The best way to combat animal rights arguments is with the facts. Massachusetts outdoor columnist Marc Folco did just that when he demonstrated, on video, what it's like to get your hand caught in the average foothold animal trap. Folco showed the public what most trappers already know: these traps are humane! The same traps demonstrated in the video below were banned in … [Read more...]
Trapping is an Important Maine Tradition
A recent AP article followed Brian Cogill, a traditional Maine beaver trapper, on his trapline this season. Like approximately 4,000 other trappers in the state, Brian enjoys trapping despite the low fur prices and hard work that's involved. Trapping will be challenged again in Maine next month, when the Canada lynx issue will re-surface in a new series of court hearings. I … [Read more...]
Alaskan Trapline Observations
As the end of the trapping season nears, an Alaskan trapper shares the valuable experience gained through observations of critters on the trapline. You can read this interesting story in today's Fairbanks Daily News Miner. … [Read more...]
Yup, Southerners Sure Do Eat Raccoons!
A recent AP article, "What's For Dinner? How About Raccoon?", highlights the fact that eating raccoons is a large part of the culture and tradition of many people in the southern U.S. And it isn't just about habit, apparently. Those who eat it regularly say that 'coon meat is 'just plain good'! There are a number of benefits to a culture that embraces eating natural, wild … [Read more...]
Trapper Survives Four Days Stuck Under ATV
An Alberta trapper survived for four days after a trapline accident left him pinned under his ATV with nothing to eat but rotting beaver meat and with hungry coyotes threatening his life. He was rescued when a hiker came upon him on the trail and went to get help. Read more here … [Read more...]
Wisconsin Trapper Encounters Cougar, DNR Investigates
Trapper Kevin Edwardson came face to face with a cougar in a Wisconsin barn last week, in what could be the first confirmed cougar siting in the state in 100 years. The animal fled from Edwardson after he followed its tracks into the old barn and spotted it in the hayloft. Its tracks measured 3 1/2" across and it had a running stride of 12 feet. Many cougar sightings have … [Read more...]
Harvesting ‘Coons For More Than Just Their Fur
In Illinois, hunters and trappers can sell the carcasses of raccoons that they capture for fur. This gives trappers a better return for their effort, allows residents to acquire a healthy source of protein at a very low cost, and helps control the population of critters that abound in suburban areas throughout the state. Most people who buy the 'coons are those who grew up in … [Read more...]