Why Are We Still Trapping in the 21st Century?

Trapping, the lost art the modern-day outdoorsmen crave

I would think most hunters and anglers nowadays are familiar with trapping, at least that it exists, but perhaps not a whole lot more. Anyone paying attention to our ever-evolving socio-political climate and the animal rights activists and anti-trapping movement is likely a little more familiar with regulated trapping. Trappers and trapping organizations do a wonderful job at conveying the many benefits of trapping, from disease control, endangered species protection and restoration, reducing property damage, and others, but it still leaves a few questions unanswered. If you’re paying attention here and elsewhere, you’ll notice that fur sales are not readily mentioned in modern-day trapping conversations like they have been historically.

With the rise in animal rights activism, commercial fur farms, and the crash of the fur boom after the peak of fur sales the 1970s and 1980s, the fur market has leveled off leaving fur prices well-below cost-effective margins. Between the cost of equipment and gas, and the price a trapper puts on their time, putting up fur for a profit doesn’t appear to be a major motivator for many trappers nowadays. And with trapping and trappers under constant scrutiny and political pressure, one has to wonder, why are trappers still trapping in the 21st century? To better understand the motivations and rationale that sustains this ecologically beneficial and long standing American recreational pursuit, we’ll look at a few of the primary points that keep modern trappers on the trapline.

Fur and Fur Products

Fur sales and fur auctions will always remain synonymous with trapping, however, in recent years, the prices on fur pelts has dropped off, barely making it economically viable for trappers intent on stretching fur for a profit. In 2024, the fur market is stable and shows a few bright spots, particularly with beaver and bobcat pelts bringing home the most bucks. Many of the most commonly trapped species such as coyote, fox, and raccoon just aren’t worth what they used to be, and worse yet, some pelts, like those of weasel, muskrat, and opossum, are only worth a few bucks on a good day. What’ll happen to fur prices in the coming years is anyone’s guess, but in the meantime, some trappers are staying busy at the sewing machine making their own fur products.
Providing supplemental income to support their efforts, a few savvy trappers are sending their hides off for tanning and then converting them into various fur products. Jackets, hats, headbands, pom poms, mittens, boot covers, earmuffs, capelets, scarves, and even cozies are just some of the fancy fur products still in fashion today. The thick, warm, beautiful fur of beaver, muskrat, mink, otter, red fox, coyote, and other furbearers is as much to look at as it is practical and purposeful. Anyone who purchases and wears these products should be proud to know they’ve contributed to the long and rich history of using natural fur as a long lasting, locally sourced, organic, sustainable, and renewable resource.

Food

Believe it or not, several furbearers offer a healthy and appetizing source of animal protein to supplement one’s diet. There are several species that are routinely trapped and are utilized for their meat, with one of the most common ones being beaver. I’ve yet to try it myself, but I have now heard several accounts of slow-cooked crockpot beaver compared to the finest prime rib. As one of North America’s most prolific and easier-to-catch furbearers, it’s easy to see why trappers have an affinity for beaver meat. With some catches tipping the scales at over 50 pounds, that’s a lot of fresh, lean meat to fill the freezer with. I also have one friend here in Vermont who feeds his pair of elkhounds beaver meat all year long. If you’re into feeding your canine counterparts raw meat or whole foods, trapping can be a serious money-saving strategy.

Muskrats are another species favored for their table fare. Considered a traditional delicacy in the Chesapeake Bay region, muskrats are plentiful and strong reproducers lending themselves to an abundant and reliable source of wild food for many trappers. Their rich, dark meat quarters up easily for stews, soups, and stir-fries. Despite what you might think, racoon is another one that when cleaned and cooked properly can actually taste pretty good … so I am told. Lastly, I’ve heard a few accounts that claim bobcat to be downright delectable. No longer just viewed as a trophy, many trappers (and bobcat hunters) are cooking and consuming the mild meat of these big cats, too.

Predator Management

Ask any turkey, deer, upland, or waterfowl hunter their opinion on factors contributing to the population decline of their favorite quarry of choice, and many will report predation as a main concern. Of course, there is a myriad factors to blame, but it’s no secret that coyotes and wolves prey on elk and deer and nest-raiding, egg-sucking fox, racoon, skunk, and opossum take their toll on ground-nesting birds such as turkey, quail, grouse, waterfowl, and other game birds. Thankfully, regulated trapping shares an ancillary benefit to our favored game species by keeping these predator populations at bay.
While many new trappers will never strive to become the next Jeremaih Johnson, many newbies are coming into the fold with goals of setting a handful of traps to catch a few predators each season in hopes of improving the quantity and quality of their preferred game species. Most hunters are always on the lookout for ways to give back to the sport and for an excuse to spend more time afield, making trapping an attractive and productive addition to their outdoor adventures. Getting started is easy. In most cases, all you’ll need is to complete a trapper education course, a few traps, fur handling equipment, and a desire to learn a new set of skills. Locate a mentor in your area and join them on the trapline this season to see the many benefits of trapping.

Animal Damage Control

Regulated trapping plays a pivotal role in animal damage control (ADC) by providing both lethal and non-lethal means of mitigating human-wildlife conflicts in a highly targeted and humane manner. Trappers use specialized equipment and techniques to selectively catch induvial animals that are causing problems. With ADC, homeowners and landowners hire a professional trapper to come in to assess the situation and use their skills and resources to resolve damage issues, and in most cases, remove and relocate, or dispatch nuisance animals.

This work may include anything from issues with mice, bats, or squirrels getting into an attic, to raccoons and skunks digging under a home, or protecting farmers against crop loss. Trappers are often contacted to thin out or eradicate troublesome beavers that are flooding a property, washing out a road, or falling ornamental trees around a pond. Many times, efforts to remove a dam or unplug a culvert are not enough to stay ahead of industrious beavers, leaving trapping as a viable solution.

Other times, trappers are called in to capture coyotes that have caught and killed the family dog or have been taking out livestock on a farm. As we continue to remove, fragment, and develop wildlife habitat, these interactions with furbearers will continue. Native wildlife populations are learning to not only adapt, but to thrive in urban and suburban environments living among humans with regulated trapping continuing to be a practical, selective, and appropriate method to resolve human-wildlife conflicts.

Tradition

Just like our lifelong love affairs with hunting and fishing, trapping plays a major role in our cherished pastimes and time-honored family traditions. Many individuals have grown up in families where trapping has been an integral part of their narrative and a valued activity that’s been passed down over several generations. Kids that started running the lines with their fathers, uncles, and grandfathers are now adults who continue to carry the torch each fall, and many are now out with their own children in the same places, sharing the same stories, and promoting a sense of connection and stewardship to the wildlife and the habitat.

Many modern trappers have scaled down their efforts since they began as they simply don’t have the time and resources to run a long line anymore. Their desire to be outdoors and connect with the past is so strong they’ll still set a few traps and catch a few critters to feed the fire that was ignited inside so many years ago. For myself and for many trappers, the way we spend our time outdoors is much more than a hobby; it’s a lifestyle, an identity, and something we just have to do. Keeping this longstanding tradition alive honors those who came before us and maintains our bond to our family members and friends who have passed on. Let’s face it, there’s so much more than the technical ability and practical skills of trapping that keep us afield; it’s the kinship, shared knowledge, ethical values, and a love for the natural world that become part of our legacy to pass on to future generations.