Fur?

[wisconsinteacher]

I'm going to start trapping K9s and am wondering what I can make with the tanned hides if I am lucky enough to catch a few.  Fur prices are down, so now is the time to try making something for hunting/trad shooting.

I'm also hoping to catch a few coon, weasels and maybe a beaver.  

I'm open to all ideas.

[YORNOC]

I used to have a part time business making back quivers out just about every critter you can think of. Possibles bags too.
Ill throw some pics up in a bit.

[YORNOC]

I'd stretch the weasels over the strap on occasion. The white ones went well with artic fox.

[YORNOC]

[YORNOC]

[YORNOC]

[YORNOC]

[Roy from Pa]

Very nice...

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Catching them is just the first step and the easiest. Learning to properly skin the animals you catch then fleshing and drying them to send to be tanned which it sounds like your planning on doing is the most important thing to learn. IMO

Many furs are ruined every year because there are skinned wrong or the fleshing is very poor and effects the tanning process. It doesn't take a lot of tools to get started though, maybe you already know all this?

Only some furs are down, K9's and cats are still selling well if properly taken care of fleshed stretched and dryed and proper sizes and marketed at the right auctions. Local buyers will never  pay you what your fur is really worth.

Tracy

[Roadkill]

If you have not done a lot of fur dressings, get someone to show how to flesh the mouth, paws and turn the ears.  Who will you get to tan your hides?  I am looking at abundant yote population this year and may take a few

[Hoosierarcher88]

I use to make youth back quivers from possums that id get during coon season. The old man i use to hunt with would get mad when his dogs treed a possum because " they aint wprth the price of the bullet" i started shooting them and tanning them and found em to be the perfect suize for a kids back quiver and actually looked pretty cool. Id sell them for about $40 apiece here locally abd thought it was a pretty good profit.

[Shadowhnter]

I agree with Tracy. There is a market for yotes and bobcats. Id be choosy about the yotes, sell the good ones and make your projects out of the lesser grades.

As Tracy indicated, there is a learning curve to handling fur properly, and id be willing to bet the number of handlers that are maximizing their profits by proper handling is a low percent.

[K.S.TRAPPER]

I meant to add, I see your from Wisconsin and if your interested in a very good set of DVD's on how to properly skin,flesh and dry all your animals and the tools, boards and stretching proper sizes they can't be beat.

Just get ahold of the Wisconsin trappers Association and they can fix you up. They used to be $25 for the whole set and well worth it if your new to it. Bunch of good guys up there and know how to take care of there fur.

   

   

I've been trapping, tanning and dealing with fur for 35+ years and it's an art if done right. So much fun even when some of the prices are down, my sons trap and now my grandsons are learning. Good luck this season and PM me if you have any questions.

Tracy

[Zbone]

Thanks for sharing everybody...

[monterey]

Originally posted by YORNOC:
     

Is that a wolverine?

[Shadowhnter]

Yes, its wolverine.

[BAK]

Besides the usual how about hand warmer muff.  Look like you had a coon sitting in your lap.  LOL would be warm though.

[newhouse114]

I used to use an otter skin as a scarf while running the rivers in AK during "nippy" weather.