One of the buyers, out of Porcupine Plain, at the trappers table. Photo by Chelsea Laskowski
Trappers are in Prince Albert to show their offerings from the trapline so far this year.
The Northern Saskatchewan Trappers Association is hosting a trappers table, that ends on Friday.
Gregg Charles is the group’s vice president and he traps out of La Ronge.
There have been a few struggles in the first few months of the season, he said.
Bodies of water haven’t frozen over yet, so some trappers aren’t able to Skidoo or quad to their trap lines.
The summer’s fires burnt down a many trappers’ cabins – so they have to start fresh or move their trap line, he pointed out.
And the quality of furs can take a hit too.
“Some of the fur-bearing animals they get singed by the fire, so when you kill that animal, take that animal, you stretch it and try to sell it you know, because of the fur that’s being singed, the price’ll be right down,” Charles explained.
People bring in wolf, coyote, different kinds of fox, martins mink, lynx, squirrel, and weasel furs, he said.
The trapper’s table has three groups willing to buy furs at the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre.
It includes a Porcupine Plain group, North West, and the North American Fur Auction House.
Charles said having a few options gives the trappers more power over who they sell to.
“Out there there might be only one buyer up north that they go to and then they set their own price, only one price and you don’t have much of a deal,” he said.
This gives them flexibility as well.
“You have a choice of either selling them right there on the spot, your furs, or either you can get an advance for whatever, your quarter, or half if you want, and then you ship the rest to the fur market, auction that’ll be held January 31 to February 4,” Charles said.
“If you think it’s not enough, you can just send them out, you can get a better price when they send them to the auction,”
The trapper’s table is running until 5 p.m. on Friday at the Senator Allan Bird Memorial Centre.