5 
Investigations of Furbearexs 
Vol. 5, No. 4 
Page 3 
Ralph J. Ellis 
An analysis of the 1961-62 fur harvest in Illinois was made by examining 
written reports from trappers, hunters, and fur buyers. Prices received for Illinois 
furs during the 1961-62 season apparently changed very little from those received 
during the 1960-61 season, table 2. 
Table 2.—Average prices received by hunters and trappers for Illinois furs 
as revealed by voluntary reports from fur buyers. 
Species 
Average 
Price Received 
Per Pelt 
1957-58 
1958-59 
1959-60 
1960-61 
1961-62 
Mink 
$10.23 
$11.05 
$12.18 
$9.44 
$8.54 
Beaver* 
4.69 
4.59 
4.64 
7.86 
4.78 
Raccoon 
.91 
.77 
1.38 
1.41 
1.62 
Skunk 
.79 
.80 
.82 
.69 
.70 
Mu skrat 
.71 
.68 
.35 
.70 
.67 
Weasel 
.43 
.57 
.63 
.55 
.49 
Red Fox 
.21 
.33 
.79 
.96 
1.09 
Gray Fox 
.11 
.20 
.48 
.65 
.58 
Opossum 
.13 
.15 
.34 
.53 
.41 
* The first 
four beaver 
prices are for 
the 1957, 
1958, 
1959, 
and 1960 spring 
seasons. 
During 1961 
beaver were trapped both 
in 
the spring and during the 
regular trapping season. Therefore, 
the price 
of 
beaver listed under the 1961 
62 column 
reflects both buying periods. 
Table 3. 
—Average monetary returns 
per trapper 
for 
his total catch of each 
species during fur seasons 
; from 1957-58 
to 1961-62 
as 
revealed 
by reports from 
trappers and 
fur buyers. 
Species 
Season 
1957-53 
1958-59 
1959-60 
1960-61 
1961-62 
Muskrat 
$32.99 
$32.59 
$61.59 
$39.33 
$48.56 
Mink 
24.31 
25.86 
38.31 
15.67 
22.31 
Raccoon 
3.70 
1.34 
7.90 
6.33 
5.96 
Beaver 
no catch 
.70 
.09 
--k- 
3.74-* 
Opossum 
.05 
.05 
.81 
.43 
.42 
Fox 
.03 
.15 
.54 
.22 
.22 
Skunk 
.03 
.03 
.14 
.08 
.13 
Weasel 
.02 
.03 
.02 
.02 
.03 
All Species 
$61.18 
$61.25 
$109.40 
$62.63 
$81.37 
Both trappers and fur buyers reported beaver caught during the spring season 
of 1961 with the catch for the winter of 1961-62. 
