This past month, the Alaska trapping community lost a legend. Dean Wilson, 69, died in his sleep of complications due to Parkinson's disease. Wilson was an icon in Alaska trapping. In addition to running his own successful trapline, he spent time educating others on trapping methods and was a prominent fur buyer in interior Alaska. He also wrote "The Alaskan Trapper's … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2010
New Trapping Group Forms in Minnesota
A new trapping group has formed to represent trappers in the DNR-defined "Forest Zone" of Minnesota. The Minnesota Forest Zone Trapping Association, led by Ken Wainionpaa of Gilbert, MN, was "formed by a group of trappers who decided it was time to have a 'voice' in the management of the sport". Minnesota is a diverse state, with ecotypes ranging from flat cropland to rolling … [Read more...]
Kansas Now Offers Online Trapper Education Course
Kansas is the second state to add an online trapper education course on TrapperEd.com as a replacement to the old mail correspondence course and an alternative to instructor-led courses that are taught in person. All persons born after July 1, 1966 are required to take the course before harvesting furbearers on land in the state other than their own. Illinois also offers a … [Read more...]
Alaska Trapper’s Photo Gallery
Check out this photo gallery posted by Alaskan trapper Tyler Freel on Outdoor Life magazine's website. While many of us dream of trapping in Alaska, only a lucky few get to experience it. View Tyler's photos here. … [Read more...]
Coyotes Kill Twenty-two Pets in Washington Town
Coyotes have been blamed for the death of 22 pets in a Washington neighborhood, according to the local news. LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- Coyotes have killed so many pets -- seven dogs and 15 cats, by one resident's count -- that people who live in the Oakbrook neighborhood of Lakewood have hired a trapper to get rid of the predators. The state of Washington banned recreational and … [Read more...]
2010 Fur Market Forecast
This fall, cautious optimism is the key phrase when talking about the fur market. Discussion has surrounded the increase in demand and recovering Chinese and Russian markets, but there seem to be more questions than answers. After looking over fur market reports from the major players, I've put together a quick summary of what we might expect to see for fur prices this year. … [Read more...]
Muskrat Surprise
It was November 18th and the first big snowstorm of the year was finally on its way. The wind was blowing hard from the southwest and a bank of clouds began to shroud the mountains. Since I’ve moved to Montana, it’s taken some time to adjust to a couple of things. One is the weather, which is more unpredictable than you can imagine. The other is the hunting season. With … [Read more...]
Back To Trapping
It’s been a long, productive hunting season in Montana thus far, but I finally decided to put the hunting rifle away and shift my focus to trapping. I’d been thinking of trapping for quite some time this fall, but while shooting, butchering and processing 7 deer, 2 antelope and an elk, there wasn’t much time to do anything else! The meat freezers are full, and it’s time to … [Read more...]