LOUISIANA FUR ADVISORY COUNCIL
  • Council
    • Louisiana Fur Council Meeting Schedule
    • Louisiana Fur Council Members
    • Louisiana Fur Annual Reports
  • Industry
    • Louisiana Fur Laws & Regulations
    • Shipping Louisiana Furs
    • Louisiana Fur Dealers
    • Tanning/Manufacturing
  • Trapper Education
    • Trapping Courses & Resources
    • Louisiana Fur & Pelt Handling
    • Skull Cleaning
    • Trapping Benefits
    • Nutria Meat and Recipes
  • Outreach Education
    • Community Outreach
    • Louisiana Furbearers >
      • Beaver
      • Bobcat
      • Coyote
      • Gray Fox
      • Red Fox
      • Mink
      • Muskrat
      • Nutria
      • Opossum
      • Otter
      • Raccoon
      • Striped Skunk

Pelt Handling

beaver pelt
Fur Harvesters Auction has a saying: You can't turn a $10 pelt into a $100 pelt, but you can easily turn a $100 pelt into a $10 pelt. Learning to care for fur from the beginning of the fur harvesting process can make a big difference in success and profits. Fortunately, some of the larger fur auction houses offer fur handling manuals.

An important factor for optimizing fur value is to harvest furbearers when the fur is prime, meaning that the coat is full, soft, and dense. This generally happens mid-winter and varies somewhat by species and location. The trapping season in Louisiana extends beyond the prime period, so Louisiana trappers should consider utilizing a shorter season to optimize profits. Coastal Louisiana furs should be collected after December 1st.

Louisiana Furs
Raccoon: Nov. 25 - Jan. 10; best colors and less damage
Beaver : Nov. 20 - Feb. 20
Otter: Nov. 25 - Feb. 15
Muskrat: Dec.1 -Feb. 20
Bobcat:  Dec. 1 -Feb. 20
Grey Fox: Dec.1 - Feb. 20
Mink:  Nov.25 - Jan 10; silky & good colors

Fur and Pelt Handling Manuals

Fur Harvesters Pelt Handling for Profit
NAFA Wild Fur Pelt Handling Manual
Contact Us
Alligator Advisory Council Website
Range map credits: Data provided by NatureServe in collaboration with Bruce Patterson, Wes Sechrest, Marcelo Tognelli, Gerardo Ceballos, The Nature Conservancy—Migratory Bird Program, Conservation International—CABS, World Wildlife Fund—US, and Environment Canada—WILDSPACE.

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Louisiana Fur Advisory Council
Copyright@ 2020
  • Council
    • Louisiana Fur Council Meeting Schedule
    • Louisiana Fur Council Members
    • Louisiana Fur Annual Reports
  • Industry
    • Louisiana Fur Laws & Regulations
    • Shipping Louisiana Furs
    • Louisiana Fur Dealers
    • Tanning/Manufacturing
  • Trapper Education
    • Trapping Courses & Resources
    • Louisiana Fur & Pelt Handling
    • Skull Cleaning
    • Trapping Benefits
    • Nutria Meat and Recipes
  • Outreach Education
    • Community Outreach
    • Louisiana Furbearers >
      • Beaver
      • Bobcat
      • Coyote
      • Gray Fox
      • Red Fox
      • Mink
      • Muskrat
      • Nutria
      • Opossum
      • Otter
      • Raccoon
      • Striped Skunk