Thread: Possum Trapper

Hi
First thing to be able to grade a skin on the possum before you skin it. You can practice this on every possum you trap. First measure it I use a jack handle that I kill them with from the base of the tail to the ears needs to be over ---- mm. Nest check the fur and gauge what grade you think it will be if you skinned it while hand plucking you will soon see if it is a good skin or not. Do this with all your possums no matter the size the more practice the better you will get. When the skins are good about early March to the end of March the bucks are best skin the best and pluck the rest. Mid July to late October the doe's are best. Do not bother skinning anything with red fur on the shoulders as they nearly always have short fur over the shoulder area and these skins will never grade above a third. We at present need First, Second grade extra large Dark and Pale Skins and will accept Medium Pales Prices are Extra Large First $20 Second $17 Large First$16.50 Second $14 Medium First $12 Second $8. Size fold skin in half lengthwise and with out stretching the length from the base f the tail to the ear holes will be Extra Large 640 mm and over Large 580 mm to 640 mm Medium 520mm to 580 mm. Skins need to be open and split down the tail 50mm or more. No fat or meat on the skins. These standard ill cover you selling to any buyer and if you need more advice do not hesitate to contact me. Also Ferac runs a non profit Public Liability and Rural Fire Insurance for people in the Environmental Protection eg Possum industry, Pest Control a a very low premium. Pat Condon 0272825307