Fur Quality
 

What’s everyone seeing for the quality of your coyotes and other critters? I’m snaring in the Morinville area and I’m starting to see shorter guard hair on my Yotes, mainly on the sides. I’m hoping that the decline isn’t starting already. Last year I was catching quality coyotes, about 3 out of every four, right up to the end of February and I don’t recall seeing this in January.

Down here the quality has been lower from the start , be interesting how the first bunch is graded at NAFA. Nothing close to last year .

rubbing
 

YES, since January 1 seeing lots of rubb showing on the hips...
Last 2 seasons I shut down by Feb 5th

got one thawing out now. he looked alright in the low light when i was dragging him out yesterday. we will see when he gets a brush

Yeah, I'm seeing the same thing up this way. I expect that overall my grades will be lower this year. I have some very nice pelts but not as high a percentage as previous years.

Coyote fur in my area (and colors) are way better this season, and more of them. Seeing a little more mites than usual, mange about the same. Last coyote and fox put up were flawless. I find Fox tend to tell you where your fur quality is, they are always the first to rub out on the flanks. IMO

Spruce

The catch I made today was almost all perfect , only bad one was self inflicted by a pup that jumped thru snare and got hip caught .

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Yeah, I put up six today and they were all really nice. Maybe it was just a fluke that I caught a few in a row with shorter guard hair. I hope so.

Just side note, I note coyotes averaged $99 at first FHA sale so quality and demand seems to still be their in spite of PETA raising hell with Canada Goose in New York.

My overall quality is WAY better than last year and a little better numbers too. Sure hope the sale goes as well as they are saying. This is what i shipped to the first sale... second pick was a personal best check during the cold snap.

Flipped this AM
 

Still looking good here, flipped this one this morning.

The end is near. Coyotes getting rubbed at the shoulders bad in this area. It really declined fast. Caught three the last two days. One with long guard hair at the shoulders and hardly any underfur, one with short broken guard hair at the shoulders and woolly underfur, and the third one was merely “Meh”. Probably will be pulling snares this week. Time to trap beaver under ice I guess.

Pulled most of our snares yesterday Dave, hides are showing signs of wear and tear . Got an extra 2 weeks tho over last year . Still have a few set here near at home that we can watch while calving .

I will be pulling this weekend. Curious does rubbing around haunches affect the grade much? I've caught a few the past couple weeks that are nice coyotes but rubbed along the back end. Curious how these fair at auction.

Sewing is often called Slight Damage

Hair damage, such as rubs, hair loss from burrs, roshbush/cattail whacking, mites and mange is called damage.

I am pulling the majority of my sets and will leave a few glory spots to end off the month. caught 80 so far and I am by myself . lots of work . But still fun .

Picked up 2 today and they were good but pulling for the season next week.