skinning and handling it as it will not sell. Not every apple that comes out of an apple tree is fit for consumption, and the same goes for fur. Some animals simply have no value, and handling them is a waste of time and effort, and it does nothing to help our trade. Tough market years like the ones we live now provide perfect opportunity to improve your knowledge of fur grading so you can better understand this trade, and what is worth handling. Spend time with your local fur buyer, watch him grade, ask questions, and if you can, try to attend some fur grading seminars, or better yet, go visit an international fur auction. You will get some pointers that will help you improve your knowledge of the trade, and that investment will last you a lifetime.
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
Took about 2 hours. When I tripped the traps last Sunday I left them baited. Nine of them had not been touched so I pulled them for relocation. Six of them I set along a creek about 40 yards apart.

I spread them out more this go and added the catfood to the mix. We shall see tomorrow morning.
 

GoetsTalon

Senior Member
Supporting Member
4,293
128
Walbridge oh
Fur harvesters.com has a fur report for 2017/2018 that says Russia (Helsinki) buying coon. I'll have to get educated on link posting from my daughter lol.
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
Two pull outs today. One grabbed a log and the other over the creek bank like yesterday. I moved all traps so there's nothing around for them to get leverage on. I've been wiring them to trees but i might need to look at ground stakes that allow them to swivel so they can't wrap up. Both must have been super jumbos judging by the catch circle.


 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
Two pull outs today. One grabbed a log and the other over the creek bank like yesterday. I moved all traps so there's nothing around for them to get leverage on. I've been wiring them to trees but i might need to look at ground stakes that allow them to swivel so they can't wrap up. Both must have been super jumbos judging by the catch circle.


I'd stake those bastards so they have a swivel. The only time I ever had one get loose was when I had it wired to a tree, sum bitch left with my trap TOO 😂
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
The problem is its all soft dirt or mud. I'm willing to bet i can sink a 2 foot stake just pushing it.
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
3 today and one miss on a set off trap. 2 boar and a sow.

One nice blond coon too. I kept two today to skin. The blond for me and the other boar for my niece.