Fast food businesses make a lot of money on soft drinks. The disposable cup is $0.10. The flavoring, carbonation and water totals $0.15. Throw in $0.25 for labor and overhead and the total cost is ~$0.50 a glass regardless of size. The cost to the customer however is $1.75 or more so this is one item that offsets other items where the costs are higher. Thus, profit is being made.

Hardware stores sell 4-pack aluminum ferrules at 5 times what you’d pay for them at a trapper’s supply place. Shoe stores, clothing stores, automotive parts stores, all have 100+ % markups and at some point, especially with high product turn over, they’ll see profit. I won’t even get into the $10 aspirins nor the $75 boxes of Kleenex hospitals charge. Or the gazillions whole-life insurers make, while paying you a minimal 3% on your money.

As trappers, besides the inherent benefits of being outdoors, what is our “ace in the hole” or ‘low cost-high profit’ item that gives us a financial incentive to keep trapping? I’m thinking there is no real financial incentive for hobby trappers to stay with it. The love of the sport is where it’s at. For long liners and lure makers, I’d assume you know where the break even point and the point in which there is enough profit to stay in the game.

I tried to figure it out one time. Many times, actually. Mileage always pushed me from profitability to loss. At today’s tax rate for mileage, it doesn’t pay to be driving a 16 mile per gallon vehicle. With low fur prices, you have to knock off over 100 decent coon just to pay for gas some years. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve trapped un-profitably for many years and I’m not about to quit any time soon. But, for those who routinely see an income from trapping, where does it come from?

Although some fur trappers may fair well the ace in the hole would be when they ADC trap.

100% right! ADC is where its at, for most. IF you can find, the right people. Their is NO reason you cant get 250-350 dollars a day trapping coyotes IF your good at it.

Yes, ADC where the money is...but for some reason I just hate doing it.

BUT even in years where you LOSE money, this can work as a financial benefit in regards to taxes on your normal 9-5... for a profit in the end (or less taxes paid).

Not to mention all my traps, boats, trucks, traps, insurance, fuel and maintenance is paid for out of the trapping account. That's money we don't have to use from our regular 9-5 account.

But yeah...it's going to be a few very lean years for the IRS in regards to "profit" in fur trapping.

Ace in the hole? Mmmmm. Not sure there is one right now for fur....Probable a couple coyote/cat guys doing alright if they are hitting the right areas. We need a coon or rat spike again. At least I do.

Calvin touched on it, good records for the tax man.

Trapping is hard compared to most other outdoor endeavors. That's why there aren't that many of us by comparison.Ya gotta love it and if the small check pays the gas and Xmas gifts that's fine. Today I am going trout fishing with my fly rod with flies I made myself. If I am lucky and get my limit of 3 fish I will have a meal. When gas, snacks, etc are added up those three trout will cost more than in any high end restaurant.

YouTube

Tanned fur done yourself
Send it out and have hats and such made
I'm trying to get the sewing down
But its not as easy as sewing cloth

It cost me about $5 in fuel to run the snowmobile to check my coyote line.
I averaged $130 on my coyotes last year. Each coyote gave me enough money to check my line 26 times. I probably checked my line 15 times all winter. I made money! If the coyotes don’t pay good money then I’m sure the Marten or Fisher will be paying good. I made enough money on the second sale to pay for years and years worth of gas. Pimp!

5 bucks gets me to the first trap on one line, and gets the truck and trailer to the parking spot on the second line. And my lines are all close. Still make money, but each run is more likely about thirty bucks each trap run, not to mention oil for the sled, cost of the sled, bearings in the suspension, etc. And I have two ATVs and a boat that also gets used.

I am not making money to speak of when catching fiften dollar beaver and forty dollar fisher this past year.

Nuisance trapping, while I don't like killing an animal I would otherwise pursue because it is a "nuisance", it pays better at 150 a critter.

30 yrs of puttin up fur for buyers.

The line I run with lower fur prices starts a mile from my home. I run 6 permissions at ounce. Total mileage for that loop is 60 miles. My main target is yotes but I take every animal available as long as the location is close to the truck. The other species pay for gas. All while working full time. I wish the yotes here averaged 130, I'd be doin back flips.. The biggest cost is gas, time management is key..

Don't quit your day job!

Selling just your fur there's not much money to be made. But find a market for glands and skunk essence and there's a few more bucks.

All adds up.. 2 5 dollar coon pays for gas.

I work slower than you, two five dollar coons pay for the skinning and put up of one.

I’m going to have to run shorter lines with more traps and catch more per stop. The days of catching lots of high dollar anything have come, gone, and will be here some time in the future.

Pocket gopher contracts complete with township bounty. Per animal payment from land owner, and walking the pocket gopher line has been shown to be profitable. There are no glands to harvest but Trapper Arts in Wisconsin has been known to buy the carcasses if it isn’t too costly to drive there. ADC work seems to get the best $$ for the work done.

There you have it.
And ADC is not a hobby, so justifying your trapping as a business to the IRS is easier, if you do end with a net loss some time.

The money is in trapping other trappers. Sell lure, books, personal instruction, etc. That's not for me.

I was at Sutters Mill during the gold rush . Went bust digging for gold but made a fortune selling picks and shovels.

Understood, but I sell my coon rough skinned. For now anyway.