Originally Posted by Blackheart
Originally Posted by joken2

Raccoons got to where they weren't much of a problem at all for a while back in the late '70s - early '80s when their pelts were averaging selling for upwards of $25 - $30 + (which would be around $75 - $100 in today's dollars). Most hardcore 'coon hunters with thousands of dollars invested in hounds didn't like it though as the 'coon density dropped so drastically that it got to where it wasn't worth the effort and time to try to hunt them.



It wasn't just coons it was all furbearers. Pelt prices were high across the board back then. I remember getting 50.00 for jumbo coons, 40.00 for well furred grey fox, 60.00 for red fox and 9.00 for large river rats. Was common to run into other coon hunters out in the woods back then and everybody and their cousins was trapping or hunting for fur. Small game and birds flourished because of it and the rabbit/grouse/pheasant hunting was never better. Man, I miss those days.


Around here so many got into trapping back then for the big money that it got to where it was outright feud between fur trappers and hound 'coon hunters. The 'coon hunters would trip and often take any traps they found and destroy and/or toss them away, not only because the trappers were killing out all the raccoons but to keep from having their expensive hounds caught and possibly crippled in traps. Rabbit and bird dog hunters weren't fond of trappers for the same reason either.



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