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Old 02-25-2018, 11:58 PM
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Red Bullets Red Bullets is offline
 
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Default Possible extra revenue stream from your trapping.

I was on a few websites (including Halfords) taking a look and noticed something that I am thinking could be extra income from the fur bearing animals that trappers are catching. This could be a way to better utilize the carcasses too.

The Alberta trapping regulations tell us it is legal to sell the claws, skulls and teeth of lawfully taken fur-bearing animals.

Might be good to have a small beetle farm on the side. Or for an entrepreneur to start a beetle farm and collect/buy skulls from trappers for cheap. Could do a big game skull cleaning service on the side too.

These are the average prices in dollars for beetle cleaned skulls in various stores and online.

Muskrat 10.
Beaver 20 to 35
Fox or Coyote 30 to 60 *Coyotes claws are about 10.00 for a set too.
Fisher 50 to 75
pine marten 30 to 50
Weasel 20 to 30
Lynx 50
Otter 75
Wolf or wolverine 150 to 300 *complete set of wolf claws up to 225.00

At today's fur prices it is odd that a cleaned beaver skull is worth more than the beaver's pelt might be worth. I know beetles aren't cheap and you need quite a few but clean a few dozen skulls and the beetles would pay for themselves.
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This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
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Last edited by Red Bullets; 02-26-2018 at 12:11 AM.
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Old 02-26-2018, 07:23 AM
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There's a Canadian bone collector Facebook group that's fairly active in buying/selling animal skulls. Both north american and exotic. There's a lot of commerce in those bones!
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Old 02-26-2018, 07:42 AM
nube nube is offline
 
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Ive sold piles. Getting 50-100 alone for my wolf skulls.
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Old 02-26-2018, 07:44 AM
D4l3k D4l3k is offline
 
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Also the beavers bottom jaw is split and cleaned and can be sold as a necklace

And each side of the beaver tail can be skinned and home tanned and is used for leather for knife sheeths or wallets

A parted out beaver if you have the patience or drive to find buyers for everything:

Skull
Bottom jaw for necklaces
Pelt
Caster
Skinned tail leather
Carcass (for bear outfitters)
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Old 02-26-2018, 02:28 PM
dugh dugh is offline
 
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My wife has the beetles. They smell disgusting. It's not so much fun, she keeps them cool in the summer and warm in the winter (that kinda came out wrong but you know what I mean). When she first got them she kept them in the attached garage, at that point it was either me or the beetles. it was close.

On a side note she has made me very proud again getting the Eileen Christensen Lady Conservationist of the Year Award at the Alberta Fish and Game Assn. conference last weekend.
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Old 02-26-2018, 05:21 PM
petew petew is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D4l3k View Post
Also the beavers bottom jaw is split and cleaned and can be sold as a necklace

And each side of the beaver tail can be skinned and home tanned and is used for leather for knife sheeths or wallets

A parted out beaver if you have the patience or drive to find buyers for everything:

Skull
Bottom jaw for necklaces
Pelt
Caster
Skinned tail leather
Carcass (for bear outfitters)
Tanned beaver tail goes for $25 to $30 a side for handle wraps, and arrow rests on traditional bows.
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  #7  
Old 02-26-2018, 09:42 PM
HunterDave HunterDave is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dugh View Post
On a side note she has made me very proud again getting the Eileen Christensen Lady Conservationist of the Year Award at the Alberta Fish and Game Assn. conference last weekend.
Very nice. Congrats!
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Old 02-26-2018, 10:57 PM
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Red Bullets Red Bullets is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dugh View Post
My wife has the beetles. They smell disgusting. It's not so much fun, she keeps them cool in the summer and warm in the winter (that kinda came out wrong but you know what I mean). When she first got them she kept them in the attached garage, at that point it was either me or the beetles. it was close.

On a side note she has made me very proud again getting the Eileen Christensen Lady Conservationist of the Year Award at the Alberta Fish and Game Assn. conference last weekend.
Hats off to Mrs. Dugh for being acknowledged and for having the beetles. Does she offer a skull cleaning service?
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This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
___________________________________________
It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
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Old 02-28-2018, 10:28 AM
dugh dugh is offline
 
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Red, she does some in the summer when we run out of skulls. They come out real nice. She did a bunch of wolves for the ATA last year. I'll try to post a pic.
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Old 02-28-2018, 10:50 AM
dugh dugh is offline
 
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A wolf, coyote, lynx, otter, marten and a small bear. Somewhere I have beaver, muskrat, skunk, weasel, squirrel, fisher and mink.
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  #11  
Old 02-28-2018, 08:48 PM
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Red Bullets Red Bullets is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dugh View Post
A wolf, coyote, lynx, otter, marten and a small bear. Somewhere I have beaver, muskrat, skunk, weasel, squirrel, fisher and mink.
Thanks for sharing the pic. Having the whole collection of the furbearers makes a nice display. Now you just need the cougar, grizz and wolverine to complete the collection.

Would be neat to beetle process an eagle or large hawk skeleton for an open wing skeleton pedestal mount.
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This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
___________________________________________
It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
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