Worth of Trapping

[gobblergetter]

I personally have only tagged along with a buddy once or twice while he ran his traps and had fun doing it but never done it myself. Aren't prices down a bunch? Does this make it worth your time to skin all the animals etc? Just curious. I know a lot of guys that have gotten out of it b/c there is no money in it. I personally wish I could find someone to trap all the dang beavers and coyotes off of our property but hardly anyone does it anymore!:cool:

[screamin6x6]

I started back trapping this year after a 20+ year break and i'm so happy I did. I actually did it to help my 10 y.o. son learn another aspect of enjoying the outdoors and wildlife and it's already turned into much more than that for both of us. The most common thing I hear from him now days is "I wish trapping season would hurry and come back in". Fur prices aren't where they were back in the fur boom days years ago but they're not too shabby either, IMO. My beaver this year averaged $24 each and my coyotes around $18 or $20 (all my fur was fleshed and dried). You're not going to get rich trapping but I've never made my gas money back while on any of my deer or turkey hunts either. It's a great sport and even if the price of hides drops more, I keep on doing it just because of the joy my son and I share doing it.

[pappyp]

Same here! I took a 25 year break because of moving around and any other reason I could come up with. I got back into it this past season mainly because of land owners and farmers that let me hunt started asking me if there was anything I could do to help get rid of the coyotes. Best decision I have made in years! Several of my grandchildren fight over who is goning to go with paw to check his traps every morning. They love it! Now my son who is 27 is wanting me to teach him so he can pass it on to his children. They money isn't that great but the moments you spend with your family members that tag along are priceless!

[Snareman2]

I started back trapping this year after a 20+ year break and i'm so happy I did. I actually did it to help my 10 y.o. son learn another aspect of enjoying the outdoors and wildlife and it's already turned into much more than that for both of us. The most common thing I hear from him now days is "I wish trapping season would hurry and come back in". Fur prices aren't where they were back in the fur boom days years ago but they're not too shabby either, IMO. My beaver this year averaged $24 each and my coyotes around $18 or $20 (all my fur was fleshed and dried). You're not going to get rich trapping but I've never made my gas money back while on any of my deer or turkey hunts either. It's a great sport and even if the price of hides drops more, I keep on doing it just because of the joy my son and I share doing it.

Exactly, I agree 110%. I have never done it for the money, it is the pure enjoyment of being out and the experiences you take away. My boys love it too. Great American Tradition!

[MikeKy]

Need to remember the other intangibles too. Fewer predators usually mean more turkeys, quail and rabbits. That's wortha lot.

[gobblergetter]

How much overhead is there (traps, bait, license etc). If I wanted to get started and never done it before, what would I do? I would mainly focus on trapping coyotes, fox, and beavers.

[CVN71 Ordnance]

Public Land Trapping Tag 20.00 Trap your own land the tag is 10.00
a Dozen Snares 15.00
a Dozen Foot holds 60.00
Sifter, digging tool 15.00
Helping someone get rid of the Pesky Beaver...........Priceless ;)

[gobblergetter]

cheaper than I thought.:) I figured the traps would be outrageous. don't you have to cover your scent when your trapping coyotes and fox and putting the bait in the footholds? I remember diggin a small whole and putting the trap inside with some sort of stinkin/bloody bait and covering the trap lightly with dirt. What "bait" do you use?

[screamin6x6]

You can find tons of good information on trapperman.com. Warning though, trapping is very addictive. :)

[longtimegone]

I remember making a lot of money as a kid coon hunting, trapping and catching snapping turtles. well a lot of money to a 10yr old anyway. I live in DC now and people sware I'm making it all up. They didn't believe anybody really did that sort of thing in the last 100 years. I miss it terribly.