Skinning for the fur trade...

[yukonjeff]

seams like such a waste of good fur.

[outwoods taxidermy]

i'll 2nd that, what a waste

[arkfisher]

I want to cry....

[Bakes]

I take it thats a Lynx? How bizzare. Look at the size of those feet compared to the rest of the body!

[yukonjeff]

It is a shame,but they will acualy  down grade them at the auction,if I leave too... much leg sticking out,I do get top lott skinned like this.
Bakes...they do have big feet...that one is a kitten,this is a adults paws.

[Wolfwoman]

I could make headbands outta those feet! lol

[Mike Doyle]

Maybe you should try selling them on here and leave the feet on.
Might do better than at the auction.

Mike

[Bakes]

I knew their feet were big but I've only seen a lynx on wildlife doco's.  Seeing them against a hand puts some perspective into it.

[Bobbi Meyer]

I agree with Doyle.
A quality specimen on here could bring good money.
I'd love to have a nice red fox....of course with everything still attached !

[John C]

Ok what will it bring on the fur market and what would we have paid for the same cat???

Sad to screw up a nice hide.

[Wolfwoman]

I don't think the people that use them for other than taxidermy consider them 'screwed up'. I've seen some pretty nice hats and mitts and blankets and pillows, etc etc made from fur trade and craft hides.

[Sprig]

I'll second what Wolfman said.  I catch a lot of coon/fox/coyote each season for the fur market.  I have thought about selling the skins on here but I would read some posts about guys selling skins and the potential buyers were very picky about how they wanted the skins done and for the price they were willing to pay it just wasn't worth the extra work.

[jhje_7]

I can see both sides of the discussion since I trap and sell hides and also do mounts. 

[PLTannery]

I agree with Sprig, Most taxidermist a very picky about what they buy with good reason. If it isn't mountable its worthless to them and if it is well they are only gonna give you fur trade value for the hide even though you have to carefully skin the hide, turn the feet and ears, and skin it properly. To most furbuyers this means taking a 5-10 minute job into a 30-60 minute one. Just not worth the effort. Honestly how many taxidermists are going to pay $300-400 for a bobcat? Like last years prices.  But it goes both ways. I seen a BEAUTIFUL Bobcat that had the same type of pattern as a clouded leopard at Cascade Biological and it was worthless on the fur market but a taxidermist would pay very good money for the same cat.  But what depresses me is we have several locals who get Mt. Lions and tan them HAIR OFF!!!! Oh what a horrible waste.  These are perfectly good cats too!

What are lynx going for this year?

Shelby

[Sprig]

On June 15 2007 the Fur Harvesters Auction reported Lynx selling at an average price of $119 and top prices of $190.