Surviving a Fur Market Crash

So much for $40 raccoons and an improving fur market.

The recent economic downturn turned recession signaled by the tumultuous ride on Wall Street has sent fur buyers into hiding. Those who are answering the shop door and running fur collection routes have become super stingy.

Recent reports of $5 to $7 averages on skinned raccoons from places with traditionally excellent fur such as Iowa and Wisconsin have dampened the spirits of many trappers and fur hunters.

Unfortunately, early coyote fur prices seem equally grim, that is for those who are offered anything at all.

In what is now a global economy, Russia and China are also experiencing economic struggles. Russia has fallen on hard times because it relies heavily on the export of crude oil, and oil prices have dropped like a rock since the stock market went into a seeming freefall last month. Russian consumers take the bulk of North America’s raccoon pelts, while a lot of the coyotes end up as trim on garments worn by Chinese folks.

The good news: Just like the recession, eventually, the market will improve. We all hope that happens sooner rather than later. The silver lining is that gasoline prices have fallen dramatically, making predator calling excursions much more affordable.

So don’t fret about fur prices. Go call ‘em in!

Fur Market Forecast

As fur market analyst Parker Dozhier has told me more times than I can count over the years, it’s all just a guess. However, I can’t remember a year heading into the season when fur buyers and those in the know had as much uncertainty as they do right now.

Of course, when the stock markets tank, then drop again and the global economy is as shaky as it is right now, we’re all in uncharted waters. Still, commodities often hold their own when the economy gets rough and the markets falter.

So, the best guess: coyotes – not so good; bobcats – should be as good; gray foxes – down a bit, but still solid; red fox – still poor; raccoons – could be very good, could drop dramatically.

Coyotes: A lot of unsold lower-grade pelts exist right now, so that will hold the price of new goods coming onto the market down. Dozhier says the best coyotes – pales with wide, white bellies from the Rocky Mountains might bring $40 to $45, but most will fetch far less. He put Wisconsin skins at $25 and down for the best large, heavy coyotes. A representative of North American Fur Auctions also indicated the coyote market was not expected to have much depth and generally be poor. Might be a good year to tan some coyotes and sell them to alternative markets.

Bobcats: Dozhier said he thinks the high-end bobcat market will hold up for another season, although the best skins might not hit $1,100 as a few did last year. Bobcats are being used to make luxury goods, and the demand continues for spotted fur.

Gray foxes: After doing exceptionally well last winter, gray foxes did not do as well at the spring auctions. Dozhier termed it as a hiccup, and said he thought the market would still be good for grays. He suggests hanging onto grays until later in the season.

Red foxes: Ranch production of foxes continues to keep the market for wild red foxes depressed. Expect a replay of last season, Dozhier said. The best might bring $35, but most will be $20 or thereabouts.

Raccoons: Every year, it seems one furbearer receives extra attention as the species to target. In 2008-2009, it’s raccoons. Many trappers and hunters are expecting to average $40 or more this season. Dozhier and the NAFA rep agree that the raccoon market holds great promise, but caution that the weather – both in the United States and Russia – will play a major role in determining the size of the harvest and the demand for the fur. If it snows and freezes early in the United States, and Russia has a frigid winter, fur harvesters who have a bunch of raccoons to sell will benefit nicely. If it’s warm here and there, disappointment is likely.

It’s all a crap shoot. Just like the stock market.

Shedding Light on Fur Primeness

A few recent posts on trapping and predator hunting message boards have my hide a bit chapped.

Let’s do away with the following myth: Cold weather causes animals’ fur to become prime. Weather has nothing to do with it. An animal’s fur thickens and becomes prime because of decreasing daylight. The animal – whether it’s a coyote, fox, beaver, raccoon or black bear – grows a thicker coat when the amount of light (called photoperiod) shortens. Less light triggers a chemical secretion in the animal that spurs the hair follicles to produce dense underfur and longer guard hairs.

A raccoon’s coat will be just as prime in November if the weather is unseasonably warm as it will be if we experience prolonged record cold in October. Biologically, animals need to have that thick fur blanket in place before winter rages across the landscape. We can just get an extra blanket out of the closet, but a coyote or fox needs to be wearing its protection before the weather gets nasty. If animals’ bodies only grew fur after the cold weather hit, they’d all freeze to death during the first cold snap.

Researchers have conducted experiments on mink that show temperature has nothing to do with fur primeness. In one study, mink were subjected to decreasing periods of light in the summer for six weeks. The mink all grew heavy coats, and the fur density and quality was similar to what would be expected of a mink in November. These mink were kept in normal summer temperatures. The amount of light was the only variable changed.

Incidentally, changes in photoperiod spur breeding behavior in many animals, including several furbearers. It also causes bird migrations, antler growth in deer and the changing of the color of leaves.

So the next time the discussion about what makes fur prime comes up, remember: It’s all about the light.