How about marten?

Don't forget a trapper with a registered line isn't only relegated to trapping on that line. He can also trap private ground outside of crown land.

If we get the notion to go trap cototes out west, fox in the east, coon in the mid-west or Beaver/Otter down south, we can go do it and cover lots of turf via vehicle on roads. Those northern lines you have, i can't understand how you can put the numbers up like guys here do, while running a sno-go and chopping ice.

And first you have all those hoops to jump thru just to get a line. Here we just saddle up and get after it.

Boco, can you give an example of the square mile size of some of these line?

Thought we were talking registered lines?

Just because you can't understand it doesnt mean it can't be done. I'm not trying to be rude just trying to open your mind. There are guys in the lower 48 who have put up some pretty big numbers of beaver running off snocats and chopping ice. Don't forget they can also trap fall and spring. Boats and atvs are effective means of travel as well.

Also don't forget that some of these areas that Boco is talking about is south of where I live.

I thought we were talking about Canadian trappers. It doesnt matter though, 500 Beaver Plus marten, fisher, otter etc wouldnt be all that difficult in some of the areas I've spent time in. Biggest obstacle would be having a market to drive a man that hard.

I think my buddies line was something like 38 square miles. But It all wasn't trappable.

That's only a township, he needed a couple more lol.

I don't know about "Boco's" areas lines but my last BC line was probably a little larger than average at 305 sq. miles or basically 8.5 townships.

Can a US citizen buy a Trapline in Ontario?

Can a US citizen legally qualify as a helper on a line? If not, can a US citizen go along on the line as an observer or photographer.

Sometimes it is rough being an Alien!

By the way, I really like the Canadian approach of regulating traplines. I would love to have my own region with exclusivity.

Best wishes.

Thank you to all who contributed to this thread. A good educational thread for me and hopefully for others.

Bryce

My main trapline is roughly 350 sq km,and the other lines I trap are about the same.Just north of me there are lines 1200 sq km and further north bigger yet.
Some lines south and east are about 150 sq km,but are higher density for fur usually(more water,higher ground,less muskeg).The rule of thumb is that the further north you go the bigger the lines.

Unfortunately,maybe,Non residents of Canada cannot trap in Ontario.


Winter means better acess into better fur country.Trapping around roads is never as productive as getting into the interior of a trapline.

Ok I'll chime in on Saskatchewan.

Northern part of the province about 1/3 is all registered lines. Possible to get a line but must be voted on by the block. Price depends on cabins and gear. Lots of native line holders.

Southern part 2/3 s of the province is open and trap wherever you want on private land with permission. Also crown land which is accessible.

No limits here on any animals

Badger
Black bear
Beaver -----------------------open season in several zones but some are closed till trapping season
Bobcat(south end by US border)
Coyotes---------open season
Cougar
Fisher
Fox red,silver,cross
Lynx
Marten
Muskrat
Otter
Raccoon---------- open season
Skunk---------------open season
Squirrels
Weasle
Wolf
Wolverine( mostly on registered lines)

I trap in the southern zone. Most animals are available all over Saskatchewan except a few. Bobcats,marten cougar and wolverines are in certain zones.

Getting permission in southern zone is very easy but you will have some people say no. You are only limited on how much you want to trap by one factor, your drive. I have more access to land than I could ever trap. When fur prices are good there's more people trapping. When there poor like now there's not a lot. There are lots of coyote trappers and shooters right now. Beavers have a bounty on them in certain zones and turning in tails you can receive $15-40 a tail.

We have some of the best coyotes here. Coyotes are what I am going after most but will also set for other animals on my coyote lines.

Only residents can trap here.

Why don't you want to take one of your options to put up numbers?

My guess is northern Canada is much like here. I need 500 square miles just to scratch out a meager living. This would be about 1300 sq kilometers. In many places you will have to spend years cutting and maintaining trails. Trapping is not where the real work is.

Dirt I've done the ND thing on rats. And put up some decent numbers.
Trapped In the Carolinas for 15 years. Most of the time I was In the 380 range on beaver and 60 on otter. Best year was 406 beaver and 81 otter. WE all so did well In the live market.

I don't have a clue, but they know how to make beaver traps.

I always find the obsession with numbers odd. Is that how they score trapping these days? I certainly understand trapping lots of income producing wildlife, but catching 100's of animals that make me little money really has no appeal. I sometimes think the trapper motto should be "Work harder not smarter!"

This. For me access is the limiting factor. More trail equals more fur basically . Then a fire comes through and it’s back to square one. Spend a lot time of time checking beaver houses to find the live ones. And in order to reach out farther line camps need to be put up. But no other trappers even close by so I’m able to manage my take as I see fit. I digress- back to the Canadian system. What do you all do if a fire takes out your whole area?

Thanks Boco.
I understand the need for cold to trap, the fella we hunted with we used his trails and they weren't froze. Talk about a nightmare! lol.

We left for his camp at 8 one morning with all tracked 6 wheelers and Argo's. We corduroyed alot of places but turned around and didn't get out of that place till 2 tne next morning! If you stood in one place too long, ya started to sink, lol.

Next day we went north to a different line and barely got into that place. Till we left after 2 weeks, it was froze and we sifted right out. Talking to him since, with the global warming we have, he started to rent a helicopter during deer season to get hunters into his camps.

I also have a cousin who has trapped up there. Not sure how he did it, maybe just a ride along, but i'm not totally ignorant (just enough to ask dumb questions ;)) as to the trapping up there as some seem to think.

I spent two weeks in his camp and talked alot to him about his trapping. That's when he said about the 25 dollar bounty and how he run his line. Definitely a different world from what we have here.

Hope ya get some cold weather!