ok i am needing some good input and advice. this will be my first year of selling firs. last year we tanned what we caught for our own keep. i am.wandering the pros and cons of selling to a local buyer or nafa. can you get respectable numbers from local buyers. also is there a specific number of pelts you guys try to get before you would send to nafa. im just trying to figure out the best option without loosing money. thanks

Hard to beat NAFA for well handled fur. Their prices tend to be tops and you get in front of the top buyers in the world, one downside is you wait to get your check after each auction and your fut may not all sell. You also cannot pull fur if you are not happy with prices.

Groenwold is one option for selling in the round, or green if you can't finish fur. You can take your fur and walk if you are not happy with offer.

You get paid a check on the spot.

FTA auction can be good depending on who the buyers are. Again, paid on the spot.

At NAFA this past season, I had 100% of my fur sold and my top coon sold for $37, top coyote for $29, top 3 muskrats for $15 each

It would have been difficult (or impossible) to get these prices at a local fur buyer IMO

Like 76 said NAFA is hard to beat. You have to wait for your money, all furs might not sell, and there is also a small commision NAFA takes. But typically I think the average is higher.

I shipped to Groenwold last year because I missed the February NAFA auction and didn't want to wait. Groeny's called on Friday with price offer which I agreed to and I had the check in my hand on Monday. I averaged $17 on my coon and $30 for my one mink.

I averaged $8 on coon at a local buyer the year before. Advantage of local buyer is you get the money up front and if your new to trapping / finishing fur they can give you a lot of advice.

NAFA commission is 11%, unless you join the wild fur shippers council. The cost is $100 for 5 years.

Then it drops to 9% commission and you get a profit sharing rebate, it was 5% back in a rebate this season.

It makes sense if you are a big shipper. I plan to join this season for the first time.

thanks alot guys. we found a guy in indy area that puts them up for a reasonable amount. i would rather do it myself but the people i trap with are going with the other option. i fleshed a few last year and didnt do to bad but they think it will be eorth it and less work. guess we will see.