Syracuse.com - Raw fur auction at Pompey Rod and Gun Club a success with $9,000 in sales (includes video)

[HuntingNY-News]

The furs fetching the best prices were an otter for $79 and fisher for $62. The best beaver pelt went for $36, while “a very nice” coyote pelt went for close that. It was one of the best auctions in years, said Al LaFrance. Watch video

Peter Chen / The Post-StandardThe furs from coyotes, foxes, muskrats, deer, beavers, raccoons and other animals are layed out for inspection at the Independent Fur Harvesters of CNY's annual fur sale Saturday at the Pompey Rod & Gun Club.

Clara Furness looked with pride at her row of furs and deer hides on the floor.

She had gray fox, possum, coon, mink – even skunk.

“A lot of people don’t do skunks, but as far as I’m concerned they’re gas money,” said the veteran trapper from Fenner Saturday morning at the raw fur auction at the Pompey Rod and Gun Club.

“Once you know how to do them, it’s not hard. I wash them in Dawn dish soap, use Febreze with vanilla and spritz them with that, and then I dry them with my blow dryer,” she said.

The auction was sponsored by the Independent Fur Harvesters of Central New York. Ten fur buyers from across the state attended.

Al LaFrance, president of the local trappers club, played the role of the auctioneer. More than 1,500 various pelts were sold throughout the day, bringing in roughly $9,000. “It’s one of the biggest sales we’ve had in years,” he said.

Prices depended on the type of animal, and quality and color of the fur. The furs fetching the best prices were an otter for $79 and fisher for $62. The best beaver pelt went for $36, while “a very nice” coyote pelt went for close that, La France said.

“There were a lot of coons. The best went for $24,” he said.

La France said most of the furs bought at auctions like Saturday’s ultimately end up overseas and used for trim on clothing and gloves.

Lew Crowther, a buyer from Remsen, said the Air Force uses coyote fur for the collars in its jackets.

LaFrance and others said furs don’t fetch the prices they used to, and that with all the expenses (time, equipment, gas, etc) it’s usually a wash. Most do it for the tradition and love of trapping.

Bill Jones, of Camillus, brought 108 coon, five red fox, a gray fox, 70 muskrat, four mink and two beavers to Saturday’s auction.

“It’s been a great year, especially for coons,” he said. “We should break even.”

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog