My big outdoors week concluded this Monday, December 1st when Thanksgiving break officially ended. I sold half my furs on Saturday, which was a total of 47 ‘coons and 27 muskrats. The rumors of the fallen fur market were confirmed after I received my bid from my fur buyer (Northeast Iowa Fur Exchange). From the projected average of $25 average ‘coon prices fell to around $8-9 after the price of oil fell and the world’s depression deepened throughout this fall. Markets for muskrats remained the same from last year at around $2-3 for good hides.
Hopefully next year with the prices having gone done like they did this season, that there wont be as much competition for fur as I experienced this year. This was the worst I’ve ever seen it and it was unfortunate to see that almost every culvert and every ditch in the state had traps in it. Every timber that I went to had evidence of hunters having already attending to it and harvesting ‘coons on ground that had for many years been hunted or owned by my family. It was very disappointing at times, especially when I was trapping. On most days trapping bagged me 4 or 5 ‘coons a day, but this year I was only able to catch 1 ‘coon in a trap for the season so far. Although the fur markets are down I’m hoping to be able to harvest more ‘coons next year than I did this year.
Snow is blanketing the ground as I write this now, and this for the most part will end ‘coon hunting and trapping for the most part this season. However, I’m already looking forward to next year which could be possibly my last year trapping, but I hope and pray it is not. As I’ve made so many fond memories and memorable catches in those southern Iowa timbers and creeks and I wish to be able to continue this until it is my time to go from this world.
Next year I’m going to push myself to new limits and attempt at harvesting unprecedented numbers of fur. I would also like to catch an otter, fox, and coyote, along with a couple of beavers next year and at least 100 ‘coons. This would be a good way to end my trapping and hunting career if this were to be my last season or at least to end my “school” trapping. I’m going to expect a lot out of myself next year to meet these goals and I know I will be able to do these things.
Hopefully next year with the prices having gone done like they did this season, that there wont be as much competition for fur as I experienced this year. This was the worst I’ve ever seen it and it was unfortunate to see that almost every culvert and every ditch in the state had traps in it. Every timber that I went to had evidence of hunters having already attending to it and harvesting ‘coons on ground that had for many years been hunted or owned by my family. It was very disappointing at times, especially when I was trapping. On most days trapping bagged me 4 or 5 ‘coons a day, but this year I was only able to catch 1 ‘coon in a trap for the season so far. Although the fur markets are down I’m hoping to be able to harvest more ‘coons next year than I did this year.
Snow is blanketing the ground as I write this now, and this for the most part will end ‘coon hunting and trapping for the most part this season. However, I’m already looking forward to next year which could be possibly my last year trapping, but I hope and pray it is not. As I’ve made so many fond memories and memorable catches in those southern Iowa timbers and creeks and I wish to be able to continue this until it is my time to go from this world.
Next year I’m going to push myself to new limits and attempt at harvesting unprecedented numbers of fur. I would also like to catch an otter, fox, and coyote, along with a couple of beavers next year and at least 100 ‘coons. This would be a good way to end my trapping and hunting career if this were to be my last season or at least to end my “school” trapping. I’m going to expect a lot out of myself next year to meet these goals and I know I will be able to do these things.
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