Re: Now for something completely different...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WK&U</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> No sportsman ship in traps and snares. Hope you did more than just skin that beaver How about EAT HIM </div></div>
Sorry I missed you on this one. Look this is Snipers Hide, right? I fairly confident that everybody here wants whatever they are stalking to have every sportsman like chance. Besides, nobody has used a snare for catching beaver since Clinton (cigar?). It works like the lobstering, poultry and the beef industry...a short nunchuck season (and I mean short, no longer than 6" and made of wood so the beavers have a chance) followed by two weeks of taser (see the big rubber boots? These are wetlands and nobody wants face down floaters). Besides, although one can keep the pelts, in Maine, we are still a "catch and release" state. Personally, I eat as much beaver as I can get in front of.
Furtrader, 2010 was a weak season for Beaver prices. In fact beaver was the weakest of all. After grading and sizing the averages were around $16-18 for all but the monsters and they averaged $22. Beaver castor was around $40. The big buyers are still the cash ladened Chinese and Russians who show up like clockwork and take it all away.
Badger $25
Bobcats $55
Coyotes $45
Ermine $2
Muskrat averaged $6
Marten $35
Porcupine guard hair fetches a premium locally $22 (basket makers)
Raccoon shy of $20
Red Fox $34
Mink $13
Otter $47
Skunk $6-7