I am just trying to get a little insight on Missouri and how it is to trap out there. I am starting to look at places to move to after I get out of the army next year any advice will help.

Lots of coons, cats, yotes and mountains of possums. None of it really worth much. Prolly not the best place to trap, but it's where I was born and I'll probably live here until I'm dead, but if I was gonna move, Prolly Texas. Texas has loads of beautiful cats, good yotes, and great trapping regs.

I’ve learned to trap here in ks and the wife likes MO just can’t decide want a place where regs are close to here.

What's your target animal?

We have some of the finest grinners south of Iowa, north of Arkansas, west of the Mississippi, and East of where you're at. Be my personal guest, and come help me catch them! It's like a lot of places, all depends on where you're at as to what fur opportunities exist. Most of the state has at least a little of all of it that we can trap. Be sure and join our state trapping association. Members there can be of assistance in helping you get settled in, and possibly point you to some trapping opportunities. Should be openings about everywhere at current market prices.

My main focus is on coyotes and cats. I do trap some coon and do a little water trapping. It’s really just an outlet for me.

Stay North of 70

Do you need to be close to a city? What are looking into for a job when retired?

Not retiring just getting out. We don’t need to be near a city. Wife is a nurse. And I am looking on finishing up school and going into diesel mechanics.

Stay north of Highway 36, from there to the Iowa line would be good. Better fur to the north.

B

We have a lot of critters. Around here I would say fur prices are average(nothing is the best=west and north, nothing the worse=SE US). But trapping is an outlet so prices don't matter as much. Of course nurse can get a job any where. Diesel mechanic is all over the place=Ag. shop, construction, diesel tuning/chip. Any part of the state you are looking into? Rural? Medium town(3000 population and up)? Hour drive of major city?

We are looking near Cameron or liberty area.

Cameron area is good country. It’ll offer all the species of critters you mentioned. Mo coyotes as a whole are pretty poor quality but there’s tons of them.

Very familiar with the area. To each their own but Liberty is solid city and will only get worse. Trapping permission will be hard as land is divided up and they are afraid Fido or Kitten will be caught by the big metal toothed trap. Cameron would be much better but I would never live/drink Cameron water as they had some brain tumor issues(search it). Maybe nothing but wouldn't want to take a chance. Kearney isn't bad but it will get built up too(nothing wrong if that is what you like). I like small towns. Good small towns/communities/schools in that area are: Polo, Hamilton, Weston, Dearborn, Faucett, and Gower(and in that order). If you have kids, I teach and can vouch for all of those schools.

We do have two kids a four year old and a two year old. I like small towns as well. Thanks for all the input. My wife said she liked Missouri after driving to the taxidermist this week. She’s been looking at houses. Cameron liberty and apparently smithsville.

Be prepared for the weather as well. Some years we get harsh winters with tons of snow, some years you are trapping in a t-shirt, other years it's a draught, the next year it's a flood. Not sure how this stacks ups to kansas, but it seems like in about 5 seasons I have trapped 5 different types of conditions. Can be frustrating.

I’ve only been in Kansas for a couple years but I know how that is I grew up in Colorado

I grew up on south edge of KC and hope to never get back closer than an hour from there. Liberty is too close and Smithville is pretty darn close now days. I personally would stay north of Cameron or.......down by the national forest or around USACE land near Truman, Pomme, Stockton.......in Missouri you can drive to a bigger city usually within an hour. I would try to maximize that hour distance. As a nurse, your wife can work anywhere - many of the smaller towns are having a hard time finding nurses. For you - you need to figure out if you want to work on diesel ag or trucks or what and go from there. More ag in north Missouri but still quite a bit of haying down south Missouri just not much row crop.

Sounds like the guy for around here. Lots of coyotes (that need to be GONE), also need a diesel semi mechanic. A GOOD ONE!

The thing to remember as far as trapping, there is a big difference in fur in each part of the state. Northern Missouri fur is better quality IMO only. I know some will argue that.
I've heard some of the older trappers say it this way
Iowa to I-70---Great fur
I-70 to I-44---Good fur
I-44 to Arkansas---fair

B