You’ve shot your coyote, you skinned and dried it and tanned it yourself, and you’re interested in finding out how and where to sell the animal fur. What do you do? You want money for the coyote hide, but who wants it is the question. People can use the fur for all kinds of things like blankets, decoration and clothing. And if you’re wondering, you can also use the fur from the tail of the coyote hide. Hides can come in all kinds of shapes and sizes depending on the size and quality of the fur after skinning the animal.
When finding a buyer for hides, there are several different places to look. You can of course search the Internet for where to sell hide. That’s fine if you’re looking for mainly a wide spectrum of choices. But often if you’re in a smaller community or area, it may be tough to locate ready fur buyers; and of course you’re not looking to make a long drive or trip, which will cost gas, and maybe an overnight stay, especially when you don’t know how much your fur will go for. And of course prices vary by market, and the old rule of “supply and demand. Having said that, just know that a quality coyote pelt, properly prepared will always be sell-able.
Tanned coyote fur is often a delicacy in countries around the world. It can be used for decoration, providing warmth, fashion – such as Canada Goose jackets – and with select quality coyote skins can be used to create all different shapes and sizes of hides. After a heavy winter of hunting, fleshing a good coyote can be what makes you money.
Fur buyers post ads in local newspapers for hides from all kinds of animals. Outdoor outfitters will often have fur buyer contacts posted in the stores on their bulletin boards. It’s win/win for both the fur buyers and the stores – -as these ads will bring in potential customers. I’ve also seen that fur buyers will advertise locally, and will show up in an outdoor outfitter’s parking lot on set dates with their trucks and buy furs and pelts on the spot. I also would point out that often, while it’s cash and carry, the prices offered are not the best, and if you have a larger load of good quality pelts, you may end up with less than you expected.
My best suggestion is to access an organization called The National Trappers Association (NTA). Go to the Internet, and find their site. Founded in 1959, this association is the bedrock of trapping from opportunities to conservation, and everything in between. Good people. Interestingly, the 2010 national convention was held in Marshfield, Wisconsin – – an area in central Wisconsin that harbors good fur bearing animal populations (including coyotes), and local trapping interest is high.
The NTA has listings of animal fur buyers throughout the country in their monthly newsletter/journal, which I’ve been able to find available at some outfitter stores. Fur buyers advertise in NTA publications. I also might suggest that you may want to at least try to call a local NTA member, or indeed an NTA board member (as I said, they’re good people who I’ve found are always willing to provide some type of helping hand). One of these folks may be able to provide you the name or names of reputable fur buyers in your area. You just know these NTA people won’t lead you astray.
From my discussions with coyote and wildlife hunters and trappers, I’m told that fur buyers that show up in their trucks don’t come close to the money you’ll get from a buyer who is associated with the NTA – -either as a member or an advertiser. Now, that’s not to knock those fur buyers who come to a community with their trucks. I’m just talking “real world” right now, and relating what I’ve been told by coyote hunters and trappers who prepare and sell pelts.
From what I’ve seen coyote pelts are graded on the basis of size, fur quality, coloration, and the market place- -like in “supply and demand.” With all the work you’ve put in to scouting, hunting, trapping, skinning, and preparing a pelt, you want to make sure you get top dollar for your animal. If you put a lot of work into your coyote pelts, it’s a good feeling that knowing that you hunted, skinned, and tanned it yourself.
Just another reason why I am so proud to cherish hunting and hunters.
