|
It all depends on your situation. Sure dont quit your day job just yet.....
I have a friend that does that around here. He gets called for plenty of work. Problem is, gas prices and time constraints work on him pretty good. People that have a coon in the attic want that coon out, now. If your offering and wanting the job, you better get it, now. Not this weekend. And, the coon may have left by the time you get there. But, if you want paid, you gotta have a coon. You can take it from here.
I know he burns alot of gas and daylight for each catch he makes. And just how much can you charge to make up for those dry runs? One thing that does help him is the lakes and rivers. Beavers do lots of damage. I know he cant make a living at it and doubt seriously that hes coming out ahead. Hate to burst your bubble. However if your living in a city, it may be a bit easier on the driving part anyhow. This area is smaller towns 10 miles or so apart.....
As for the fella selling coon carcasses for $30 each, wow. I wish I had a market like that. Im not calling anyone a liar, but that is suspicious. When I was trapping heavy, I had live traps as well as my regular line to run. I used the live traps around dumpsters, just as your describing. I could double dip them, take one out a midnight and daylight, most of the time and have my trapline as well.
Coons were bringing a $6 top and $3-4 average and they wouldnt even take the smalls. Sewlard Market, a fish market in St Louis on the Mississippi, just as you described, had a place that would buy the carcasses. To utilize and make more, I sold lots of coons to them. But it was $3 each, not $30. And they had to be in by Thanksgiving and another load by Christmas. They didnt want many after that. Seems some folks use them like turkey and ham. Which brings me to this. I dont know of a $30 turkey and it takes a heck of a ham to bring $30. Whos buying these coons at a markup over $30 for dinner?
I doubt anyone...... I think he was doubling his money at $6. I knew other trappers that sold their own coon carcasses because they didnt want him making the markup. They would go to the city, drop the tailgate and set up a sign advertising for $6 each. Sometimes they would sell several, most times not. I did better than anyone I know by selling to the market.
Andy
|