Trapping-Lost art?

How many feel that trapping has seemed to wither away over time? I didn’t start trapping until later in life. But when I was growing up, I never even heard of a trapper until we had a guy ask to trap our pasture land for coyotes when I was in high school. That was out west. Now here in the Midwest, trapping was a mainstay for many many years from what I understand from reading and history.
Now today, there are still people trapping, but new recruits is very low. The people who trap now are usually older and have been trapping for a lot of years.
Now this year is a little different due to the projected fur prices for certain species being fairly high. But, as soon as that changes, we will be back to few trappers. I wonder why trapping has been steadily on the decline?
How many on here trap on a regular basis and how many used to trap but do not anymore. If you have quit trapping, could you tell your reasoning behind it? Any input would be greatly appreciated

I still do. This happens to be my first year in over 20 that I am not laying any steel, but that is due to time constraints with a new family(no complaints here). I will probably take next year off as well(hopefully with another little tyke here), but the following year I will hit it again. The local population of fox/yotes will be in trouble once again .

Tim

I still do. This happens to be my first year in over 20 that I am not laying any steel, but that is due to time constraints with a new family(no complaints here). I will probably take next year off as well(hopefully with another little tyke here), but the following year I will hit it again. The local population of fox/yotes will be in trouble once again .

Tim

I think it’s withered away over time. Trapping is a sport which very few people will actually make money. Today’s gas prices and up until this year, lower fur prices have made trapping a less than desirable sport. This year, everyone’s trapping. The promise of higher than normal prices has everyone seeing dollar signs.

You have to love walking around a swamp in knee-deep mud, getting dirty and really wet and you have to accept the fact you will more than likely ruin the brand new hip boots(or waders) you just bought by tearing a whole in them from a sharp stick left behind from a Beaver. If you have that frame of mind, then trapping is a heck of a lot of fun.

I love to trap and I hope to pass that on to my Son. Why do I love to trap? Because I love to stomp around in the mud, get really wet and dirty. Although, I do not like tearing my new boots up from Beaver sticks. That’s why I love to trap Beaver. My way of getting back at them.

Lastly, if I make a little money doing it, I can afford to buy new hip boots for next year’s trapping season.

I think it’s withered away over time. Trapping is a sport which very few people will actually make money. Today’s gas prices and up until this year, lower fur prices have made trapping a less than desirable sport. This year, everyone’s trapping. The promise of higher than normal prices has everyone seeing dollar signs.

You have to love walking around a swamp in knee-deep mud, getting dirty and really wet and you have to accept the fact you will more than likely ruin the brand new hip boots(or waders) you just bought by tearing a whole in them from a sharp stick left behind from a Beaver. If you have that frame of mind, then trapping is a heck of a lot of fun.

I love to trap and I hope to pass that on to my Son. Why do I love to trap? Because I love to stomp around in the mud, get really wet and dirty. Although, I do not like tearing my new boots up from Beaver sticks. That’s why I love to trap Beaver. My way of getting back at them.

Lastly, if I make a little money doing it, I can afford to buy new hip boots for next year’s trapping season.

I have some friends that are pretty good trappers but they go in and out of the sport. Here are some reasons why:

1. We’ve LOST most of our creeks and streams in nebraska.
2. It’s not a way to make much money. Trapping used to be to “buy a gun” or something. A goal of money for another outdoor pursuit
3. Landowners don’t care for it unless they have beavers or something that bothers them.
4. More leased areas
5. More bird hunting with dogs, guys don’t like traps around dogs period.

I think trapping is wonderful and hope it continues. We are certainly seeing exploding populations of skunks and the like. Further I read recently that something like 80% of coyotes in Eastern Nebraska has some form of mange now. Wow.

Keep up the trappin!

Todd

I have some friends that are pretty good trappers but they go in and out of the sport. Here are some reasons why:

1. We’ve LOST most of our creeks and streams in nebraska.
2. It’s not a way to make much money. Trapping used to be to “buy a gun” or something. A goal of money for another outdoor pursuit
3. Landowners don’t care for it unless they have beavers or something that bothers them.
4. More leased areas
5. More bird hunting with dogs, guys don’t like traps around dogs period.

I think trapping is wonderful and hope it continues. We are certainly seeing exploding populations of skunks and the like. Further I read recently that something like 80% of coyotes in Eastern Nebraska has some form of mange now. Wow.

Keep up the trappin!

Todd

I have heard that trapping is on the incline this year…kind of a population explosion for trappers. I think this is directly linked to the higher price on furs. But I think once many of these “newbies” or “first-timers” trade in their butchered pelts… the buck they get may not be what they thought… and many will give up just as fast as they started. Trapping is not especially the easy part… but the care for the animal takes skill and practice… I know this from personal experience.

I have heard that trapping is on the incline this year…kind of a population explosion for trappers. I think this is directly linked to the higher price on furs. But I think once many of these “newbies” or “first-timers” trade in their butchered pelts… the buck they get may not be what they thought… and many will give up just as fast as they started. Trapping is not especially the easy part… but the care for the animal takes skill and practice… I know this from personal experience.

I think the main reason is the decline in demand for fur products which drives the price down to the point it’s hardly worth the effort. So, if prices are in the dumps, about the only reason to trap would be for recreation; and most trappers are pretty tight-lipped about “where and how” to trap something, so recruitment is quite low. Seriously, have you ever tried to get any information out of a trapper….it’s probably easier to get Dustin’s waypoints for Pool 4!!! More Grandpas need to get their grandkids out in the creekbottoms, problem is most kids these days have little interest in that sort of stuff. Just my opinion…

I think the main reason is the decline in demand for fur products which drives the price down to the point it’s hardly worth the effort. So, if prices are in the dumps, about the only reason to trap would be for recreation; and most trappers are pretty tight-lipped about “where and how” to trap something, so recruitment is quite low. Seriously, have you ever tried to get any information out of a trapper….it’s probably easier to get Dustin’s waypoints for Pool 4!!! More Grandpas need to get their grandkids out in the creekbottoms, problem is most kids these days have little interest in that sort of stuff. Just my opinion…

What Slipsinker says make a lot of sense to me. I have grown up in a family of many outdoorsman much like many people here and trapping is one thing that I have had a terrible time getting any info on. I have family that does it but they are not so much into sharing their info. With the $$ involved I suppose its like any other buisness you do not want your competitor knowing everything you know? I would like to give it a wirl but try and get someone to show you and give up their cash flow with the good land fading fast.

What Slipsinker says make a lot of sense to me. I have grown up in a family of many outdoorsman much like many people here and trapping is one thing that I have had a terrible time getting any info on. I have family that does it but they are not so much into sharing their info. With the $$ involved I suppose its like any other buisness you do not want your competitor knowing everything you know? I would like to give it a wirl but try and get someone to show you and give up their cash flow with the good land fading fast.

I trapped as much as I could growing up. $25 for an animal was a big deal when you were 10. Now for me to get up and run traps before work, and then problably go back after work to reset, and move anything I did not like is just not going to happen. Too many other commitments.

If I had the time, I would love to. Now if I were layed off this time of year, or retired or had more time, I would be there reguardless of the money involved, it is just a good time. Any reason to spend more time outdoors is a good idea. To do it to make money is not going to happen, it is for the love.

I think in a lot of cases it will get you additional land to hunt if farmers get to know you during trapping seasons and see you are a respectable person.

I trapped as much as I could growing up. $25 for an animal was a big deal when you were 10. Now for me to get up and run traps before work, and then problably go back after work to reset, and move anything I did not like is just not going to happen. Too many other commitments.

If I had the time, I would love to. Now if I were layed off this time of year, or retired or had more time, I would be there reguardless of the money involved, it is just a good time. Any reason to spend more time outdoors is a good idea. To do it to make money is not going to happen, it is for the love.

I think in a lot of cases it will get you additional land to hunt if farmers get to know you during trapping seasons and see you are a respectable person.

did anyone else watch outdoor wisc last sunday night? there was a segment on trapping, the guy they were interviewing owned and operated a fur shed. he said that the market was hyped so bad that there will be a surplus of hides this tear and it will take the $ lower yet

did anyone else watch outdoor wisc last sunday night? there was a segment on trapping, the guy they were interviewing owned and operated a fur shed. he said that the market was hyped so bad that there will be a surplus of hides this tear and it will take the $ lower yet

I didn’t catch that one. For some items, that is true. Otter are one of the items that will not be worth much this year. Rats on the other hand are bringing better money than they have in a long time. They had a complete dispersal of rats. This is a simple case of supply and demand. The supply is gone and the demand is high resulting in better prices. The main way to tell this is not hype is the prices being paid for rats right now. Coon are also rumored to be a little higher this year. It sounds like cats, coyote, and fox are not expected to be paying much this year.

I didn’t catch that one. For some items, that is true. Otter are one of the items that will not be worth much this year. Rats on the other hand are bringing better money than they have in a long time. They had a complete dispersal of rats. This is a simple case of supply and demand. The supply is gone and the demand is high resulting in better prices. The main way to tell this is not hype is the prices being paid for rats right now. Coon are also rumored to be a little higher this year. It sounds like cats, coyote, and fox are not expected to be paying much this year.

Mike–good question. I had trapped for a lot of years. I tried it all, coon, fox, mink, and rats. I can’t really put one reason as to why I haven’t trapped for about 5 years. Lots of things change over the years. The biggest reason I quit rat trapping was the duck hunting season overlapped and I didn’t like missing any duck hunting. The fox and coon trapping land I had, started to change hands, ( farms being sold ) and would be told, I don’t think I will allow trapping naymore. Then ya look at the distance between traps and ya say, wow, does this make sense. Throw in the declining fur prices and I decided it didn’t for me. I really trapped rats for the longest, didn’t matter what the price was. Sold from a dollar to 7 dollars on the carcas. Like Blue said, I loved to get wet and dirty. Plus I was a much better rat trapper than ffor fox and coon. I really thought I would trap this year, but I didn’t. Ya the talk of all the money got me thinking. Getting 25 – 30 rats a day sounded awful good at the prices they were talking about. But after duck hunting and walking through the marsh decided it wasn’t going to happen. Had one knee fixed 2 years ago and it is not the same, the other should be fixed also. The thing I miss the most, is the anticipation of walking around the corner to see your trap and what might be in it, or reaching in the water to feel for a rat. Nothing like it. More work per hour than any job I ever did, but not something someone told me I had to do. Yep I miss it—John

Mike–good question. I had trapped for a lot of years. I tried it all, coon, fox, mink, and rats. I can’t really put one reason as to why I haven’t trapped for about 5 years. Lots of things change over the years. The biggest reason I quit rat trapping was the duck hunting season overlapped and I didn’t like missing any duck hunting. The fox and coon trapping land I had, started to change hands, ( farms being sold ) and would be told, I don’t think I will allow trapping naymore. Then ya look at the distance between traps and ya say, wow, does this make sense. Throw in the declining fur prices and I decided it didn’t for me. I really trapped rats for the longest, didn’t matter what the price was. Sold from a dollar to 7 dollars on the carcas. Like Blue said, I loved to get wet and dirty. Plus I was a much better rat trapper than ffor fox and coon. I really thought I would trap this year, but I didn’t. Ya the talk of all the money got me thinking. Getting 25 – 30 rats a day sounded awful good at the prices they were talking about. But after duck hunting and walking through the marsh decided it wasn’t going to happen. Had one knee fixed 2 years ago and it is not the same, the other should be fixed also. The thing I miss the most, is the anticipation of walking around the corner to see your trap and what might be in it, or reaching in the water to feel for a rat. Nothing like it. More work per hour than any job I ever did, but not something someone told me I had to do. Yep I miss it—John

John-That is what keeps me going as well. You just never know what you will find at every set. Trapping a marsh you could have a rat, mink, or a coon you just never know.

John-That is what keeps me going as well. You just never know what you will find at every set. Trapping a marsh you could have a rat, mink, or a coon you just never know.

Ever since i read Where the red fern grows i wanted to trap coon. But living in the city most of your life and my dad who is not a hunter didnt help my odds very much. Self taught most of my hunting skills and my uncles are the ones who let me hunt their land with them and help teach me.

Id love to Trap some beavers, Ive got land up north that has a TON of them, if anyone would like to give me a few tips id be more willing to give it a try

I think the main reason is the price. You cant justify running those traps if you dont have the extra money for the most part.

Ever since i read Where the red fern grows i wanted to trap coon. But living in the city most of your life and my dad who is not a hunter didnt help my odds very much. Self taught most of my hunting skills and my uncles are the ones who let me hunt their land with them and help teach me.

Id love to Trap some beavers, Ive got land up north that has a TON of them, if anyone would like to give me a few tips id be more willing to give it a try

I think the main reason is the price. You cant justify running those traps if you dont have the extra money for the most part.

Quote:

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Ever since i read Where the red fern grows i wanted to trap coon.

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Every boy should read that book!

Quote:

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Ever since i read Where the red fern grows i wanted to trap coon.

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Every boy should read that book!

Quote:

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Quote:

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Ever since i read Where the red fern grows i wanted to trap coon.

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Every boy should read that book!

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Every PERSON should read that book.

Quote:

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Quote:

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Ever since i read Where the red fern grows i wanted to trap coon.

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Every boy should read that book!

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Every PERSON should read that book.