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Furbearer Harvests and Values

Trapping is a business operation because a product (fur) is sold. Good record-keeping is important for any business, but with trapline management, it is also important should the trapper want to apply for a registered trapline. Applications are assessed on numerous criteria including a trapper's annual harvest or production. Trappers should keep records and receipts for all pelts sold to verify their harvests. Ideally, pelts should be sold in the year that they were caught and under the trapper's own licence or permit.

Fur marketing options:

  • Pelts may be sold to a licensed fur dealer.
  • Pelts may be consigned to a fur auction company.
  • Pelts may be sold to a fur dealer or consigned to an auction company at fur tables held in Northern Manitoba.
  • Pelts may be sold privately; however trappers must provide buyers with their name and licence number and must pay the royalty at a Manitoba Conservation office prior to sale.
  • Pelts may be commercially tanned and resold; however, the royalty must first be paid. Usually the tanning establishment will pay the royalty and add it to their price.

Properly preparing furs results in a higher return.


Manitoba Trapper Licences Issued

  2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-091
Open Area (OA)

5,804

5,174

5,511

6,051

5,976

5649

Registered (RTL)

1,708

1,707

1,690

1,685

1,662

1534

Total

7,512

6,881

7,201

7,736

7,638

7183

Included in above:
TIL2

123

105

118

96

83

49

Youth OA

98

96

105

134

120

90

Youth TIL

 

1

 

 

 

 

Youth RTL

47

63

80

70

64

82

Total

145

160

185

204

184

172

1As of June 2009.
2Treaty Indian Licence.

Furbearers Taken by Manitoba Trappers

  -- 5 Year Averages -- -- Annual Total --
Species
1992-
1996
1997- 2001
2002-2006
2007-
2008
2008-20091
Badger

149

128

177

156

145

Bear

22

47

49

32

N/A

Beaver

27,927

26,277

19,059

13,491

12,160

Bobcat

 

 

19

11

11

Coyote

3,100

3,032

8,499

8,296

6,470

Fisher

2,337

1,968

1,679

1,706

1,536

Fox (red/cross/silver)

3,745

1,887

2,438

2022

1815

Fox (white/blue)

564

379

175

108

51

Lynx

194

335

924

609

837

Marten

13,711

20,251

19,472

18,670

20,020

Mink

5,255

5,583

3,928

5,006

3,574

Muskrat

65,715

47,412

20,175

18,996

11,747

Otter

1,800

1,992

2,067

920

897

Raccoon

2,031

2,355

2,863

3,985

2,397

Squirrel

5,882

8,413

4,774

3,401

2,836

Weasel (long & short-tailed)

2,615

2,611

3,787

5,396

2,730

Wolf

295

245

309

372

310

Wolverine

53

42

37

25

41

1As of June 2009.


Average Auction Values of Manitoba Furbearers

  -- 5 Year Averages -- -- Annual Total --
Species
1992-
1996
1997- 2001
2002-
2006
2007-
2008
2008-
2009
Badger

$21.30

$33.76

$38.26

$39.41

$33.64

Bear

$77.00

$119.87

$74.01

$64.96

$97.00

Beaver

$29.00

$27.51

$24.73

$25.54

$18.87

Bobcat

 

 

$146.70

$138.75

$49.85

Coyote

$35.40

$33.44

$45.46

$40.44

$20.58

Fisher

$46.05

$37.17

$56.57

$63.62

$41.95

Fox (red/cross/silver)

$22.10

$22.37

$29.89

$26.25

$22.61

Fox (white/blue)

$23.80

$20.73

$21.85

$19.57

$20.46

Lynx

$97.50

$80.31

$155.02

$156.16

$140.38

Marten

$53.70

$44.90

$64.14

$67.17

$50.03

Mink

$25.80

$18.28

$20.71

$20.33

$13.93

Muskrat

$3.42

$2.79

$3.38

$3.36

$2.50

Otter

$81.40

$86.52

$143.61

$114.30

$40.30

Raccoon

$16.20

$16.86

$15.06

$16.61

$13.97

Squirrel

$1.49

$1.17

$1.07

$1.14

$1.22

Weasel (long & short-tailed)

$4.90

$3.39

$4.65

$4.61

$3.59

Wolf

$113.80

$106.27

$121.04

$119.66

$138.77

Wolverine

$207.60

$205.10

$212.74

$216.29

$276.35



Royalty - Total Collected

2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-20091
$54,494 $45,587 $45,302 $45,080 $41,106
1As of May 2009.