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By Nick Nielsen

Sinking prices

A look into the Saskatchewan fur trade

Aug 9, 2024 | 9:28 AM

For the past few years, fur trappers have been seeing prices going down and less demand for the pelts they trap. Those prices have started to level out in some areas, but trappers are still having trouble selling their pelts to manufacturers.

Don Gordon is the president of the Saskatchewan Trappers Association and manages a trap line in the Nipawin area. While trappers are seeing prices start to return to normal, Gordon said selling their pelts is still difficult because of challenges imposed by the pandemic.

“As far as prices go there has been some increase on some species. The biggest thing is the interest in purchasing. There has been more clearances for the raw fur at both the auction and in the field, which means that there’s interest in there for manufacturers to process goods. There is still a huge inventory of goods on hand though from pre COVID or during COVID. I guess that stuff was already bought.”

Trappers set up their lines for beavers, foxes, and lynx during the fall and winter months starting in October, while other animals such as coyotes, skunks, and racoons are trapped year-round.

One pelt in particular that is struggling for prices is coyotes. The year after year average for coyote pelts in Saskatchewan is over 40,000 animals turned in according to Gordon. While some areas in the southern portion of the province have even issued bounties on coyotes that would net a person $20 for every paw turned in, that price point still isn’t enough for trappers to offset the cost it takes for them to trap the animals in the first place.

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“So on the fur end of things with coyotes, there is some movement, but there’s also a very small offering at the auction and in the field level. So where we used to see 75 or 80,000 skins on a sale at the auction, now you are seeing 15 or 20,000 so people aren’t going to go out and spend what we have to spend to get these skins and get them to market for a 10 or $15 average when we’re so used to $100-125. Things will change once the retail market picks back up again.”

The main use for coyote fur is to be used as the lining on parka style winter jackets around the hood and zipper, but those style of winter coats have not sold as well since the pandemic and people adjusted their habits into staying at home more often during the winter months.

On the other hand, a pelt seeing prices start their return to normal has been beaver pelts. According to Gordon, the price for beaver pelts is being driven up because felt production is going up, and beaver pelts are the most popular material to make felt out of.

“What they look at with felt is square inches. They don’t care about the condition, they’re only using the under fur. The fur is removed from the pelt and they just use the underfur.”

Because of the demand for felt, a large beaver pelt blanket that would have cost you $20 two-three years ago is more likely to cost $50.

With prices struggling to return to their normal range and some trappers of this generation calling it quits, it’s become more difficult for the younger generation to get into the industry. The cost to get in and the time commitment are high, especially since the younger generation is losing mentors.

“The interest is there. I guess it boils down to every time we have a hiccup like this in our market, we lose that generation. When you can’t get somebody out or when the prices fall absolutely flat on their face, to get someone interested in going out and trapping coyotes for $5, you can make more money cutting grass. You can go start your lawn mower, cut your grass and get $20.”

Despite the challenges ahead for the trapping industry in Saskatchewan, there is still a positive outlook ahead. Gordon urges those that are still trapping to make sure they pass that skill on to the next generation because there will always be a need for the fur trade in Saskatchewan.

“Our society tries to tell the world that fur is done, trapping is done, and it’s by no means done. It’s used in research every day. Animals must be captured and whether you live trap them and tranquilize them, it’s still trapping.”

The trapping industry has made efforts to try and attract new and young trappers into the industry. The Saskatchewan Trappers Association issues a $1000 scholarship yearly for a member of the Association that you can find more information on here.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com