Just like the lucky rat that got through this trap, we are very fortunate trappers.  We kept a running catch record as we went along on our daily trapping adventures and when we got back to the skinning shed, we each recorded our day’s catch.  The spreadsheet is interesting to look at.  We have to keep track of not only the daily catches, but also the daily/weekly outlay of cash and who paid what to whom.  Bob paid almost all of the pay out in order to keep it as simple as it could be, but it ends up being quite a burden before it’s all over.  He will be paid back (his half) when we finally get a paycheck from the auction house, but until then, he is stuck with the bill.

Here is how things totaled for the season:

Bob  341 rats (46.6%), Bears Butt 372 rats (50.89%) plus 9 raccoons (let’s not talk about the 8 skunks), Brek 3 rats (.4%) plus one raccoon, Weasel 10 rats (1.37%) plus one raccoon and one fox.  We also purchased another trappers rats (5 total, at .68%) and they are included in our total rat catch of 731 rats!  A very good year of trapping for a couple of old guys and a couple of young guys who didn’t have much area to trap.  The mileage on my toy’s speedometer reads 67 miles…that is how much ground I covered while trapping.

Last night we finished putting the remainder of the rats up on stretchers and now it’s just allow them to dry while we wait for the time to meet with the guy who picks up the furs for the auction.  In the background we are hearing from others how a local buyer is going to make Bob and offer of a pretty good sum for our rats, little does he know, we have committed to each other that we are sending them off to the auction and that it would take a heck of an offer to change our minds….a heck of an offer, one he is not going to make.  It will be interesting when he hears about our intentions.

Most of the local trappers are content with “getting the shaft” from the local buyers because it means they get their money right now and don’t have to wait for a few months to get paid for all their work.  That’s OK, we did it for years and years and were happy about it.  I hate the hassle of bargaining with the buyers, it’s the worst thing in the world to me as they just won’t come through with their best and final offer right up front.  They want to get the furs for the lowest price they can and so they hold out until the last minute in some cases, to make an offer worth taking.  By shipping them off, we know exactly what is coming down and when, and then it’s just a waiting game to see what the auction house sends us in the way of a check.  It’s like pulling the handle of a slot machine only you are guaranteed “something” on the pull…will you get the average?  Above average?  Below average?  Whatever it ends up being, I’ll be OK with it.

While we wait, I can now get some much needed work done around the house…the weeds are going nutso!

Bears Butt

March 20, 2014