Like much of the outdoor sporting world, trapping has its fair share of trade publications.  A large percentage of trappers subscribe to trapping magazines to keep up with the latest news, techniques and equipment.  Like most trappers, I wish I had enough money to subscribe to all of the trapping magazines, but I can’t, and you probably can’t either.  So I’d like to help by describing each of the available trapping magazines and what you can expect if you subscribe to them.

The Trapper

Formerly known as the Trapper & Predator Caller, and after a brief period of bankruptcy, the ‘mainstream’ trapping magazine is back under the name “The Trapper“. The magazine has gone back and forth over the years in content type, sometimes including predator calling information, sometimes not.  The magazine is now published 8 times per year and is available in both print and digital editions, with the digital edition simply a pdf copy of the print one.

The Trapper usually contains 5 or 6 feature articles, a fur market report, and various other elements you’ll find in a typical magazine.

If I had anything negative to say about The Trapper, the ratio of advertising to overall content is pretty high, meaning you have to wade through quite a few ads while reading the magazine.  Some people don’t mind this though. 

Fur-Fish-Game

Of all the magazines that highlight trapping, Fur-Fish-Game has by far the largest circulation.  You can find FFG at almost any news stand across the country.  The difference between it and the other trapping magazines, however, is that Fur-Fish-Game focuses on much more than just trapping.  It covers many other niche hunting and fishing topics that don’t get much attention in the mainstream hunting and fishing magazines.  Depsite this, FFG sports enough trapping-related articles and information to make it worth subscribing to.  In addition to the reader-submitted articles, the magazine also has a monthly fur market report.  It’s only about a page long, but has enough information to keep trappers on top of overall trends in the fur market.

Fur-Fish-Game prides itself in being the only hunting and fishing magazine that still publishes an issue every month. And if you don’t like change, this is your magazine……they’ve kept the same format for decades!

$22.95 buys you a monthly subscription (12 issues per year).

 

Trapper’s Post

Trapper’s Post has risen to become the most popular trapping magazine on the market. Longtime trapper, writer and artist Bob Noonan from Maine started Trapper’s Post around 2011. It has since been taken over by Mike Wilhite, who has done an excellent job maintaining its top quality standards. The magazine publishes 6 issues a year. Issues are tabloid sized (10.5×12.5″) which makes it easier to read. Trapper’s post is absolutely packed with content – i.e. trapping stories, interviews and informative articles.  It’s been enjoyable to watch this magazine grow over time and pretty much take over the trapping magazine industry, and it’s my favorite physical trapping magazine. 

Since it is only published every two months, Trapper’s Post does not have fur market information that’s as detailed as Trapper & Predator Caller or Fur-Fish-Game.  Instead, it offers a less detailed fur market section that focuses more on general market conditions.

Trapper’s Post features regular columns from some big names in the trapping industry.  There’s also an interview of a noted trapper each month.  The magazine has taken over the old Trapper & Predator Caller’s service to state trapping associations, offering subscriptions as part of association memberships and providing state reports in its pages.

Again, the thing I like most about TP is the content.  Flip through the pages and you’ll be amazed with the amount of actual trapping articles and information packed into a single issue.

Negatives? The website is typically out of date and the magazine has no digital presence. For most trappers, that’s not a deal breaker.

Click here to read an interview I did with Bob Noonan of Trapper’s Post.

$21.95 gets you a bimonthly subscription (6 issues per year).  Discounts are offered to members of many state trappers associations.

 

The Fur Taker

The Fur Taker is a monthly trapping magazine published for members of Fur Takers of America.  FTA is a great group to join.  They work hard to promote trapping and protect our rights as trappers.  They also offer an annual Trappers College that I’ve heard a lot of good things about.

As far as the magazine, I’ve read it several times over the years.  It’s a good resource for trappers, and is a great benefit for financially supporting a group that supports our trapping heritage.  The circulation and contributors are small, but a lot of sound trapping information can be found here.

FTA membership is $40 annually, which includes 12 issues of The Fur Taker.

 

American Trapper

American Trapper is also a trapping magazine tied to group membership.  This publication is sent to members of the National Trappers Association and is published every two months.  The NTA fights hard to protect trapping rights and educate the public about the benefits of trapping. The benefit of the magazine is just one of many reasons to support the NTA.

NTA membership is $35 annually, which includes American Trapper magazine.

 

Trapper’s World

Today’s Trapper’s World magazine is the result of a long history of ups and downs in the trapping publication industry.  Trapper’s World has always been a magazine by trappers and for trappers. It has a smaller circulation than the big names, but also has that small time feel that is nice with niche magazines. You’ll see articles submitted by many trappers you’ve never heard of before.

In addition to the average trapper, Trapper’s World has featured some big name trappers in the past, and a few of them still contribute today. This is the only magazine I’ve seen articles from legendary trapper and lure maker Craig O’Gorman, for instance.

$21.95 gets you a bimonthly subscription (6 issues per year).

Trapping Today

Trapping Today published the first ever all-digital trapping magazine February 2023. The magazine is truly an interactive experience, with articles, pictures, links to stories and products, embedded trapping videos and more. I’m biased – it’s my magazine. You can view the first issue below and I encourage you to subscribe!

 

In Conclusion

I hope this overview of trapping magazines available on today’s market is useful for trappers young and old.  Trappers always strive for more information on the trapping industry, and I do my best to provide some of that here on TrappingToday.com  I invite you to take a look at some of the magazines described above, and provide your own input on their value to you as a trapper.