For me the experience was just the opposite, people were very into sharing. The thing a person has to do is be extremely humble while meeting seasoned Alaskan's and you MUST remember, you have 2 ears and one mouth.

I've been here a few years and met plenty of friendly folks.

Most of them don't want to point you to their favorite hunting spot, fishing holes or share their trapline, but they are very nice folks.

The neighboring trapper starting encroaching into my country, so after many verbal disputes. we had a knock down throw all rules out fight. Now i have more trap line.

I would be the same way if I were an Alaskan Trapper, or if I was anywhere else. I know places where trout can be caught on NY rivers that know one else knows about, and I'll take my sectets to the grave. So I totally get it.
I don't want to encroach upon anyone, and I want to be isolated enough that no one is croweding me either.

I just want to know "how" things work there, how to aquire my own piece, far from any other living soul.



I want to know the answers to things like;
Can I just wander 500 hundred miles into the interior and begin trapping and erect a cabin.?

Would anyone be willing to answer that for starters.?


Where I am from the answer is "No." I am Not allowed to pack back into the Adirondacks and build a structure out of which to trap. Thus the basis of my question concerning Alaskan ground.

Thank you guys for bearing with me.

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Great question i will be following this one closely as I am now planning a trip to Alaska in March for a couple job interviews and some house hunting. So if everything work's out i will be looking into finding a spot of my own.

Isnarewolves may have gained a little more trapline and I lost mine but just for you all's information, he's a lot tougher than he looked. I may have ended up with a broken nose and a few bumps and bruises but my new trapline is pretty sweet

You’ve been given good info. To sum it up, in my opinion: you have to get here first, then start looking. For reasons like Oh Snap’s story, you’re not going to get very much information over the internet, no matter how genuine you are. You’ll get a lot more help in person. But like others said, unless you happen to stumble across someone wanting to sell a line, you’re still going to have to scout and find it yourself. I consider scouting and establishing a line sort of a “rite of passage.” Anyone can set traps, and anyone can follow a trail blazed by someone else. But nothing proves you’ve got the grit like learning the land and doing the hard work that comes before the fur.

If you’re coming here to work and live, then those are going to determine where you’re based. From there you start scanning Google Earth and land ownership maps, most of which are available online but only by borough I believe (I’m not aware of a statewide ownership map.) USFWS has a good interactive ARCGIS map on their website that shows major landholders. Basically you start looking for good looking areas and access, then get out and scout during trapping season to see if anyone else is there. And still, some people take rest years from their lines, and might come back next year and claim it. So it really takes a lot of homework and legwork just to get started. Your mode of access will make the biggest difference in where you can go. Boat? Snowmachine? ATV? Foot? All have limitations, and a learning curve.

For me the experience was just the opposite, people were very into sharing. The thing a person has to do is be extremely humble while meeting seasoned Alaskan's and you MUST remember, you have 2 ears and one mouth.