Winter Rendezvous

[Frank The Tank]

Finding ways to attract fur buyers that would otherwise show interest in fur like those otters will be helpful in the past.  There's hurdles to overcome to be sure, as the lineup of auctions in March is already full and attracting a fur buyer means pulling them away from another.   Simply not having a buyer looking for otter doesn't mean those won't have value and will probably do well in ID this weekend.  Having the option to ship to ID there was helpful I think.  A seller still rolls the dice, but doesn't have to walk out with his fur under his arm.  I have a few other observations that may be helpful in the future as well:

Figure out how to reduce the fur buyer license (which is unlikely knowing WDFW as they like their $$), or a 3-day license like Idaho. I suggest the individual/groups that help push this are the craft people, which folks like me do business with. WFDW associates fur buyer with trappers. Maybe those groups/individuals start calling.  Probably a 3 day license is more feasible, which would in turn make it more palatable for out of state folks. 

OK, Fur sale. We MUST see more activity via Social Media. We HAVE to get away from only posting stuff on this forum. Talking it up attracts people. We have to look at it from a marketing POV.  Knowing through Social Media there will be an antler buyer will attract antler, and possibly other buyers.  Knowing there will be a skull buyer, or someone buying green or carcass through Social Media/FB gets the word out fast. "I wish I would have known" was a mantra I heard over and over.   No one could tell me for certain who the fur buyers were, and although it was assumed I was buying fur, no one asked what I was looking for specifically.  Now, I can't just sit back and wait to be asked-that's why I put out on FB about a buyer coming for skulls and I would buy green/carcass-but reaching out would be helpful as well. If one goes on the WSTA FB page and types in "Fur Sale" or "Winter Rendezvous" there won't be many results.  I likewise saw no email "don't miss the date" type. 

Getting crafters engaged will definitely help out, and they will tell us what they are looking for, which will help move fur. Selling 5 raccoon with feet on for 15.00 each sure beats selling 0.  Even if they only buy one or two items, or none, it's more people and more contacts and relationships.

How can we engage trappers in E WA, and have them make the 5-6 hour drive?  Coming over for a couple hour Fur Sale only probably won't cut it; we need to tie in the social aspect. This means finding a place for camping/trailers. This could lead to possibly a social event Fri Night, breakfast Sat morning if we get some folks that camp, which means more presence and more members. 
 
OK in the weeds: Next, break some of those big lots up. I know it's up to the seller, and don't know how much encouragement there is, but this should be pushed. Sure, "private Treaty" can be done, but some folks may not want to bounce from seller to seller to seller trying to get items. This doesn't mean everything, but if there's something different-say cats with feet-a seller will catch more bids by dividing them.

Dates...There's too many fur sales and not enough weekends, so we're going to conflict; fact of life. From a business POV, I REALLY needed to be in Glenn's Ferry Sat... We need to look at which auction is best to overlap, and just as importantly, which auction the fur buyers are willing to miss to come to us. Without fur buyers, we don't have much. Strategically, if we only can get a few, because most are going to be at a big sale, then we focus on the craft folks and pull them in. ITA, Intermountain etc are getting lots of sales with the craft side of fur. We got lucky that Nels was there.

Oh yea, hot chow for lunch, maybe a chili cookoff or something, It is winter still....

Feel free to flog me on any of the above.  The Marines destroyed any feelings I had years ago. 

[JakeLand]

I agree on a few things mainly being we need to be the weekend before Idaho
As of my aspect now I’ll be taking my furs to Idaho regardless if it’s the same weekend as ours or not
The fact is I sell my fur and the prices last weekend were all low balled IMO

[Humptulips]

I have given this a lot of thought since the sale. There are a number of problems that we are never going to solve with our fur sale. It is too small and too far away from most buyers to attract very many. I have always had a problem with scheduling to miss other sales and this year was worse because I was forced to pick the weekend preceding the Intermountain sale. Then you have the $200 license which I have tried to get changed for so many years to no avail. All this tells me no matter what we do we will have a hard time attracting buyers.
I think it is time to think about treating this event as a pick up for one of the ID auctions and forget about the sale for the most part. We could still advertise carcass buyers and skull buyers but let them do business on a private treaty basis. I think every fur seller would have done better in ID then at our sale.
We should still offer CITES tagging, some demos, a WSTA meeting, lunch and what ever else we can come up with but I think everyone would benefit by just sending the furs to ID sales and we could make that easy.

[Loup Loup]

Sorry guys, I’m not even going to read these posts. But, carry on.
We will build off of this sale. Hey, it was the best one in years from what I’ve been told.
We will tweak things going forward for sure.
We will have a lot to discuss at spring meeting.

[Frank The Tank]

I have given this a lot of thought since the sale. There are a number of problems that we are never going to solve with our fur sale. It is too small and too far away from most buyers to attract very many. I have always had a problem with scheduling to miss other sales and this year was worse because I was forced to pick the weekend preceding the Intermountain sale. Then you have the $200 license which I have tried to get changed for so many years to no avail. All this tells me no matter what we do we will have a hard time attracting buyers.
I think it is time to think about treating this event as a pick up for one of the ID auctions and forget about the sale for the most part. We could still advertise carcass buyers and skull buyers but let them do business on a private treaty basis. I think every fur seller would have done better in ID then at our sale.
We should still offer CITES tagging, some demos, a WSTA meeting, lunch and what ever else we can come up with but I think everyone would benefit by just sending the furs to ID sales and we could make that easy.

There could be merit to this as well, trying not to compete against larger established sales, while tailoring to our own needs.  I think this sale did do well, especially coming out of the years post COVID etc.  Really a thought on what direction to move as it gets better.

[Frank The Tank]

Sorry guys, I’m not even going to read these posts. But, carry on.
We will build off of this sale. Hey, it was the best one in years from what I’ve been told.
We will tweak things going forward for sure.
We will have a lot to discuss at spring meeting.

Yes, it went well and a great base to continue to build on, especially with fighting the opposition in WA. 

[Humptulips]

Sorry guys, I’m not even going to read these posts. But, carry on.
We will build off of this sale. Hey, it was the best one in years from what I’ve been told.
We will tweak things going forward for sure.
We will have a lot to discuss at spring meeting.

It went better in the respect of a lot of well handled fur. We never had lots getting no bids and IMO the prices bid on what did sell were subpar.
This was the first year without FHA. When people figure out they have an easy way to ship to ID and get paid more I bet we have less fur which in turn makes it harder to get buyers.
All on the assumption the ID sale does better on prices. It will be very interesting to see.

[JakeLand]

ITA sale

[Dysfunctional Vet]

Man, I sure wish I wasn’t so dysfunctional sometimes. Crowds are not my fav, sometimes I can endure other times I can’t and this was one of the times I couldn’t. Too bad, I was looking forward to this, but I did get to see some quality fur put up. Which was extremely helpful, especially the otter. Saw one put up on a board a young man caught the day prior and it was perfect. I did however get to see and pet my first beaver which is weird because I have 3 kiddos.  . I’ll keep working on being less dysfunctional and hope to men it to the next one.

[Loup Loup]

Well, none of us here set the bar very high, when it comes to social skills.
We make up for it though with rugged good looks, and high intellect.
So odds are you will fit in.

[Dysfunctional Vet]

Well, none of us here set the bar very high, when it comes to social skills.
We make up for it though with rugged good looks, and high intellect.
So odds are you will fit in.

sweet!!!!! Lol. I’m looking for a community to belong to. A purpose if you will. My life kind of went to absolute *censored* last year and I’m in need of purpose, so if there’s anything I can do for the trapping community I will. Just let me know. I am trying to learn the art of trapping but the history of it is fascinating and I love it. So I’d like to help preserve it. I know I’m new, but was never afforded the opportunity to learn stuff like trapping. I was fatherless, so I didn’t get the outdoor sports passed down. I learned them myself and tried to pass what I’ve learned onto my kids so they could experience things I never did. I’ve always thought trapping was intriguing, but never got involved, but after last year I’m going to do everything I’ve ever thought about doing. Trapping being one of them. I’ll keep learning, reading, watching and doing whatever I can to learn such a traditional and honorable way of managing wildlife. I’m jealous of everyone who’s been able to participate in this amazing outdoor activity.

[Loup Loup]

Well DV, you’re not late, perfect time to learn the whole shattery, from catching to putup to selling or tanning. To even sewing, which I want to develope. While fur prices are low.
I’m on the East side, but perhaps someone over there can reach out and have you go along this season before it ends.
I brought a trinket for you to give to your boy to the sale. Missed ya, so I’ll hang on to it til I see you. Bide your time til august roundevous. Cashmere.