Pesky
,,,,,water runs down hill........

First:Then:No offense, but I think I know why.


As for why trappers post Youtube videos, I believe most, but not all, fall into one of two camps:

Commercial Self-promotion
Usually in the guise of edification, they present the subject warmly and professionally, while marketing their product(s) or service. Often, the videos are more slickly produced, the presenters groomed, and the language more grammatically correct. Emphasis is placed on the intended results (e.g., clean lawn, before/after roof damage shots) rather than caged or dead animals with bared teeth.

Attention-seeking
Unabashedly simplistic, these types often appear boastful and seem to revel in the chase and display of captured prey or even blood. It is my assertion they are seeking acceptance of some sort, or see their videos as a means of gaining respect, though their often disheveled appearance and obvious braggadocio may dissuade the more astute viewer.

And K9, FWIW, I rank profesional elements' importance pyramid-style, in order of expected contact:

1. Appearance, which includes both personal presentation and professionally presented ads and printed materials. Since this is often the first impression, it ranks highest on my list. I think we would all cringe if we knew the number of potential clients repelled by typos, kitschy layouts, or campy photos.
2. Proper phone etiquette. Respectful, considerate, and timely replies are a signal of the quality of work to follow. Saying, as a former associate of mine once did, "Can I call you back? I'm in the bathroom" is unacceptable.
3. Under-promise and over-produce. Make no claims using superlatives. There are always exceptions.
4. And last, leave the site looking better than you found it.

Okay, MoFarmBoys do not use words like "unabashedly simplistic, disheveled, braggadocio, just to name a few. If I didn't have abnormally high word comprehension when I graduated high school, I wouldn't have any idea what you were trying to communicate. Keep up the good work!

So some day if I every become a professional I won't Need to use the bathroom . Or is that just for yuppy trappers and there's know chance for me .

Pesky - Honestly, the instructional video idea is good. I did enjoy the video on setting muskrat traps with your son.

Anytime you wish to go muskrat trapping let me know Dave , I do a lot of it come fall ,both in the city , in creeks and rivers , also big marsh trapping where you just boat trap all day , should I post a how to skin muskrat video

I'd rather not watch that video. But, from my perspective, it couldn't hurt sales.

When I joined this forum a couple of years ago, I noticed that there was a handful of folks here who had, for want of a better term, low self esteem and were trying to blow the image of the business completely out of proportion to reality. This thread reaffirms that impression.

Suits? Uniforms? Really? If you really want to impress yourself, go get a degree in wildlife management or wildlife biology. You're still going to look silly in a suit.

Get real. This business is about trappers and carpenters. Good, honorable trades. If it doesn't fulfill your snobbery, good. The business will be better off without you.

Have the degree, builders license, and wear uniforms. Not a big fan of suits...except on beaches.

Dave please don't post pictures of your self on the beach

sqs, the only time we have to wear a suit is when we give a seminar. This is so all our friends can poke fun of us.

We all wear the same company shirts because this helps to identify us to the customer when we switch jobs. ( Pants are optional )

What exactly do you mean pants are optional? LOL. Are you saying you show up for jobs and you may or may not be wearing pants? What kind of a business are your operating over WI? I wonder how the customer turned complaintant will discribe the employee showing up without their pants on? Will they be able to identify the work shirt and logo?

Paul, I was not a big fan of the NADCA newsletter. I was just pointing out that it was very professionally done. That was why I mentioned all of the government employees on their membership list. They definatly didn't care for the private sector. I heard the same story about the questionaire, who was behind it, and the motivation for it. But we overcame that sterotype and in a hurry. And like you, I am very thankful that I have an extremely high reading comprehension skill.

I'm not a snob and I don't look down my nose at anybody. What I do attempt to accomplish is understand why people do what they do, and in order to succeed at that I have to attempt to find out where they are coming from experience wise - life experience, educational level, etc., etc. But for the record, I do have extensive carpentry training and experience, and I do have a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Business. Unfortunately I am a self taught biologist, which means I don't know squat other that what I have experienced in the field or read in books, studies, etc., etc.

Thanks to everybody that participated. I learned what I wanted to. Some of you are extremely articulate and really thought about your posts. It was a very good discussion.

K9, I will let you know why I do the things I do just as soon as I figure them out. ( My wife would also like a copy of that report )

My father was a cattle dealer so I grew up with horses, cows, and pigs. The only neighbor kids I had became my mentors, so everything they did, I did. Fishing, trapping, hunting, sports, beer, fast cars, graduation, marriage, and kids. They call it growing up. As soon as I got into this business I stopped growing up and became a kid again. Right now I fit in somewhere between my two, three, and four year old grandkids.

Paul, you and I must have grown up almost on the same section. My dad was a life long factory worker, I had no other trappers in my family to learn from, half the kids in my neighborhood, if you can call it that, were my relatives, but I did grow up surrounded by farms and farm animals. It was a great way and place to grow up - three miles outside of a small country town in the 60's and 70's. It was all good.

MOFarmboy and HD Wildlife, very eloquently written and thought out posts. Everybody gave some great responses in assisting me in learning what I wanted to know. I'm almost right where I started with my original opinion. I think these youtube videos will hurt some of us as individuals, but their larger impact will be on the future of the industry as a whole. I think it is a bad situation that could have, and should have, been avoided.

Thanks again.

Yes, the "why" question is always the most important for me.

"Why" would someone post a youtube video? There's as many reasons as there are people who do it but they fall into several categories when you're talking trapping videos. Like LT, most do it as a helpful guide for others in the trade or sport. Some do it in hopes of increasing business and yet others do it as a social networking tool. Just another way to correspond with folks of like mind.

This thread brings up other "why" questions but they don't concern youtube videos so are probably not relevant. But they are pretty interesting none the less.

OT

Paul, am I on the list? Was there, bunked with Mark Melchoir (MI.) That was a watershed event in NWCO history.

I did this one cause the state has been indangering the public by their practices over the years and still does. I put my ad pitch at the back to sell my DVD's. I sent my dvd,s to the current and last Governor. Does no good. We have had several years of drought. It is going to take some wet years with some accidents to get their attention.

Then it is too late.

One of the stipulations for me to trap on GA. State right of ways was that the county I trapped in was responsible and they were the ones to pay me(State Road). Had to put up signs "DANGER" "BEAVER TRAPS". Also had to get a permit for each location. Had to give exact location. If I moved the trap 6" I had to get a new permit. They wanted me to make all live sets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujYQ4iUOYUM

You bet, Phil. I'm only missing the first page. Daniotti, Margie Darling, Erickson, Holper, Krier, Kruise, Mecum, Melchoir, Page, Pickel, Reichart, Rose, Dr. Robert Schmidt, Greg Smith (Tomahawk), Vantassel, and you and I. If anyone can add any from the first page, I'm missing the As and the Bs.

I don't envy you bunking with a Michigan guy. I've stayed with Krier a couple of times. If they ain't snoring, they're farting.