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Fur harvesting question: when?


pnwhist

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Here’s a question that just came to mind today that I don’t think anybody has really answered. On fur farms, when is the best time to harvest the fur to get the highest quality? (Or for trappers, when’s the best time to go trapping?)

As many who’ve been around mammals that are primary outside(or even domestic animals) like horses, goats, dogs…they develop a winter coat during that cold season and then shed it as Spring comes around. Is that winter coat with the thicker under layer the desirable type we see in most high quality fur types? Or does it depend on the animal and such?

I assume that it should be quite obvious but without not much knowledge on the harvesting process, I’d like throw the question out to an expert out there.

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From what I gather, the normal time at least in the nordics has bee during late November, when they have set their winter coats. Since most fur animals start to shed their coat by late January.

 

A few years back a fur farmer did chronicle the year of a fur farm, and the 27 weeks from pups to full grown. It not graphical, but it gave a good impression I think of it.  https://www.instagram.com/p/ClYzIlFotYu/

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For mink and fox pelting is carried out usually the last two weeks of November and at the latest the first week of December. The animals are closely monitored around this time to pick the right moment when the winter coat is at it's best. All of the animals are graded to select the breeders for the next year. Breeders are chosen on the quality of the fur. For minks it's the uniformity of the length of the guard hairs and density of the underwool. It's pretty much the same for blue foxes except for the size of the animal is taken in to consideration. For silver foxes it's the spread of the colour. The best examples are kept back. The rest are pelted.

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There is something kind of exciting, if that is the right word, is selectively breeding animals to produce the best skins. Whether you live or die depends on your fur. I find it enthralling. All the time, money & effort that goes into fur farming for the whims of fashion. I just wish fur would become mainstream again & everyone would aspire to owning a fur coat. 

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This is really important to have the best quality of skin, the best period, this is the time or mink finish this life and give a perfect skin for our furs and gives money's for farmer...

A fur lover see this period like a new opportunity to wear the best quality and enjoy this next fur... Farmer select this money and watch mink like a Christmas present...

Edited by kev86
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On 1/4/2025 at 5:56 PM, saynotofaux said:

. Whether you live or die depends on your fur. I find it enthralling. 

"Unfortunate for the fox to be blessed with such a desirable fur." A quote I came across awhile ago. 
I always loved furs but reluctant to admit to myself that I was interested in the animals. I often wondered how they were bread, raised and even harvested. These feelings really hit home with the Mrs. and her mink, I so wanted to know how many minks it took to bathe her in luxury. Pelting always gives me mixed feelings but I find the subject fascinating.  Anyway I'm grateful to this form where such topics are discussed.

Edited by shyfurwriter
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On 1/5/2025 at 6:41 PM, shyfurwriter said:

"Unfortunate for the fox to be blessed with such a desirable fur." A quote I came across awhile ago. 
I always loved furs but reluctant to admit to myself that I was interested in the animals. I often wondered how they were bread, raised and even harvested. These feelings really hit home with the Mrs. and her mink, I so wanted to know how many minks it took to bathe her in luxury. Pelting always gives me mixed feelings but I find the subject fascinating.  Anyway I'm grateful to this form where such topics are discussed.

I love how this is the exact sentiment I feel about fur and pelting and the animals and well, all of it! There’s something truly primal and special about the thought of so many animals being sacrificed for the fashion and luxury of a woman. It’s something wired deeply inside us to appreciate 

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2 hours ago, ChicagoFurFan said:

I love how this is the exact sentiment I feel about fur and pelting and the animals and well, all of it! There’s something truly primal and special about the thought of so many animals being sacrificed for the fashion and luxury of a woman. It’s something wired deeply inside us to appreciate 

When we love fur and rug, we are always happy to see many animals become a beautiful coat or just a rug for decorating a room... The sentiment is unique and the feeling is very powerful. Stroke the fur and imagine how many animals are pelted for this coat, and surely imagine the next coat who demand the same sacrifice but you ask yourself for a legitimate ask : pelting more of animals is possibly ? Surely the limit is not a problem when animals wait until the end.

Luxury and fur fashion demand sacrifice and our shoulders demand more of furs... We want a massive sacrifice for stroke more of furs. This is just a perfect logic !!!

Edited by kev86
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Nice video, we know the process and we see a ecological idea with the "biodiesel"... This video don't change the reality of fur industry and my love for fur... Personally i see of beautiful pelts who wait a new home !!!

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On 1/1/2025 at 1:17 AM, pnwhist said:

Here’s a question that just came to mind today that I don’t think anybody has really answered. On fur farms, when is the best time to harvest the fur to get the highest quality? (Or for trappers, when’s the best time to go trapping?)

As many who’ve been around mammals that are primary outside(or even domestic animals) like horses, goats, dogs…they develop a winter coat during that cold season and then shed it as Spring comes around. Is that winter coat with the thicker under layer the desirable type we see in most high quality fur types? Or does it depend on the animal and such?

I assume that it should be quite obvious but without not much knowledge on the harvesting process, I’d like throw the question out to an expert out there.

Depends on the animal and breed and coat care. I own dogs that, in the winter especially, rival the finest fox, coyote or tanuki or even wolf fur and they are incomparable cuddle buddies, and when slaughtering yaks, bison or camelids or goats/sheep, I like to take the males in full-on rut or hunt bear as late in the season as possible for fall/winter or early spring for late season. 

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This is really nice, yeah fox or coyote are both great ideas for the fur... oh slaughter the males in full-on rut is surely a fabulous moment hahaha. I never try this but you give me curiosity about that... I only slaughtered two rabbit...

Bear hunt is very special and of course very strict, specific period for hunt the bear, I find very exciting to hunt a beautiful rug...

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