International fur sales operate on a different rhythm than trapping itself. Trappers are most active and harvest the bulk of their fur in November, December, January, and February, whereas most of that fur is sold in March, April, May, and June. Simply put, by the time the fur starts to sell, most trappers are done for the year. Exceptions include spring beaver and muskrats, but most fur is caught during the coldest months of late fall and winter.
Fur sales begin after the harvest is mostly complete and the skins have been prepared for market. This preparation involves much more than just taking a pelt to a buyer. If you ship to international auctions, each skin must be graded, inter-sorted with others of similar size, color, and quality, assigned a barcode, and linked to your account. It may be easy to grade 30 or 40 raccoons, but receiving and grading tens of thousands of skins across multiple species is a monumental task. Once that is done, “sample lots” are built for display. International buyers then have several weeks to examine each lot and decide what they are willing to pay before the auction begins.
Photo by Dan Schmidt.
International fur sales are fascinating to watch. You see the full value of the first lot—often called the “top lot” — followed by the next several lots that are almost as good, then the middle range, and finally the “not-so-good” or junk skins. If you watch a sale live, don’t miss the start of the auction for each species; it always begins with the best skins, which almost always sets the “ceiling price.”
The Retail Influence
Fur sales also occur after most of the year’s retail season is over. In 2026, the retail season for fur garments will last as long as the cold weather holds, but in China, the Chinese New Year marks a definitive slowdown in purchases. The trade often says, “the later the Chinese New Year, the better for the trade.” This year, the holiday fell quite late — Feb. 17, 2026 —giving consumers plenty of time to shop. A long retail season coupled with colder-than-average weather is a winning combination. Fortunately, a strong cold wave hit China in mid-January, which likely boosted the sale of fur coats.
Why does the retail season matter? Higher retail sales provide store owners with the cash needed to manufacture new coats for 2027. This year’s sales directly dictate next year’s offerings. When stores run out of inventory, optimism prompts buyers to pay more for skins to ensure they can fill their upcoming orders.
I lead with this because it represents the first wave of optimism I have felt in a long time. Since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began years ago, only coyotes performed well for a decade. Once that fashion craze dropped off the radar, prices hit a low point for almost every species. However, the last few years have been stable or slightly upward, and 2026 could, hopefully, be the first big step up.
Species Outlook
Number one on the radar this year is American marten. While nobody will be trapping by the time this article reaches you, those who have marten to sell will be happy. I have heard reports that prices could exceed an average of $100 apiece, with predictions as high as $120 to $150 for the largest, darkest, and best-quality pelts. Sales of Sable (Russian marten) have been very strong, and rumors suggest the offering was much lower than normal for both ranch and wild pelts. As a result, manufacturers will be looking for alternatives; American marten is second only to those large, silky Russian sables.
If marten goes up as expected, similar skins should follow suit. Female fisher is first in line for a price increase, and while males might not rise as sharply, they should follow. There is also a strong possibility that ranch mink will move upward, which would pull wild mink prices along with it. Do not expect wild mink to hit $50, but a move from the $5–$15 range to $15–$20 is highly possible. It isn’t a massive jump, but it is a move in the right direction.
Muskrats remain a mystery, stalled at the $2–$3 mark with no current indication of a breakout. Luxury skins should continue to rise, so expect slight improvements for Canada lynx, bobcat, and traditional taxidermy goods. While not strictly for taxidermy, interest in red fox is slowly returning. Colored foxes (silver and cross) continue to do extremely well due to limited offerings.
For other species, 2026 prices should mirror 2025. Coyotes and raccoons remain difficult to sell, and even the best skins will move at low levels. Otter, beaver, and castoreum should remain stable and very similar to last year.
Skunks and weasels should do very well in the first sale, though perhaps lower than last year. Skunk tails have been selling all year, but I expect this demand to be saturated shortly after the first Fur Harvesters sale in March 2026. Skunk and weasel tails are used for expensive religious headwear, and word traveled fast last year when skunk pelts exceeded $100 USD. I doubt prices will stay above $50 USD for the best skunks this time, simply because I expect the offering will be unusually large. If you have skunk pelts, do not wait — sell fast!
Conclusion
The final word will be known after the first sale concludes at Fur Harvesters Auction, scheduled for March 19–21, 2026, in North Bay, Ontario. I won’t be able to attend in person, but I expect many will be watching closely. A little optimism and a new fashion craze would be good for us all!
Good news! We are now selling The Trapper by issue online! Go to shop.deeranddeerhunting.com to order an issue.
