Muskrat Sporran

[Kanati]

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I have trapped a few muskrats/musquash this winter. They are rather abundant and in some areas, a very large nuisance. Unlike most animals (but not unlike rabbits), muskrats have no breeding season and can have multiple sets of young in a year. Because of this, they reproduce quickly. I do not beleive they are farmed anywhere, and most forms of trapping them is rather humane (as far as humane can be when killing an animal). This said, I have not yet attempted a full mask sporran, but Kate MacPherson is top notch in that regards!

I trapped them in the 70s and you are right they breed quickly and can do alot of damage to a river or lake bank. The fur is really nice/elegant and warm.

My buddy had a sporran like bag made of muskrat with a cross mounted sheath for his skinning knife. I used to tease him about being to fashionable for trapping and that he needed a bow tie to go with it.

[Farmer Jones]

Muskrat here in Canada are plentiful and are easily trapped in the wild. No farming of muskrat here that I am aware of, wholesale fur prices being as low as they are it probably wouldn't be feasible.

There are lots of muskrats here, as well as beavers. It is only really economical if you trap them yourself, and maybe take them to a local First Nations village for processing.

[Liam]

If your GF is against the idea, you may want to rethink the idea of a fur sporran, or find another GF.
It is ironic, that the demand for North American furs that lead to the exploration of this continent and the dependency of the Indiginous people's on Europeans is now so unpopular, that trappers can not make a living.

[Pipersson]

Seems to be a special view on history... :-)
But in fact she is against torturing animals in farms.
The pelt of a trapped muskrat would be kind of acceptable.
So no danger trapper's work.
Though she is a complex character she is hardly representing all against fur europeans.
And I am very happy we all appreciate sophisticated individual opinions.

Tom

[Tarheel]

It is ironic, that trappers can not make a living.

Sorry to cut your post down so much Liam. I have a good friend that is a registered trapper here in Mississippi that only gets two or three jobs a month (commercially) aside from his government contracts. Even those jobs are seasonal.

[Liam]

Sorry to cut your post down so much Liam. I have a good friend that is a registered trapper here in Mississippi that only gets two or three jobs a month (commercially) aside from his government contracts. Even those jobs are seasonal.

I do understand that there has been a recent resurgence in fur pelt prices as the fashion industry in countries such as China are less squeamish about the use of fur that their counterparts elsewhere.

[Liam]

Seems to be a special view on history... :-)

Tom

The North American fur trade developed to provide Europeans with felt, particularly from beaver pelts for hats. When the demand collapsed, so did the fur trade. Which part of this history is "a special view"?

[Liam]

Sorry to cut your post down so much Liam. I have a good friend that is a registered trapper here in Mississippi that only gets two or three jobs a month (commercially) aside from his government contracts. Even those jobs are seasonal.

Tarheel... You may want to recheck with your friend. I understand the recent fur prices are down substantially from a year or two ago.

[auld argonian]

I'm always of two minds about fur sporrans…I suppose that it's that "I wouldn't want to kill anything that I would like to have as a pet just for a sporran" kinda thing….

That having been said, muskrats are definitely not on the potential pet list. In the past I've asked about Nutria as well since I hear that those critters are just a huge pest in certain areas and are held in the same regard as Lake Michigan fisherman hold those damn Round Gobies that got transplanted into our lake.

Still can't quite really appreciate the full face sporran thing but I have to admit that I wouldn't say no to some of these farmed or ethically obtained furs.

Best,

AA

[Pipersson]

The North American fur trade developed to provide Europeans with felt, particularly from beaver pelts for hats. When the demand collapsed, so did the fur trade. Which part of this history is "a special view"?

I am wondering how many unemployed trappers there are...