Sam Newman Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 " title="Applause" /> Hi EVERYONE. I am a possum hunter from the Far North of New Zealand. I hand pluck the possums and take pride in my fur quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FurLoverinFL Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Welcome to the Den, Sam! I applaud you for helping to rid your country of those possums! " title="Applause" /> " title="Applause" /> FLinFL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReFur Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Hi Sam! Welcome to The Fur Den! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReFur Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Sam, I wanted to point out several areas you could add a lot to and might even be of use to you. First the Furrier forum. You could really add a lot by answering questions from time-to-time about Opossum. I personally love the fur. Secondly, we have the eBay plus forum where you can advertise any services you offer that are fur related. We ask members to not abuse it, and to be honest. A new member came on recently and got her feelings hurt because she posted what most believed to be dishonest recommendations. (Also the Main Den forum is not for promotional type posts.) If you donate to The Fur Den, you are eligible for your own thread, which you will find at the top of this forum. Brandy is very active in hers. Lastly we have a wiki where I am sure you could add a lot of information on Opossum and trapping. Hope you hang around and get to know us. Some great people here!! If you have any questions feel free to post it, or send a pm to any of the moderators. Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 Thanx for the nice welcome. I am happy to answer any questions about New Zealand Possums. I am currently selling my fur to a NZ company who blends the Possum fur with Marrino wool. I would like to find other people who would like to order my fur directly from me and eventually make garments myself. Thanks again. Sam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReFur Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 The ebay marketplace would be perfect for that. Hope we get to know you. Would love to hear your stories of trapping and working with fur. Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 Thats great. I am heading into the bush today. I will stay in a tent and hunt Possums for a couple of weeks. I'm happy to keep you updated. I can access this site from my tent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 UPDATE I have made it to my campsite and set up my tent. I have only set a few traps today as there is a cow with a bad leg that I will have to shoot in the morning he it hasn't gotten up. will probably eat it if the meat and organs look ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Worker 11811 Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Then you could save the leftovers from the cow to use as bait for more possums. Couldn't you? Don't know much about them, there, New Zeland 'possums but Pennsyltucky 'possums are scavengers. If you aren't careful to keep your garbage bins put up, they'll scatter the contents of the can all over the yard. They're worse then raccoons. Raccoons will pick through the can and just take the "good stuff" where 'possums will tear everything apart and leave lay what they don't want. If I had money to travel I might come over there and hunt critters with you. I know you said you trap them but I've got a .22 cal. rifle that will make clean head shots on woodchuck (AKA: groundhog or marmot) consistently from 50-70 yards range. I'd love to have a chance to plug a few of those furry, little varmints! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 Then you could save the leftovers from the cow to use as bait for more possums. Couldn't you? Don't know much about them, there, New Zeland 'possums but Pennsyltucky 'possums are scavengers. If you aren't careful to keep your garbage bins put up, they'll scatter the contents of the can all over the yard. They're worse then raccoons. Raccoons will pick through the can and just take the "good stuff" where 'possums will tear everything apart and leave lay what they don't want. If I had money to travel I might come over there and hunt critters with you. I know you said you trap them but I've got a .22 cal. rifle that will make clean head shots on woodchuck (AKA: groundhog or marmot) consistently from 50-70 yards range. I'd love to have a chance to plug a few of those furry, little varmints! The possums here eat the best of our bush, a few native birds eggs and the fruit on our trees. They arn't attracted to garbage and don't really eat meat. You are welcome to come hunting with me. I also hunt many other animals such as wild pigs, goats and waterfowl etc. and I do a bit of fishing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auzmink Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 Am an Englishman in Australia but:..... 1. Have lived a lot in NZ and I know the Kiwi's hate the Possums. Some rather dramatic stories in my head. 2. Here in Auz we are not supposed to relocate the Possums if we find them in our roof!!!! They didn't mind being re-located to NZ!! 3. Can totally recommend any blended Possum producy...my partner has a wool / possum mink hat, just a regular 'beany' but it is very warm... 4. NZ is a land where a lot of people are still in touch with the bush....hence a more appropriate response to Nature and its needs. Go get em Sam... Auzmink... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
furlondon Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 hi I have a trench coat with possum fur lining and it's fantastic!!! Furlondoner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 I have set 34 traps in our native bush today. It looks like rain comming tonight so I might not get heaps. I'm having fun anyway. It's wonderfull camping in amoungst nature. It is summertime here and it is very warm. I have fur directly from the Possum, available to anyone interested. I don't want to advertise on the E-bay page until I get to know you guys a bit and learn about this cool site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Fox Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Interesting that you can trap in the warm weather! Here, the skins of most all animals are not suitable if taken in summer or even early spring. Good job you are New Zealand now though and not Australia with the flooding there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReFur Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I had the same thought. It is probably becasue the use he has is with the fur not the pelt. The fur is blended with several wools to make a wonderful product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 Firstly. I would like to say how much I am enjoying this site. Thankyou to everyone who puts the effort In to keep it going. Yes. I am plucking the Possum fur from freshly killed Possums. It is usualy blended with Marino Sheep wool to make it easier to spin, as the Possum fur is of shorter length than Sheep wool. Im sure there is a great potential for felting my product. I don't think anybody is doing it. I have been NAILING EM! over the last few nights and have over a kelo of high quality fur. The Purere trees are in berry at the moment and the Kaihikatea trees are comming into berry. The Possums LOVE it. Eating everything, evin the new tips. It would normally be the food for Native Kereru (wood pigeon) etc and they don't really have a substatute, so they will go hungry and their numbers will be effected if nothing is done. It gives me great pleasure to see them thriving after my pest management efforts. There is a Kiwi living near where I am camping and she calls out every night. This is a good opportunity to do some Kiwi aversion training with my 1yr old Pitbull Piggy Boy, who is my main up and comming Possum Dog. There used to be heaps of Kiwi here but the years of neglectfull Cat and Dog owners have paid their toll on the Kiwi population as well as the Possums, Stoats and Rats. I am also doing conservation work in one of the BIGGEST wetlands in the North. Preditor Wildlife Management & Waterfowl Rescue Far North New Zealand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Sam Newman; You're a conservationist of my heart. The right kind of conservation, unduing what others screwed up. Thanks for all your efforts. OFF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReFur Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Sam, ...am really enjoying your posts while you are out. Hope you hang around and get to know us. Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 I'm not going anywhere Linda. LOVING every minuite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Worker 11811 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Yes. I am plucking the Possum fur from freshly killed Possums. It is usualy blended with Marino Sheep wool to make it easier to spin, as the Possum fur is of shorter length than Sheep wool. I thought you were supposed to sheer those 'possum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 Yes. I am plucking the Possum fur from freshly killed possums I thought you were supposed to sheer those 'possum! Na, mate, just pluck it whyle it is warm. I either shoot it or catch it in a leg hold trap and dong it on the head. The fur pulls out easily when freshly killed. Giving the full length of fur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 I got 1.724kg of Possum fur this week. I'm noticing the native trees and birds starting to come back in the areas I have been hitting hard. Gives me a nice feeling of achievement to see the results of my efforts. I have a buyer for my fur this week but if anyone would like to place an order, I am happy to supply them. I have spent my last fur money on replacement traps. I had some stolen 2 weeks ago. Thanks to everyone at the Fur Den for making it possable to share my experiences. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Worker 11811 Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 1.7 kilos! That's quite a bit of fur 'cause the stuff isn't very dense. You must have offed quite a few of those furry, little bastages! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Newman Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 Thanks. Yes. Really nailled them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Need to do that to Nutria in this country OFF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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