Fur Market Report

Fur Market Report For Minnesota
Cumberland's Fur Report
Updated 2/17/08

This year's fur market has been volatile, both in good ways and bad ways. The market for prime raccoon, fisher, marten, and bobcat has been strong due to somewhat lower harvest and good demand. The market for mink, otter, and muskrat has been extremely soft due to low demand and high numbers of held over goods from last season. These markets can not improve until inventories are cleaned up. This year’s catch of mink and rat is down significantly, but it may still take one to two years for these markets to regain their strength. As always, prime fur brings the best offers, and early or late season goods will be discounted.

Here are some general prices as of this time ~ these prices are for stretched and dried furs.

Raccoon prices have advanced all season and the very best stretched and dried pelts should bring $25.00-$30.00

Male mink sold at a top of around $16.00, and half for females

Muskrats struggled to reach $3.00 for the top fall skins, maybe slightly higher for under ice rats.

Southern MN beaver have topped out at $25.00 for prime blankets, northern MN slightly higher. The spring market has not been established yet.

Most MN otter sold in the $25.00-$40.00 range.

Red fox and coyotes both have a $20.00 top, with red fox averaging higher than the coyotes. Shot coyotes from this time of year have little or no value.

Most marten sold in the $50.00 range, with fishers closer to $75.00 Some of the better MN bobcats reached $150.00, most sold in the $50.00- $100.00 range.

Completely white ermine have sold between $3.00-$8.00

Grey fox topped at around $30.00 in an uncertain market.

Other skins such as skunk, opossum, and badger may have better offers from taxidermists or for tanning than fur value.

Hope all of you had a chance to trap this season, we will see you at the conventions this summer.

Cumberland's Northwest Trappers Supply
P.O. Box 408
4707 N. Cedar Ave.
Owatonna, MN 55060
www.nwtrappers.com
Phone: (507) 451-7607
Fax: (507) 451-5869

Sundrud Furs - Fosston, Mn 56542
218-435-6915
Updated 6/5/07

This Season the markets have changed from December to May, mainly because of warm weather in the Northern Hemisphere. Fur sales have been slow; the muskrat harvest was very large – which made the largest reduced price. Also, otter were off 75% from a year ago.

This coming year, raccoon and coyotes are in good demand. Raccoon in the $20’s for heavies – coyotes up to $50 to $60 for the pale. Red fox, beaver, fisher, bobcats and badger will be about the same price as last year. Muskrats are cheaper with a $3 to $ 5 average. Mink up to $20.00.
Deer antler – brown up to $10.00 per pound.

Have a good summer.
See you all at the Summer Convention in Bemidji August 11 – 12.

Ordean Sundrud