It might sound odd, but yes—people and even some businesses buy squirrel tails for crafts, fly-tying, and making fishing lures. You can get paid or swap tails for fishing lures, as long as your tails meet certain quality and legal standards.
Let’s dig into who actually buys these tails, why they want them, and what you need to do to sell them without running into trouble. I’ll walk you through tips for preserving and packing tails, where to send them, and which rules can affect your payment. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, but you don’t want to risk breaking any laws.
If you hunt, trap, or end up with leftover tails after processing game, you might as well turn those usually wasted parts into something useful. Just make sure you stick to the rules and know what buyers want.
Who Buys Squirrel Tails and Why
A few buyers want squirrel tails for fishing lures, crafts, or even historical reenactment. Prices, accepted species, and handling instructions change from buyer to buyer, so you’ll need to follow their directions if you want to get paid and keep your tails in good shape.
Mepps Squirrel Tail Program
Mepps buys fox, black, gray, and red squirrel tails to make their hand-tied, dressed hooks for fishing lures. They pay per tail, and the rates depend on quality. If you trade your tails for Mepps lures instead of cash, they’ll often double the value.
Mepps asks you to leave the bone in the tail, salt the butt end, and keep tails straight while drying. That helps prevent spoilage and keeps the hair in good condition.
If you send in 50 or more tails, Mepps might refund your shipping. They grade tails as fully usable, half usable, or not usable. Stick to their packing and species rules to avoid having your shipment rejected. For all the details and the mailing address, check out the Mepps program page.
Other Buyers and Uses for Squirrel Tails
You can also sell tails to smaller buyers, crafters, fly-tiers, or even on Etsy and eBay. Crafters and reenactors use them for trim, hats, and costume pieces. Fly-tiers like the hair for its movement and color in certain flies.
Each buyer wants different things—some only take frozen or salted tails, while others want dried, straight tails with the bone still inside. Always ask about legal restrictions in your state before you try selling.
Demand for Different Squirrel Species
Species and tail quality affect demand and price. Fox, black, and gray squirrel tails usually bring higher prices, since the hair is longer or thicker for lure making. Red squirrel tails might be worth less unless the hair at the base is long enough.
Tails taken after October 1 are usually fuller and fetch better prices. Some states ban the sale of certain species or set limits, so check your local rules before you ship anything.
Buyers look for long, straight hair and tails that haven’t been exposed to flies.
Sustainability and Ethical Considerations
Only sell tails from squirrels you harvested for food or legally took under hunting rules. Mepps and other buyers want tails from animals killed for meat or pest control, not just for the tail. That way, you reduce waste and avoid unethical practices.
Follow animal welfare and legal rules where you live. Salt and freeze tails to keep them from spoiling, and avoid shipping during hot months. If you’re not sure about the legality for your state or a certain species, check with your state wildlife agency before you sell.
How to Sell Squirrel Tails Safely and Legally
You can turn squirrel tails into cash or lures if you follow the rules, package them right, and check your state laws first. Handle the tails cleanly, keep them straight and salted, and know who’s buying and what they’ll pay.
Preparing and Storing Squirrel Tails
Leave the tail bone in and keep the hair straight. Buyers who make lures want tails taken after October 1, since the hair is fuller. Salt the butt end well or soak it in strong saltwater, then dry the tail flat.
Don’t debone, split, or curl the tail—most buyers won’t accept those. Store tails away from flies and heat. Freezing works best if you can do it.
Avoid plastic bags for long storage, since they trap heat and can cause spoilage. Label your packages with species, count, and harvest date so buyers can grade them quickly.
Shipping Guidelines and Refunds
Lay tails flat in a small, sturdy box and skip the loose filler. If your tails are fresh, use cold-season shipping. Dried tails can ship anytime.
Include your name, address, phone, email, and let the buyer know if you want cash or lures in trade. Some buyers refund shipping on big packages, like shipments of 50 or more tails. Check their policies before you send anything so you don’t lose money on postage.
Use First Class or Priority Mail for boxes under 10 pounds, and ground freight for heavier shipments if the buyer allows it.
State Wildlife Regulations
Always check your state’s rules before you sell or ship any wildlife part. Some states ban selling squirrel tails or only allow certain species. For example, California and some parts of Oregon prohibit sales of certain squirrel tails. Idaho only lets you send specific species to certain buyers.
If you’re unsure, contact your state wildlife agency or check official regulations online. Carry hunting tags or proof that you legally harvested the squirrels if needed. If you skip these steps, you could get fined or have your shipment confiscated, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Price, Payment, and Trade Options
You’ll usually pay just a small amount per tail, though prices jump around depending on species and condition. Some folks will pay about $0.12 to $0.25 for a decent tail, but red squirrel tails? Those are usually worth less—unless the hair is long enough.
Sometimes, you can trade tails for fishing lures instead. That swap can feel like a better deal, honestly.
Before you send anything, ask the buyer about payment. Will they use checks, gift cards, or maybe some kind of lure credit? Also, how long does it actually take to get paid after they grade your tails?
If a buyer wants to do a lure-exchange, take a second to compare the value of those lures to what you’d get in cash. It’s not always obvious which is better.
Make sure to write down whatever payment you both agreed on, and don’t forget to ask about shipping refunds just in case something goes wrong.
Some programs—like the ones that turn squirrel tails into Mepps fishing lures—spell out their rules for prep, pricing, and shipping right on their websites. Definitely skim through those pages before you send anything off.
