Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: youngbowyer on December 01, 2011, 10:13:18 pm
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My cottontail population is booming here on the east coast. I really like the taste of them so I hunt them with a rifle once in a while. I was wondering if the furs are worth everything and if so where could I find out how much they go for and where to sell them. Also does anyone here run a trapline? Thinking about doing it in the winter for fox and rabbits. I don't really know anything about trapping so if anyone could give me some info that would be great.
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i have been thinking about running one up here for beaver they are everywhere up this string of creeks just never figured out where to sell them at.
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not too many outlets for furs anymore. I can send you directions on making a rabbit skin blanket based on historical California Indian examples - you could maybe sell those or trade them for things you want. Rabbitstick(ID), Wintercount(AZ), BuckeyeGathering(CA) would be good places to find primitve skill enthusiast who might be interested in your furs.
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I never saw anyone sell cottontail fur. Beaver on the other hand are worth about $40 each. Of course that depends on the year, some years they are $60 some are $10. Find your state trappers association to find out where the fur sale is.
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okay thanks for the info.
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I suppose I will just wait till I have more pelts and make some moccasins. I left a fresh pelt outside to dry and it's gone now. Dont know what took it.
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I confess,it was me,, >:D ;)
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You may check with a magazine called Fur-Fish & Game. They post a list of fur prices in their issues. I suspect rabbit fur would be bought by fly fishing persons who tie flies. You may call Mepps fishing company or a local fly fishing shop for any info on rabbit skin needs.
Lots of info about trapping on the internet. I used to trap and can not think of the trapping catalogs out there right now. Minnesota had a catalog and I think Southern something. A business in Basset Virginia was buying furs a couple years back and selling trap supply's.
Most rabbits are caught in a rabbit box that you can make yourself out of wood boards. Probably find that on the internet also.
Good Luck
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Fur-Fish-Game mag is great for what you are looking for. Cheap too!! If you have never read it, you should look it up. If you don't want to get a subsript, maybe you can talk your local library into getting a copy. You'll wear it out either way. I trapped pretty hard as a teen, but have given up on leg traps outta respect for the animal. I like conibears though for muskrats and what not and may use a leg hold once in a while if I can check it twice a day, that's the key really, being a responsible trapper takes a lot of time, you need to check your traps twice a day w/out question. I like beaver, I'd use a hide, but not take a life. Muskrats on the other hand...and, both are very edible if caught in a clean environment. I think I'm gonna try to get out local library to get a sub t both FFG and PA. Maybe we should all try that w/ PA anyway. Rabbit fur is good to use for a moc liner, but too thin for the actual footwear. Mitten liners, some northern natives would sort of knit green rabbit hides into a loose blanket and that would be the only bed roll for the hunter of the north woods. Had to stay below freezing though or it would rot. I read that in an A.R. Harding Publication, A.R. Harding started FFG, it's outta Ohio. Good luck and check them traps 2Xs a day, dpgratz
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not much market for cottontail skins-pretty thin.
Trapping is great activity however. Muskrats and mink are easy to trap and easy to skin. Not worth as much as 20 years or so ago. Still fascinating to do.
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Do you use tanned skins for mocs or rawhide?
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I think either but I have only used rawhide.
I run a few rabbit boxes mainly cause I like to eat rabbits. The skin is then but kinda chewy.
Lane
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My Dad runs a line in Northeastern Ontario and I grew up trapping.
He actively traps about 9000 achers and sends his fur to the North American fur auction in North Bay. Beavers used to be the game but from an efficiency standpoint they don't pay at $30. It takes about 1.5 hours to do one properly not counting setting and checking traps. Rats are the new game. They are forecasted to go about $15-$20 this spring and you can do a rat in about 2mins. Plus they are everywhere so catching 500 to 1000 isn't that difficult if you are setup to handle that much fur in the 2-3 weeks during the run.
With the new EU guideline he has switched to all the new quick kill conibers and virtually given up on leg holds.
You will learn more trapping than you can imagine as it makes you spend a significant amount of time in the bush. I would recommend taking a trappers course and spending some time with a trapper to shorten your learning curve and increase your success.
I loved trapping as a teen and still go with Dad every chance I get.
Shawn
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Do you use tanned skins for mocs or rawhide?
I'd use tanned leather for the outters, and you can use dried rabbit skins to line with, but if they get wet they'll not last long. you can also use salt/alum and water to cure the skins some, then oil them w/ neatsfoot oil. This will help keep the hair from slipping. They still arn't waterproof, I don't rally know any mocs that are though. It doesn't take long to cure in the salt/alum water, I can post a receipe if you'd like to try.
dpgratz
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I used to do a lot of trapping and have a big furbuyer in my home town. Google.... Groenewold Fur & Wool Co. It will giving info on selling furs and what is wanted!!
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I think either but I have only used rawhide.
I run a few rabbit boxes mainly cause I like to eat rabbits. The skin is then but kinda chewy.
Lane
Do you make the boxes and if so do you have any plans for them?
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The Utah Trappers Association sponsors an auction here. They bring in 6-10 buyers to compete with each other. Search for your local Association because they can probably point you to the best method to get the most $.
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Yessir I make my rabbit boxes. Let me figure the best way to get you plans.
I will be back.
Lane
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Ok, these are like mine.
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=98445
Lane
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My Dad runs a line in Northeastern Ontario and I grew up trapping.
He actively traps about 9000 achers and sends his fur to the North American fur auction in North Bay. Beavers used to be the game but from an efficiency standpoint they don't pay at $30. It takes about 1.5 hours to do one properly not counting setting and checking traps. Rats are the new game. They are forecasted to go about $15-$20 this spring and you can do a rat in about 2mins. Plus they are everywhere so catching 500 to 1000 isn't that difficult if you are setup to handle that much fur in the 2-3 weeks during the run.
With the new EU guideline he has switched to all the new quick kill conibers and virtually given up on leg holds.
You will learn more trapping than you can imagine as it makes you spend a significant amount of time in the bush. I would recommend taking a trappers course and spending some time with a trapper to shorten your learning curve and increase your success.
I loved trapping as a teen and still go with Dad every chance I get.
Shawn
I gotta ask,,what does one do with a rat skin??
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That would be muskrat. Sort of like mini-beaver. Josh
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He He! thanks for clearing that up for me! I was scratchin my head on that one!
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Northernsport are you talking about "tree rats" as in squirrels, or do you really mean rats as in "big mice"? lol im confused :/
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Youngbowyer,I used to trap quite a bit,but my buyer would'nt take rabbit.It was odd ,because he would give me a buck for possum,and 2-3 bucks for nutria,while coons,fox ,and bobcat brought good money,at least for the mid-1970s, ;) Ask your buyer if he'll take them though,especially since they are so easy to skin. God bless
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There's a fly-shop about 30 mins away from my house where I fish a lot so I'll see if they buy furs for flies. I did notice that the outdoors shop here sold squirrel skins for 15$ a piece :o I think I'll make moccasins out of the squirrel skins once I have enough, their skins is tough enough for the job I think and i'll use rabbit fur as a liner.
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Ive used the same boxes for possum traps,,I put a scrap of hot dog or sardines in for bait. Do you put any bait in for rabbits?? I guess I need to build some more since I love rabbit!!
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I was talking about Muskrats.....
But in the summer when the Muskrats move out of the winter push-ups they are full of brown house rats! Just in case you get hungry.
Shawn
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He actively traps about 9000 achers and sends his fur to the North American fur auction in North Bay.
What are achers?
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I was talking about Muskrats.....
But in the summer when the Muskrats move out of the winter push-ups they are full of brown house rats! Just in case you get hungry.
Shawn
ha ha,,just didnt understand,,we dont have such creatures down here,wouldnt know what one was if it bit me ::)
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Heres this mornings catch of muskrats, an a few pics of coon an rats put up. I also send my fur to the Nafa fur auction in Toronto. Later I got some skinnin to do. Bob
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I have decided to start running a line next week since its my christmas break. I will be using snares and box traps. A couple of questions, what gauge wire should I use for rabbits, coons, and fox. Also, what type of bait should I put in my box traps if I want to catch rabbits. I'm guessing I should just use some guts for fox and coons or will I then catch possums and skunks?
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If you bait rabbit boxes you will catch rats and shrews and possums and just about everything else that
will fit in the box. Cold weather is the best attractant. I put out boxes early in October with the doors
off. Come a cold night I actually set the trap. In season of course.
I ain't know about trapping furbearers but do know that using scents, commercial or homemade, would
be easier than using guts. Somebody that actually knows will chime in.
Lane
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If you use guts and rotted meats your going to be getting lots of possoms an such, you would better off using gland lures or food type lures or blind sets for foxes an coons. If you use snares blind sets are key, maybe a big bait such as deer carcass of dairy cow an set the outer discreet trails coming in to the bigger bait. I don't have alot of experience with snares. Been using footholds all my life. Hope this helps you an maybe a snare man will join in. Bob
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The problem with running snares on big bait is it is illegal in most states and you catch a lot of domestic dogs. Where they are crossing under a fence, tree or bush is the easiest place to snare them.
I prefer commercial lures because they are tried and proven. Some people say they are to expensive, but when you spend countless hours plus gas money and everything else, they can be the best $10-$15 you spend.
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This link might help.
pcsoutdoors.com/
Lane
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Fly shops only buy taned rabbits. Never heard of a fur buyer buying them.
I traped a lot as a kid to my mid teens. Furs were a good price then. Exspecailly for a kid in WV. I'd get $6.00 to $ 8.00 for rats, $30.00 to $40.00 for coons. $60.00 for reds $35.00 for grays. Let beavers alone way to hard to skin and strech. I still like the smell of drying furs.
For a kid 100 rats 40 to 50 foxs was major money. I still have uncles to day that trap hard and only get a few dollors a rat. He still traps 100's.
As I look back I can see the lessions I was taught. Exspecially in deer hunting.
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Well, I had a rabbit in the snare today but the rabbit broke the snare it. I saw the poor thing with the snare around its neck and I didn't have my gun or bow with me. I will buy new snare line tomorrow. Well i learned a lesson to always carry a weapon with me in the woods. I was using garden wire, any ideas what I should use?
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The problem with running snares on big bait is it is illegal in most states and you catch a lot of domestic dogs. Where they are crossing under a fence, tree or bush is the easiest place to snare them.
I prefer commercial lures because they are tried and proven. Some people say they are to expensive, but when you spend countless hours plus gas money and everything else, they can be the best $10-$15 you spend.
That is true for sure Justin. Several years back on a dirt road I saw the remains of a great Pyrenees dog in a snare and I also have a deer skull with a snare that was caught on it's antler.
Cipriano
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Trapping a large carcasses causes lots of problems. they are very attractive to all kinds of critters that you don't want to catch. And I found that smaller baits, scents, attractors were more effective. Snaring must be done using your head to prevent non-target species from getting caught-which causes PR problems for the trapper. Cat food was always a good coon bait. Bottles of lures stored in you house or apartment can be PR problems with you mom-they are potent.
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I now have snares along rabbit runs and I have a few squirrel ramps. Had 2 broken snares So i upgraded my wire. Will let you know If I catch anything
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Best of luck with the line. Post pics of your catches. You remind me of me as a kid ;)
Cipriano
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Get or make you some self locking snares. For rabbits get some small dimamiter cable 5/32 or smaller. I learned long ago to set snares. And me and my friend next door did quite a few survile trips and I did a lot of traping as a kid-teen and learned to snare small animals (squrill and rabbits,muskrats) a lot while runing my trap line. You can become quite good at it. Rabbits are easy,holes runs, holes under a fence anywher that bottle necks them down, chunk up apples but on each side of the snare.
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well my snares have been up for about a week and I haven't caught anything. I think ill throw some apples around my snares and I find some good places for squirrel snares. Need the squirrel tails to exchange for fishing lures with Mepps. I'm buying 110 conibears today so hopefully those will work better. Wish me luck!
Tom.
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checked the line and all that was left of my catch was a foul smelling rabbit tail. I think a skunk got to it.
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My best memories of my child hood was when I trapped. I had a swamp with 100s of ac to trap. By the time I left for the military I was running 200 traps. That was a lot of work. I caught many mink and I used a number tacktics. I always notched every log that crossed creeks and made a set. I dug many holes into the bank at the water line and made a lot of drownding sets. I baited these holes with muskrat meat. We had lots of beaver runs that looked like ditches under the swamp water. I placed 3 30s in there and caught many. Once I caught one that was 55 lbs and had to get my brother to help carry it home. Fox sets require a few tools. You need a garden trowel to dig a hole. A hammer to drive a stake that will be below the ground. A pair of rubber boots and rubber gloves. You will need a flour sifter to cover the trap and the traps should be boiled and waxed. Places some duck feathers in the hole and hit it with some lure. You need to check that trap from a great distance with binoculars. Trapping fox was hard for me back in the day because I smoked. These were good times, good luck to you and have fun be safe and always set the 3 30 before you tie it to a tree. I got my arm in one and had a hard time getting out of it. I also fell through the ice twice in the dead of winter. Lol good times
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Youngbower, I have always heard apples are good rabbit bait. Your recent events of losing a rabbit on a snare and having one eaten is why I like the box traps. Hard to lose your prize to another predator in a box. That is also why I like trapping in water and setting the drowning sets. It takes your fur under water where it is protected. With coyote numbers increasing like they are the box trap is a better way to go. Another option would be to have a trigger release that will pull your rabbit off the ground after snared.
Rabbit fur is used in tying flies for fly fishing. The under soft fur is dubbing material in tying. If the hide is clean, stretched and dry it should sale. The hide itself is not needed only the soft fur, but they usually sell together.
Good Luck
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Beaver season came in the day after Christmas, here,s a pic of opening morning check. The big one is 58# an way to far from truck. Youngbowyer, trapping is a great journey so enjoy the ride.
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nice beavers! The only thing I caught so far is a big grey squirrel in my conibear. O well, he ate good. I'm gonna make some box sets for rabbits and once I get the hang of this trapping thing I might be some 220 conibears and go for some coons.
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That's a big ol' beaver. He's mountable.
YB, I'm not sure what your method is going to be for 220 cons and coons, but setting that size conibare on a run will catch you more than you bargain for...house cats, dogs...be careful where you set those and how youset them, you don't want to get your hand in one. I'm pretty sure 220s are illegal to set on dry runs here in Indiana. Might check your local fur trapping regulations too. Some guys use those in bucket traps too. You should really check out some old fur-fish-game mags, lots of good stuff there on furbearing animals, cheap subscrip. too, have your local library get a sub. ;) good luck, dpgratz
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Something I just remembered reading once was making a box with both ends open. I believe a grove was cut back into the box on both ends which allowed the coniber springs to slide into. The conibers are set back into the box several inches. Depending on the box size and trap size it can catch muskrats up to raccoon. Neat thing is once its caught it is inside the box and plugs one end allowing a second catch on the opposite end. I think muskrats and mink were the primary target, by placing it along creek. Grass and such could be laid across the top of the box and made to look like a dark hole on both ends. Muskrat and mink can't help but check out a dark hole on a creek, with a little scent inside.
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i figure i could run 220 conibears in box sets and put them in trees for some coons. First I want to get the hang of snaring and trapping small game. I can only trap on weekends though so i don't think running a real big line will be such a good idea. I think I'll stick to my conibears for now and hopefully snare some rabbits when I can see their runs once we get some snow.