2015 Utah Fur Sale

Results are up for the Saturday sale in Nephi. You can go to the Utah Trappers Association website to see all the results and averages for Satuday. $204 average for bobcats. Everything went pretty cheap. They had so much fur they have to have an extra sale on Monday. Have not seen the result from today.

Sunday cat average was 50 dollars higher.

Averaged 470 on ours, felt pretty good about it as we really didn't have anything special

I think K it was the special sweatshirt!!

All my cats were caught while wearing it, so I'm going with that

The low avg on cats had to do w/ the poor quality of putting up the fur. if they all were stretched properly the cat avg would be much higher. some wire stretched cats sold at half price.

and you know this how? Where you there?

the fur buyer who I sell too was, he and I talked about the issue. this is also documented on trapperman w/ pics. of bad lots.

http://utahtrappers.org/docs/2015_FurSale_Average.pdf

The averages were bound to be lower with current world economy. There were well put up cats that sold low. Sure there was crap there, just like there is at every sale. Cats put up well that were 40 inches with good fur quality and decent bellies had the potential to reach $500 and up. MonsterToms fur tumbler didn't hurt. I averaged 470 on a 33" 35" 37" 39" all were probably .5" larger than that, but I couldn't get that next inch if the buyer was being picky.

What I saw when I was checking in I would say

50% were put up very well
25% ok
15% left some to be desired
10% terrible

That was probably the first 1000 cats

25% of the cats were stretched poorly, that's 250 out of 1000. if good cats were avged out not including those 25% the avg would be in the 400"s

Glad that tumbler is still doing its job!

25% of the cats brought under 100.00.  if they were handled better and increased their value 50%  the overall average would only go up 25.00 at best which would be right at $255.   Some cats no matter how well they are handled wont bring the money.

Do you think then that just by happen chance the cats sold on Sunday had better put up and hence the 50 dollar higher average? Or was it genetics? My own observation is that if a cat has the right color,clarity,fine and dense hair,with a clear wide white and well spotted belly,was fleshed,dry,prime,and not slipping that the way or shape it was stretched is the least determining factor when dealing with an honest buyer.

I couldn't disagree more. I have seen people bring in cats that are much better cats then mine and I can make more off of 1 ok cat then they did in 4 of them. Display of the fur is very much important!

I should say potentially better then mine.

Presentation of your fur is important for sure. I always take the time to make sure it looks good before heading to the sale. On the other hand your not going to make a cat have better spots or thicker fur or brighter belly by how you put it up. They are what they are so take your time and make everyone of them look nice and straight and clean.
The reason the price went up on later in the sale is they have been wise with there money the first couple of days and will usually pay more on the last day.

I agree with Bucks and nvsage. it is always best practice to put each pelt up the best you can. Not only out of respect for the animal but for your own pride. A well handled and put up pelt is easier for a buyer to grade and know exactly what they are paying for. witch will 9 times out of ten result in a better price.

Just relating my experience with a major buyer and watching him grade and buy cats. When there was a gap in the activity I privately asked him why he had paid so much for a particular cat that was poorly stretched. He took the time to show me all the good points the cat had. The cat was a true A grade. When he was done I specifically asked him and he said when the grade is there the stretch doesn't matter. This buyer is also an end user and isn't buying for someone else. I like the Nevada stretch and if you want to sell to a buyer who discounts due to the stretch and not the grade sell to him.

I do believe that crummy put up and mis handled pelts do have a purpose.............making my own look even better! LOL!

I think both ( put up and better cats) had to do with the 50 dollar increase

Spot on brother !

20-30% cut on the low end or else there would be no high end , cats are like women, attractiveness always gets you more money.