The bonus provides an incentive to deliver high quality well-handled pelts for sale. A Prime Fur Bonus is paid to trappers following successful market performance. If a trapper’s fur sells for an amount equal to or greater than the guaranteed advance received, the trapper may be entitled to receive a Prime Fur Bonus payment. It provides an incentive to deliver high quality, well-handled pelts.

Who is eligible?

• Individuals who hold a valid NWT General Hunting License, Special Trapping License, and/or beneficiaries of NWT land claims, who are residents in the NWT, are eligible for benefits under the Prime Fur Bonus program.

How do I receive the Prime Fur bonus?

• Bring your furs to your local Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR) office.
• Register in the ENR database.
• If the furs sell at auction for either equal to or more than the guaranteed advance, you may be eligible for a Prime Fur bonus. A check will then be sent in the mail.

How is the Prime Fur Bonus Calculated?

The amount is pre-determined by anticipated market performace for each of the accepted furs.

What is the difference in fur quality?

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.

Accepted furs: 

Bear, Beaver, Coyote, Fox, Lynx, Marten, Mink, Muskrat, Otter, Squirrel, Seal, Weasel, Wolf, Wolverine.