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Hyperwrx

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Everything posted by Hyperwrx

  1. +1 to that comment. It's the responsibility of any individual who understand the worth of fur to attempt to educate those who do not. Whether or not they listen is their own business. General acceptance of moral grandstanding all depends on the topic at hand. If I made a post about shooting a mule deer with an under-calibered rifle I'd get chewed out by the masses on this forum, but someone who wastes a natural resource like fur just for the thrill of the kill is given a free pass all because 'it's legal'. Very short-sighted comment. There are parts of the state of Arizona that have fantastic prime fur in November. Talk to the 20 individuals who get chosen to obtain a $250 license up on the Navajo each year. They start early and due to elevation often get snowed out by Mid-December. Bobcats from the Navajo Reservation are the nicest bobcats in the state and fetch the highest prices. I trap the lower deserts and obviously November is too soon. As a trapper who long lines you should never advocate the AZ G&F to restrict trapping in any way, shape or form. Once it is taken away chances of us getting it back are almost nonexistent. Shortening the season or putting a quota on fur has been tossed around my the powers that be. Don't jinx those of us that depends on fur. Often the emptiest cans make the loudest rattle. My money is on the fox. I don't think you can pick the day beforehand 2 times in a row and shoot a fox.
  2. I was going North on Arizona Avnue a ways back and looked over and saw your shop. Great location. Hope things are going well for you and your new business. Let's test out this WT Caller of yours. I will be getting back the new upgraded Bulldog board in my Minaska electronic caller very soon. Upload a few WT sounds of your choice on the thumb drive my Minaska board uses (you can take them off when we are done since they are proprietary sounds). We will put the 2 callers 50 yards away and I will play each caller one at a time while your back is turned so you can't see which caller is playing and we'll see if you are able to pick the WT caller. We can then test which is louder without seeing which is playing. I think your MA-15 is comparable to my Minaska with regards to power and such so the test would be pretty fair. What do you say? I think it would be fun.
  3. I am not affiliated with the sale but can direct you to a thread on another forum where you can ask questions if you have them. This is a non-profit event.
  4. A different approach is a .17 Remington in the AR platform. Several AZ gun builders can make them (Carey Custmn Rifles is one). Smaller bullet going significantly faster than a typical .223 bullet. Many predator hunters who keep their fur swear by them.
  5. Taking them to sell tomorrow. We'll see if the Fur Gods are smiling on me. All caught with Briarpatch Cages.
  6. 2nd bobcat above is a nice bobcat. Probably 19-21 pounds, nice winter coat, and if stretched properly around $350-400. Only thing holding the price down is its a lower desert bobcat.
  7. The desert can yield some big coyotes periodically.
  8. Great video and nice sized bobcat. Looks like you'll be doing some sewing.
  9. Hyperwrx

    First bobcat on the last day

    That's a Briarpatch Cage. Congrats on your first trapped bobcat! Nice belly on that bobcat. Skin it and save it for next years fur sale.
  10. Hyperwrx

    Fur going to sale tomorrow.

    I have heard nothing from anyone who had fur in the sale. The garment industry does not use the faces/heads. If you are using a larger than optimal caliber rifle for bobcats (.22-250, .223 or greater) and have the ability to pull off a shot, go for it as less-that-perfect sewing, if any, will not affect the price. I shoot a very fur friendly caliber- .17 Fireball. 20 grain bullet traveling at 4000 fps will go into a gray fox broadside and not exit. A well placed shot you will be hard pressed to find the entry.
  11. Hyperwrx

    Fur going to sale tomorrow.

    NAFA fur sale in Toranto Canada started today. Top lot of 10 bobcats was $1600 each- yes I typed $1600 and if you can imagine this one of them came from Northern Arizona. I know a fella who sent 22 bobcats to NAFA and 1 was selected as one of the top 10 pieces of fur in the entire sale. It pays to trap bobcats in Arizona. Maybe I should do a 'how to' on bobcat trapping under AZ's regulations.
  12. Hyperwrx

    Fur going to sale tomorrow.

    Who as in which local buyer or who, in the end, gets them? There were 3 bobcat fur buyers at the ATA sale. 2 return buyers and 1 new fella, Kirk I think he name was. He was buying for Pappas, Kortum and Cox if I understand correctly. He bought up the middle grade to high bobcat pelts and even nice coyote pelts for way above what anyone was expecting. Almost $80 for gray coyotes from Greer/Springerville area? Those are prices from the good old days (80's) when we were in a fur boom. Because he outbid everyone he got all the good stuff, leaving the rest for the other buyers. Kirk told me he was off to the Fallon, NV sale (largest in the country- 3500 bobcats for sale) to clean up there as well. If he CAN continue his path of dominating the middle to top grade bobcat pelt market, some trappers are going to walk home from Fallon with a WAD of cash, and I mean WAD. I saw a Native American kid from San Carlos Indian Res, first year trapper, walk in with about 30 bobcats and walk out with about 12k in his pocket. he even sold fur still on the stretcher. The batch of fur I sold our buyer leaves to Greece, to his European buyer on Tuesday in a giant crate, and then to Helsinki, Russia where it is purchased buy clothing companies in the garment district. Everyone makes a little money along the way. It's funny to think some fancy European woman's $15,000 bobcat jacket originated from a bobcat running around in the Arizona desert.
  13. Hyperwrx

    Fur going to sale tomorrow.

    Fur prices went up.... again. Last year's top bobcat went for $650 and there were several, this year we hit $1000. 7000' elevation gray hued coyotes hit $70. Gray foxes were $20. Bob Small averaged $600 a pelt. He had 10 that priced out at $750 each. These are jumbo bobcats (42+" from tip of nose to base of the tail). I averaged $350 on mine as they were nowhere as large nor 'heavies'. Dan also did very well with his fur. Troy did very well with his bobcats and foxes. Everyone came away smiling. In celebration Bob bought everyone dinner at China Buffet in Globe and we had a very good time. Travis/James (1st year trapper) walked away with over $5000 in his pocket having started the season with just 4 cages (finished with 8).
  14. Hyperwrx

    Fur going to sale tomorrow.

    Each pelt is about an hours work. They are just stretched hard- like a board. Skin- 15-20 minutes Flesh- 5-8 minutes Put on stretcher- 10 minutes Borax- 5 minutes Brushing and making the fur look nice- 5 minutes 50 minutes or so I guess. If I shot the bobcat I would need to sew up a hole but this season I trapped most all of them. No sewing.
  15. Hyperwrx

    Coyote Pelts

    In retrospect I do know of a way of making good money off an AZ coyote. I know a fella who shot, skinned, and put up a few coyotes and carried them around down at one of the gun shows in Phx. He just carried them around as he browsed the booths and had a for sale signed pinned to them. $50/coyote. He said he sold them both within the hour. Not bad. I know Jeff Serdy at AJI Sporting goods in AJ, AZ sells a few each year to senior citizens in the area. He just hangs them on the wall of his shop with a price tag and they get bought up eventually. $45 or so. Guess the snowbirds want them on their wall or something. Regardless, even $50/pelt for an hours work is a tough sell for me when I could be spending the same time working a pelt that could bring in $350/hour.
  16. Hyperwrx

    E-Call Recommendation

    If 'called in' predators is an indicator of a quality electronic call there are quite a few that match up to a WT and a select few that exceed it in my opinion.
  17. Hyperwrx

    Coyote Pelts

    While I am an advocate of selling the fur you take each year Arizona coyote pelts are not worth the effort it takes to put the fur up. I shot a 7000' coyote last year and thought the fur looked exceptional. I took the time to skin, flesh, and put the fur up. Took probably about an hour of my time when everything was said and done. That pelt fetched $12 at the Arizona Trappers Association Fur sale. What a waste of time. The fur buyers were passing piles of Montana coyotes, which are 5 times as nice as ours. Don't waste your time and effort. Gray foxes are not much better. I sold 20 last year and averaged $13 a pelt. In my opinion, the only predator in AZ worth the money, time, and effort is a bobcat.
  18. Hyperwrx

    Fur Handling after the kill

    I am the current president of Arizona Predator Callers. To become a member, come to a monthly meeting and pay the yearly membership dues and you're in. We do skinning demonstrations from basic to advanced and are keyed in on teaching new predator hunters how to not only call in and shoot predators but not let the fur go to waste.
  19. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Aug 19-21 Globe, AZ Fairgrounds It costs nothing to come. Below are the featured presenters in bold. Gary Clevenger shoots 100+ coyotes a year all with a shotgun in the desert. He is the MASTER at his art and knows electronic callers better than the companies themselves (no lie). Bob owns Briarpatch Cages hold the AZ top bobcat pelt for 2 years running. Last year $650. I know of nobody in AZ that traps as many as he does. Attending a presentation is FREE. I do not know as much as some but I will be there on Saturday around where Bob sells his cages and can help you with any cage trapping and gear questions you might have. You can also take your trapprs ed course on Saturday I believe. Stan's contact info is on the bottom if you want to get in on that. Friday, 8/19/11 8 AM DOORS OPEN. Vendor & Display Booths Set Up All Day, Silent Auction Begins - closes 4:00 Saturday 1:00 - 2:30 -- Scott Trowbridge Welcome -- Share the knowledge - (trapping sets and info) Trowbridge, Parker, Van Horn and Melton 2:30- 3:30 Coyote Trapping Demo ~ Clint Locklear 3:30 - 4:30 Coyote calling ~ Gary Clevenger 4:30- 5:30 Roundtable questions and answers - Locklear/Clevenger 5:30 - 6:30 Steak fry (please buy your steak from our food vendor) we supply beans/potato salad 6:30 - ? FELLOWSHIP - POKER - TALL TALES Saturday, 8/20/11 7:00 AM KITCHEN OPENS 8:00 - 8:45 OFFICIAL OPENING & GREETINGS BY ATA PRESIDENT, Tony Miller Introduction of headliner speakers - Scott Trowbridge ATA vice-president and fur auction report by Mike Huffer 8:45 - 10:00 Board of Directors meeting 10:00 - 10:45 Ron Day (Arizona Game and Fish, effects of coyote predadation on big game animals in Arizona 10:45- 11:30 Bob Small cage trapping demo 11:30 - 12:00 pie eating contest 12:00 1:00 Clint Locklear bobcat trapping demo 1:00 - 2:00 Gary Clevenger coyote calling demo 2:00 - 3:00 Predator calling contest /Musket throw 3:00 - 4:00 Roundtable Q/A --- Bob Small, Gary Clevenger, Clint Locklear 4:00 - 4:30 Trap Setting CONTEST --Silent Auction Ends 4:30 -5:00 General ATA membership meeting 5.00 Live Auction Sunday 8/21/11 8:00-11:30 TRAPPER EDUCATION - STAN SCHEPERS 602-499-0505 CLEANUP OF BUILDING****PLEASE STAY TO HELP WITH THIS. THANKS!
  20. Gary just posted this on another site. Its a preview of what he'll be speaking on. Scott, Thank you so much for the invitation speak at this year's ATA convention. I'll try to keep it interesting and keep the audience awake, whether a predator hunter is just getting started or has been hunting a long, long time. On Friday, I plan to present two topics on equipment. First up will be a comparison of several e-callers in the $300-600 price range. Some are current models and others have been around a few years. We'll discuss test results, the methods used in the comparison, how to interpret manufacturers' claims and specifications, their actual use in the field, and a collection of past experiences with customer service. The second half of Friday's topic will be a talk on selecting and rating various shotguns for coyote hunting. We'll talk about action types, recoil, ammunition, barrel lengths, and chokes. Hunters will find the topic useful whether they're buying their first shotgun, their next shotgun, or just choosing one from the safe for a coyote hunt. On Saturday, I'll put callers and shotguns in perspective with a discussion of close cover tactics for coyote hunters. I'll talk about 7 full seasons of dedicated shotgunning where I picked up a rifle rarely if not at all. Nothing revolutionary here, it will be a rapid-fire set of detailed bullet points and a solid review of the basics of good woodcraft necessary to get a coyote to come into scattergun range. By the end, I hope everyone will be thinking of trying some new tips or testing a few territories that they've bypassed before now. I'll be speaking from my extensive notes and covering a lot of topics quickly, so there are bound to be plenty of questions, which will be welcomed. The club to which I belong, Predator Callers of Orange County, California, awards the "Ironman" to the hunter with the most coyotes each season and asks them to design their own award. I had posters printed for two of those awards and will bring them for display. The collages tend to punctuate my observations on hunting. Here's one of them. If there's time, I might also talk briefly on the development of electronic sound libraries for coyote calling. This is a technical topic of interest to anyone with a background in sound engineering or computing and that briefly covers some of the history of distressed animal recordings. I can also discuss some interesting statistics I've compiled on the success of various sounds I've used in electronic calling. With that much material to cover, it should keep the roundtables interesting too. Finally, I just want to mention last season. I didn't hunt a lot, but still managed to take 35 coyotes. The club sponsored 6 hunts. My daughter and I hunted in two club hunts and I hunted a third solo. We won all 3. My friend Matt, who is another avid shotgun hunter and who will probably join us there in Globe to keep me honest, won the the other 3 hunts and the "Ironman" last year. I took the club's new "Hunt Champion" award for most predator points in competition. Best regards, Gary.
  21. AZG&F has updated the Trappers Education class. It's not the old 1975 VHS tape anymore. They had a DVD made with more up to date information. Should be a good and educational time for all.
  22. Sept 8, Thursday at 7PM THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET YOUR TRAPPERS LICENSE AND GET AFTER THEM BOBCATS! We will have the trappers ed course in lieu of a regular meeting/speaker. Anyone born after July of 1967 has to take the trappers ed course to get their trapping license. This course is a few hours and is comprised of a movie you watch, some trapping demonstrations, and going over the rules and regulations. Afterwords you take a simple quiz to make sure you weren't sleeping. Cost is just $10. I will get details on this soon from AZ G&F guy doing the presenting. I will also have information on cage trap purchases if you are wanting Briarpatch Cages. If people express an interest I can even have cages there to purchase. http://www.briarpatchcages.com Also look at the ATA convention announcement I will make if you cant make this trappers ed class.
  23. Hyperwrx

    foxpro calling sequence

    AZ is teeming with bobcats and gray foxes. You just need to know how to find the areas they live and know what sounds to call them in. Last year 3 of us trapped 90 bobcats in the state of AZ. I called in and shot about a dozen. Foxes are a dime a dozen and are by far the easiest predator to call in and harvest here in AZ. Lots of good advice in the thread. Your best bet is to join a local club to shorten the learning curve. Arizona Predator Callers, PVCI, XPC are just a few of the good clubs around willing to help a new caller get the hang of it. Shoot me an email at Scott@Francom.us as I am the president of APC and can get you squared away.
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