Post by: SlowJoe on February 29, 2024, 09:44:32 AM
I feel like I saw March 9th posted somewhere, but the WSTA website doesn't have anything listed, and neither does the Thurston County Fairgrounds.
Post by: JakeLand on February 29, 2024, 01:00:27 PM
Post by: Mustelidae on February 29, 2024, 02:26:50 PM
Post by: SlowJoe on February 29, 2024, 03:11:25 PM
Post by: Cylvertip on February 29, 2024, 04:07:10 PM
Won't make it. We will be running a fundraiser that day. :bash:
Post by: JakeLand on February 29, 2024, 05:17:36 PM
Ok great. The magazine was where I heard about it, but not finding anything on the fairgrounds website or the association website had me concerned it was cancelled.this where the problem lays for both the spring fur sale and the summer rendezvous need to be broadcasted to every trapper out there and public
Post by: LongBomb on February 29, 2024, 05:23:24 PM
Post by: Humptulips on February 29, 2024, 06:48:44 PM
What's the general theme here? Never been.The main thing is the auction. A place for trappers to sell their furs locally or if you are not satisfied we have a pickup for the Intermountain Fur Harvesters sale the next week. I think there should be at least 4 buyers.
We have a couple demos in the morning beaver put up and Bobcat put up.
Post by: LongBomb on February 29, 2024, 08:19:31 PM
Post by: Humptulips on February 29, 2024, 08:38:39 PM
Gotcha. A place to bring the boys and kill a saturday?Family friendly, we have lunch as well.
Post by: Frank The Tank on March 01, 2024, 08:42:50 AM
This would be good for those who have not been there before, or new members etc on what to expect.
Post by: Loup Loup on March 01, 2024, 11:49:12 AM
On a related note: I will be at the sale. I will be looking to buy suitcase beaver traps. Both Koro and Hancock brands.
Post by: Loup Loup on March 01, 2024, 11:52:24 AM
Post by: Mustelidae on March 01, 2024, 12:56:06 PM
Mustedea: you gonna be there with your NTA sign up papers?You betcha!
I'll have everything ready for NTA sign ups. I even have some cool NTA gear to donate to the raffle :IBCOOL:
Post by: Humptulips on March 01, 2024, 06:05:52 PM
Can we get a bit more information on the Rendezvous other than the general schedule? Which fur buyers will be there, any specific fur they looking for, will carcass/green be accepted? Displays/demos? Need for food brought?I don't think there are buyers that stated they were buying green or carcass fur. We can't bring raw skulls or carcasses into the building but we do have the poultry barn next door where we have done demos rented so we may be able to work something out if need be. WE have never auctioned skulls before but we'll see what happens. Of course private treaty sales outside the building are fine.
This would be good for those who have not been there before, or new members etc on what to expect.
Buyers are Doug Stanley, Amanda Platoni, a buyer from Oregon whose name escapes me and I think Centralia Hide and Fur. Not sure what their wants are.
I will be buying Spotted Skunks but outside, don't bring them inside.
Tom Parker is doing a beaver put up demo and Bill Largen is doing a bobcat put up demo. We were going to do a kind of a workshop type thing about pulling a tooth on a bobcat but I think we may put that on hold until we know more what the law will be. We still may solicite advice on tooth pulling.
Food, I think we have that covered sandwiches, potato/macaroni salad, chips and drinks. Coffee in the morning as soon as it cooks up.
Post by: Dysfunctional Vet on March 01, 2024, 08:51:09 PM
Is there an entry fee/ticket?
Do you need help setting up in the morning? I can be there at 8 or whenever?
Dress code? Have to wear clothing made from critters you caught that year? If that’s the case, I might have enough to cover the junk up front, but need to borrow a little for the back. :chuckle:
Looking forward to this event!!!!
Post by: Loup Loup on March 01, 2024, 09:03:39 PM
I hope you can make it. Bring the boy. Introduce yourself to us. (if I’m not there I’m lost on I5 somewhere.) asking questions of the men and women there will speed up your learning curve by a few years.
Post by: Frank The Tank on March 03, 2024, 07:35:54 AM
Dumb questions inbound…… since I’m the FNG
Dress code? Have to wear clothing made from critters you caught that year? If that’s the case, I might have enough to cover the junk up front, but need to borrow a little for the back.
If you're going to wear your size sma-medium PT shorts, just remember-the potato goes up front this time
Post by: Frank The Tank on March 03, 2024, 07:45:56 AM
Can we get a bit more information on the Rendezvous other than the general schedule? Which fur buyers will be there, any specific fur they looking for, will carcass/green be accepted? Displays/demos? Need for food brought?I don't think there are buyers that stated they were buying green or carcass fur. We can't bring raw skulls or carcasses into the building but we do have the poultry barn next door where we have done demos rented so we may be able to work something out if need be. WE have never auctioned skulls before but we'll see what happens. Of course private treaty sales outside the building are fine.
This would be good for those who have not been there before, or new members etc on what to expect.
Buyers are Doug Stanley, Amanda Platoni, a buyer from Oregon whose name escapes me and I think Centralia Hide and Fur. Not sure what their wants are.
I will be buying Spotted Skunks but outside, don't bring them inside.
Tom Parker is doing a beaver put up demo and Bill Largen is doing a bobcat put up demo. We were going to do a kind of a workshop type thing about pulling a tooth on a bobcat but I think we may put that on hold until we know more what the law will be. We still may solicite advice on tooth pulling.
Food, I think we have that covered sandwiches, potato/macaroni salad, chips and drinks. Coffee in the morning as soon as it cooks up.
I just CONFIRMED Bob Bicknell @ Skull Duggery will be there outside buying raw skulls-I'm bringing a bunch for him. He offers fair prices. I'll be interested in green and carcass critters.
Could you or someone reach out to the buyers to see what they are looking for? And can you have someone post this info on the WSTA Facebook page, or I can do so.
Frank
Post by: JakeLand on March 03, 2024, 08:53:08 AM
Post by: Loup Loup on March 03, 2024, 09:55:17 AM
Also wanting Mountain beaver in the round.
Post by: Loup Loup on March 03, 2024, 10:15:59 AM
Post by: Frank The Tank on March 06, 2024, 08:30:31 AM
Frank the Tank: FYI: Remember when you’re requesting information from furbuyers, most of em aren’t as honest as I am….
I'm a fur buyer and sometimes I even sell myself things I didn't know I needed...
Post by: Trapper John on March 06, 2024, 02:06:57 PM
Bruce; how about people brining beaver tails? That is another item that buyers are looking for so you New Trappers know besides skulls.
I'll bring some of those Fred Lawrence "Open Water Beaver Trapping" books if anyone wants one.
Talk about books, let's talk about writing an article for the Fur sherd Magazine.
Look me up Saturday.
JC
Post by: Humptulips on March 06, 2024, 05:11:45 PM
WSTA was taking the beaver tails. We have no outlet for them now. Last spring George gave me a lot of them to hold onto because his market had dried up. I'm not sure what to do with them as they aren't skinnable if left in the freezer too long and the ones I am holding are at that point.
Bruce; how about people brining beaver tails? That is another item that buyers are looking for so you New Trappers know besides skulls.
I'll bring some of those Fred Lawrence "Open Water Beaver Trapping" books if anyone wants one.
Talk about books, let's talk about writing an article for the Fur sherd Magazine.
Look me up Saturday.
JC
We don't want anymore at this time.
Post by: Loup Loup on March 06, 2024, 07:38:32 PM
Post by: JakeLand on March 07, 2024, 03:11:12 AM
Post by: Loup Loup on March 07, 2024, 06:49:28 AM
Post by: Humptulips on March 07, 2024, 10:06:52 AM
I know ID fur sales have shown there is a market for a lot of weird stuff and it would be good to see if there is a market a little closer then dragging it all the way to ID.
Post by: JakeLand on March 08, 2024, 08:30:19 AM
Post by: TeacherMan on March 08, 2024, 08:39:58 AM
WSTA was taking the beaver tails. We have no outlet for them now. Last spring George gave me a lot of them to hold onto because his market had dried up. I'm not sure what to do with them as they aren't skinnable if left in the freezer too long and the ones I am holding are at that point.
Bruce; how about people brining beaver tails? That is another item that buyers are looking for so you New Trappers know besides skulls.
I'll bring some of those Fred Lawrence "Open Water Beaver Trapping" books if anyone wants one.
Talk about books, let's talk about writing an article for the Fur sherd Magazine.
Look me up Saturday.
JC
We don't want anymore at this time.
Just saw a guy on trapperman looking for a bunch of them.
Post by: Ric0 on March 08, 2024, 09:57:27 AM
I’m getting calls from people saying that this isn’t on the website or Facebook or anywhere
The only event on the website is for the summer rendezvous. I'm not sure why they don't advertise the winter rendezvous? I don't facebook, so I can't see that.
Post by: Dysfunctional Vet on March 08, 2024, 01:55:52 PM
I’m getting calls from people saying that this isn’t on the website or Facebook or anywhereI got an invite after I joined Trapping Washington State fb page. Not sure who’s running that one though.
Post by: Humptulips on March 08, 2024, 02:23:04 PM
Post by: Dysfunctional Vet on March 08, 2024, 04:46:53 PM
Post by: DishBogget on March 08, 2024, 06:04:25 PM
I’m getting calls from people saying that this isn’t on the website or Facebook or anywhereIt’s been on Facebook for months, pinned post even
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Humptulips on March 08, 2024, 07:12:04 PM
I’ll have my DV Hoodie on, hope to meet you all. Planning on being there early in case I can be of any service as far as set up goes.Just a warning they won't let us in the gate before 8:00AM
Post by: Dysfunctional Vet on March 08, 2024, 07:41:14 PM
roger thatI’ll have my DV Hoodie on, hope to meet you all. Planning on being there early in case I can be of any service as far as set up goes.Just a warning they won't let us in the gate before 8:00AM
Post by: JakeLand on March 08, 2024, 08:40:01 PM
I don’t know but Big Danny and a few others been calling and asking me saying they haven’t seen anything about itI’m getting calls from people saying that this isn’t on the website or Facebook or anywhereIt’s been on Facebook for months, pinned post even
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I don’t do Facebook or anything
Post by: JakeLand on March 09, 2024, 06:26:07 PM
Post by: Loup Loup on March 10, 2024, 05:11:38 PM
Post by: Humptulips on March 10, 2024, 06:44:03 PM
I would like to also say all the fur that was brought in was exceptionally well handled in my opinion. I did not see one lot of fur that I would not have been proud to call my own.
Post by: Loup Loup on March 10, 2024, 08:59:34 PM
The otter situ was just a lack of interest by the buyers present.
I know I have 30 + exceptional otter pelts from the sale in my truck right now. Those trappers in Idaho are going to see what’s possible to do with an otter pelt quality wise.
That’s how we learn… sharing and seeing good examples of excellence.
Post by: JakeLand on March 11, 2024, 10:47:49 AM
Post by: Loup Loup on March 11, 2024, 01:07:16 PM
Good luck finding an instructor, JakeLand.
Ha ha!
Post by: Frank The Tank on March 12, 2024, 11:12:55 AM
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.
Post by: JakeLand on March 12, 2024, 12:10:03 PM
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
Post by: Humptulips on March 12, 2024, 12:14:49 PM
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.
Post by: Loup Loup on March 12, 2024, 01:15:47 PM
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.
Post by: Frank The Tank on March 12, 2024, 02:49:22 PM
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.
Post by: Frank The Tank on March 12, 2024, 02:50:47 PM
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.
Post by: Humptulips on March 12, 2024, 03:19:23 PM
Sorry guys, I’m not even going to read these posts. But, carry on.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.
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.
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.
Post by: JakeLand on March 13, 2024, 05:54:05 AM
Post by: Dysfunctional Vet on March 13, 2024, 01:04:48 PM
Post by: Loup Loup on March 13, 2024, 01:37:07 PM
We make up for it though with rugged good looks, and high intellect.
So odds are you will fit in.
Post by: Dysfunctional Vet on March 13, 2024, 02:13:29 PM
Well, none of us here set the bar very high, when it comes to social skills.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.
We make up for it though with rugged good looks, and high intellect.
So odds are you will fit in.
Post by: Loup Loup on March 13, 2024, 02:29:04 PM
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.