I hate tax season. It's the time of year the reminds many of us unorganized types that we need to do a better job keeping records. That's because in any business, record keeping is key to minimizing your tax liability and only paying Uncle Sam what you legally owe. You may not realize this, but if you trap a significant amount of fur, your trapping activities are probably … [Read more...]
Why Use Trap Drags?
Securing an animal caught in your trap is one of the critical elements of successful trapping, and there are three basic ways to do it. You can attach the trap chain to a solid object (tree or post), stake it down, or use a drag. Drags are an important tool on the trapline, and their proper use is an art that can provide a great deal of benefit to the trapper and the animal … [Read more...]
Getting Permission to Trap Private Land
Accessing land is one of the greatest challenges we face as trappers, whether competing with others to trap on public land, or trying to gain access to private farm, ranch or wooded land. Many landowners will not allow trapping on their lands, but some do, and the way we approach the topic can mean the difference between a yes and a no. Here are some tips on getting … [Read more...]
Bob Noonan on Bear Trapping
On Tuesday November 4th, Maine voters will decide whether to ban the use of bait, hounds and traps to hunt bears in the state. Perhaps the most misunderstood of these methods is bear trapping. Bob Noonan explains bear trapping well in his Lewiston Sun Journal article: Bear trapping is heavily regulated. A special bear trapping permit is required, and is available only to … [Read more...]
New Zealand School Program Promotes Possum Trapping
Project Possum, a new program offered by a collaboration of New Zealand groups, is promoting possum trapping as a career path for area students. The program would teach trapping methods and fur preparation and marketing of possum pelts. Susan Karels, the council's regional Enviroschools co-ordinator, says the training stems from twin desires to offer participants the chance … [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...]
Kids Trapping Program Director Receives Award
Guy Erasmus, who heads up the "Take a Kid Trapping" program as part of the Canadian government's Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, received a prestigious award from the Fur Institute of Canada. It's great to see successful programs like this that promote trapping for the next generation. Here's the press release: GNWT Employee Receives National Award from the … [Read more...]
New York Trappers Sponsor Youth Trapping Camp This Fall
The following is a press release: A Youth Trapping Camp is scheduled for over the Columbus Day weekend in western New York this fall. This first of its kind program for the northeast United States is sponsored by The New York State Trappers Association (NYSTA) in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) at DEC’s Camp Rushford in … [Read more...]