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Post by Adirondack-Jim on Jun 29, 2023 9:21:33 GMT -5
This was the first year my trapping partner and I sent our October caught fisher pelts to the Fur Harvesters Auction. There’s been a lot of discussion about our early fisher season and the effect on fur quality and value. Up until this year we really had no way to tell how significant this might be.
We sent in 20 fisher that were included in the May FHA auction. This year’s catch quality didn’t seem any different than previous years except for a higher percentage of females. I printed off the FHA grading terminology sheet and compared that to our sales report. Based on their grading system, 70% of our pelts graded “above average in quality”, 10% graded as “average”, 10% were graded as “slightly early” and only 10% graded as “early”.
Our fisher were included in an offering of 4,353. Compared to the averages prices reported for the 3,178 that were sold in this auction, the prices we received were within $0.19 for females and $0.39 for males.
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Post by tony1967 on Jun 29, 2023 13:31:10 GMT -5
That’s very interesting……thanks for posting.
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 691
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Post by paintedpaw on Jun 30, 2023 9:16:01 GMT -5
Very interesting. As for me I still prefer a well furred December fisher.
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Post by proratman on Jun 30, 2023 14:04:18 GMT -5
IMO New York state has a poor fisher season. Too early and on a collision course with the deer hunters!
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 691
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Post by paintedpaw on Jun 30, 2023 15:58:19 GMT -5
IMO also. New York State has some terrible fisher seasons. October in the southern tierfor one. A biologist shortened the season because of the decline of fisher in the adirondacks, BUT ON THE WRONG END! It shows you how little he knew about fur primeness, or if he cared.Too busy playing with his pine marten.Repeated pleas for a reasonable later season only fall on deaf ears. There is no good reason not to. I believe NYS has three different fisher seasons. That biologist has now quit DEC for a second time, good riddance, don't let the door hit you on the way out. My respect for DEC has been killed by him.
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Post by Adirondack-Jim on Jun 30, 2023 19:23:18 GMT -5
Our sales report suggests that our late October females prime more quickly. Of the 15 females we shipped, 14 graded as "select" (fully prime) and "I" (prime) and 1 graded "GD SLT" (good quality with slight imperfections). The males graded slightly lower and would likely improve with more time.
Our sales report and my interpretation is based on 20 the pelts we shipped and not just a handful of a few. None of our fisher graded as "III" (very early pelt) or "IV&V" (inferior pelt of little or no commercial value). And their value was within $0.40 of the auction averages. Top lot for this auction was $84 and one of our males sold for $51.
Discussions here and elsewhere would have me believe our southerntier October fisher should be virtually worthless. I'm glad the FHA graders and international buyers disagree.
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Post by turtledale on Jul 4, 2023 4:48:18 GMT -5
What county or counties were your fisher caught in? I'm in Chautauqua county and am wondering if you caught these in cooler climate than mine
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Post by Adirondack-Jim on Jul 4, 2023 11:57:41 GMT -5
All our fisher came from three counties east of you and two are PA border counties.
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Post by tony1967 on Jul 4, 2023 16:54:09 GMT -5
What do you guys use for bait in this early season? I tried venison but it was dried out in no time. Wondering what you find best to use during the warmer weather.
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Post by Adirondack-Jim on Jul 4, 2023 18:19:07 GMT -5
We've tried a variety of baits but nothing holds up well if it's a really warm week except replacing them.
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Post by tony1967 on Jul 5, 2023 4:53:09 GMT -5
Have you found anything works aside from a meat based bait? I’ve read anything from banana to grape jelly but not sure if any of that is worth trying.
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Post by Adirondack-Jim on Jul 5, 2023 13:38:47 GMT -5
Have not tried any non-meat baits. I used a sweet smelling lure called Fisher Candy when I previously traveled to the Adirondacks for fisher and marten.
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 691
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Post by paintedpaw on Jul 6, 2023 7:40:57 GMT -5
Fisher Candy is a very good lure, but very hard to find.
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tmc
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,447
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Post by tmc on Jul 7, 2023 11:01:09 GMT -5
I confess I do use grape jelly when the wild grapes are ripe, and when it's warm. And it does produce. They also like honey and honey-based lures. Night Owl's Plum Loco also is a consistent producer at any time of the season. Disclaimer: FOR ME. HERE.
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Post by tony1967 on Jul 7, 2023 17:33:55 GMT -5
Thanks guys. Just trying to find an alternative to the venison I used last year that was like leather in a couple days…..
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Post by fisher on Jul 17, 2023 20:41:17 GMT -5
beaver meat the fat on it keeps it working.
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