FUR PRICES CONTINUE REBOUND

FREDERICKTWN -- When Missouri trappers took their pelts to market this year, they got a pleasant surprise -- prices increased 40 percent overall and in some cases more than doubled. Things are so good, some trappers say they hope prices don't go any higher.

Dave Hamilton, furbearer research biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, said most trappers take their pelts to buyers for direct sale. Fur auctions in Fredericktown and Montgomery City each year give him a chance to sample prices being paid for pelts. This year's prices were up for the second year in a row.

The average price of raccoon pelts at the auctions was $9.91, up 32 percent from last year. Gray and red fox pelts brought $12.87 and $14.12 respectively, about 20 percent more than last year. Buyers paid $20.10 for male mink pelts, which represents a 40-percent jump from 1993 auctions, and $9.02 for beaver pelts, up 66 percent from last year. The most spectacular increase was for bobcat pelts, which jumped 120 percent to $22.04.

Total pelt sales figures for the 1993-94 season are not in yet, but Hamilton said he expects the total to be significantly higher than last year's tally of $528,238. He said that was the lowest in 18 years. During the late 70s and early 80s Missouri's annual fur sales averaged about $6 million. The peak of more than $9 million occurred in 1979.

This year's price increases in Missouri parallelled those in other areas. Hamilton said auctions in Colorado and Canada brought prices similar to those paid in Missouri. He said the increase also showed up in retail fur sales and in the total value of furs sold statewide.

"Last year's recovery of fur prices was very encouraging, and this year's increase is even stronger," said Hamilton. "For the first time in years I have heard trappers saying, *CC*Boy, I hope the prices don't get any higher,*CC* because of the competition that higher prices can bring."

Hamilton attributes most of the change to improved economic conditions. Sales of furs and other luxury items are the first to suffer in recessions like the one that plagued the late 80s and early 90s. He said another significant factor holding down fur prices in recent years was a glut of domestic fur from Europe. Finally, he said he believes the message of animal-rights groups has grown old and consumers recognize the advantages of fur.

"It's very warm, luxurious and it's from a renewable resource," said Hamilton. "In terms of the ecological impact, it's one of the safest garments you can wear. Fur is back. You can't go anyplace in major cities now without seeing lots of people in fur."

The only fur whose price dropped was coyote. Hamilton said the 25- percent decrease (to $13.20) was partly due to price increases in the preceding three years and an unusually big harvest in response to demand for fur trim on coats. Furthermore, farm-raised blue fox fur cut into this year's market for coyote.

Average prices paid for other furs at the 1993 Missouri auctions include: female mink, $14.25 (up 32.5 percent); muskrat, $2.04 (up 4 percent); striped skunk, $1.89 (up 20 percent); and opossum, $2.49 (unchanged).