Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program

Guaranteed Advance (GMVF)

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Overview

This program provides guaranteed cash advances to trappers in the Northwest Territories (NWT) who are delivering prime fur and beaver castors for sale.

Advances are reconciled when the item is sold and if items sell for less than the advance in auction, the GMVF program absorbs the cost.

This program is part of the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program.

Available Funding

The prices are influenced by the anticipated market price and determined by the Traditional Economy Advisory Committee.

The value is pre-determined for each species. If the fur or castor sells for more than the Guaranteed Advance price, the trapper receives the additional proceeds and may be eligible for a Prime Fur Bonus too. 

Deadline

This program is available all year.

Eligibility

The following are accepted:

  • Bear
  • Beaver
  • Beaver castors
  • Coyote
  • Ermine
  • Fisher
  • Fox
  • Lynx
  • Marten
  • Mink
  • Muskox
  • Muskrat
  • Otter
  • Squirrel
  • Seal
  • Wolf
  • Wolverine

Pelts need to be in good condition in order to be eligible for consideration.

Good quality fur

  • Prime and clean
  • Good dense fur coverage
  • Well-handled, boarded clean leather and minor scars
  • Bear, wolf, and wolverine must have claws, pads, intact and lips, eyes, and ears prepared to taxidermy standards

Poor quality fur

  • Not prime, rubbed
  • Flat fur, poor coverage
  • Poorly handled and/or over stretched
  • Stained fur (greasy) and leather stale (yellowed) or green leather

Good quality Castor

  • Intact with no tears
  • Properly dried at between 15-21 degrees for 7 days
  • Stored in a freezer in a paper or onion bag
  • When ready for sale, stored in cardboard or re-hung for 24-48 hours to remove any additional moisture

Poor quality castor

  • Broken or torn
  • Improperly dried
  • Stored in plastic and allowed to rot. Castors need to breathe. Rotten castors are not saleable and will be declared no-value.

How to apply

  1. Bring your furs to your regional ECC office.
  2. Make sure you are registered with us at your regional ECC office.
  3. If the fur is eligible for a guaranteed advance, you will receive cash from the officer.

Related links

Contact

Environment and Climate Change
1-867-767-9055