Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
#6417548
01/03/19 05:42 PM
01/03/19 05:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 336 Homer, Alaska, USA
Wolverine Hunter
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 336
Homer, Alaska, USA
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I'm looking to be educated on this subject. Down in MN - we find a space, and we trap where we want. We be considerate of others and don't crowd them. We trap private land. And we trap big pieces of public land which is owned by the state or is county tax forfeit. There is no such thing (to my knowledge) as buying or owning a trapline.
I want to know if this is feasible in Alaska, to be able to trap wherever you want (as long as it's public) - as in, on the Kenai Peninsula?
I also keep hearing about people "buying" or "owning a trapline" on the forums, and elsewhere. Ok - when this happens, what exactly does that mean? I know it's a trail that has been brushed out (a lot of work I imagine) that goes a long ways and perhaps in many directions over a territory. Who was the original seller and buyer? How is that territory staked out? In vast areas - what's to keep someone from "horning in" on that area close enough to work the wolverine and wolf - who have really large territories? What does "owning a trapline" entitle the owner to - exactly?
My mind has just been really busy trying to find answers to this stuff. It's all foreign to me here in the lower 48 - so I thought I'd ask!
I'm going to start putzing with trapping in AK SOON, but eventually, I could see myself retiring younger than most, and getting after it in a much larger way.
Appreciate your thoughts, knowledge and experience...
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6417579
01/03/19 06:12 PM
01/03/19 06:12 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421 Yukon
yukon254
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
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I think if I was going to move to AK with the intent on trapping really hard I would lean towards the southeast. Im not far from there as the crow flies and the few guys I know over there do pretty well. There seems to be a lot more open country there that isn't being utilized than in the interior. AV and trapped4ever will have a lot better information than I do.
I do know this. A couple of years ago a guy from Ohio got in touch with me. He wanted to book one of our trapline trips so he could learn the basics of trapping up north. This fellow was a welder in his mid-50s. He had already sold his house in Ohio, and bought a place in Wasilla. He had bought the house without ever actually seeing it, or the country side around it. The real estate agent had really keyed off this poor guys desire to trap. His plan was to move up there, weld out of his house part time, and trap pretty much full time. The agent had told him he could skidoo right out of his house and had millions of square miles all to himself as far as trapping was concerned. This poor guy thought it was the truth too. I told him that I have a lot of family and friends in that exact area and he was going to find it impossible to find enough un-trapped ground to do any serious trapping out of his house. He didnt like hearing that so I never heard from him again, but I sure felt sorry for him. A lot of people in the lower 48 dont realize how many people are in Alaska now. Last I heard the population was about 1 person per square mile. A few lower 48 states have fewer. Every time I go to Anchorage Im shocked at how its grown! It feels like LA now....people everywhere.
Alaska is no different than where I trap here in Yukon as far as species/methods. Where we differ is we have the registered trapline system and AK doesn't. In both places the golden key to success is miles and miles of trail. To get big numbers and make money you have to have a lot of country to trap, there is no other way. A few miles wont cut it. I've been trapping the same line for about 15-years now and I'm still cutting and opening up new country. I think you are going to find it much tougher than you expect to find enough open country to trap without stepping on toes. Listen to the Alaskan guys on here, they are the best in the business, and will send you in the right direction. Good luck!
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6417599
01/03/19 06:27 PM
01/03/19 06:27 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,286 Maine, Aroostook
Posco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,286
Maine, Aroostook
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Not to be a contrarian but look at people in Alaska in another way. I just checked an unofficial site and it claimed Alaska has a population of about 750,000 people in 2018. It's probably safe to say darn near half of those people live in or near Anchorage. The Fairbanks area will account for some more.
That's not a lot of people for a state of that size.
Last edited by Posco; 01/03/19 06:28 PM.
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6417611
01/03/19 06:50 PM
01/03/19 06:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,568 western alaska
Malukchuk
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,568
western alaska
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When you move down to the Kenai south east area make sure you bring a canoe.
Water is good for two things, Floating Ships and making Beer.
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6417684
01/03/19 08:42 PM
01/03/19 08:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,201 Armpit, ak
Dirt
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,201
Armpit, ak
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yukon254 Just let him learn the truth when he gets here. Personally, his picture puts him a little long in the tooth for fun bush whacking and trail breaking and overflow swimming.
Last edited by Dirt; 01/03/19 08:44 PM.
Who is John Galt?
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6417775
01/03/19 10:20 PM
01/03/19 10:20 PM
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Oh Snap
Unregistered
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Oh Snap
Unregistered
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Go to the Alaska Trappers Association site above, go to the bottom of the page, read the Trappers Code of Ethics. That will give you a good idea of what Ethical Trappers practice here in Alaska, We are not Minnesota! Alaska is hungry country. It takes a lot of land for a trapline to be farmed with a large buffer zone. This is JMO
Traplines are sold but the land is not usually unless the line has a private piece of land and cabin you trap from. Snap
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6417786
01/03/19 10:29 PM
01/03/19 10:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 336 Homer, Alaska, USA
Wolverine Hunter
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 336
Homer, Alaska, USA
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Dirt - looks can be pretty deceiving. Cant really judge a man by his looks. But you can try, if you want. I've been busting my hump in AK for six summers now - doing all that you described above. Just haven't done it trapping yet... :-) Theres a thing called desire. It fires up the belly. And it overwhelms anything you see on the exterior. You might understand when you start seeing my pictures...
To all : I should clarify that I already have a home in Homer in summer. I scrounge around the Kenai Mountains pretty hard. Climb them, kill a bear, and come down the same day. Alone. Not bad for an old geezer. My trapping will be limited though, because of time, and because I have zero gear in AK. I will be getting geared up and prepared this season. More next. The dream would be hopefully to have a line somewhere, somehow, someday. But for now, home base is Homer, and whatever is within reach of that on the KP.
Malukchuk - I got a canoe. And a good ATV. Need a snow machine - as Alaskans call them, and a freight sled. Looking for traps and tools and safety gear. Bringing a bunch up with me in my luggage real soon!
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Boco]
#6417820
01/03/19 11:12 PM
01/03/19 11:12 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421 Yukon
yukon254
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
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Your only 54? wish I was 54 again. Heck Boco, if you're gonna dream, dream big! How about 24!
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6418176
01/04/19 12:57 PM
01/04/19 12:57 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,512 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,512
james bay frontierOnt.
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Who gets a line that becomes vacant(death,etc)-and who decides?Even though most have a helper that buys a guy out,or a relative that takes over that traps,there are always lines that become vacant.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Boco]
#6418274
01/04/19 02:55 PM
01/04/19 02:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421 Yukon
yukon254
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
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Who gets a line that becomes vacant(death,etc)-and who decides?Even though most have a helper that buys a guy out,or a relative that takes over that traps,there are always lines that become vacant.
I would think in cases where a trapper didnt have a family member or helper that would take over after he quite, there would be someone in the area who would jump in and take over. I do know it would really tick me off to have someone start trapping any lines I've spent years cutting and managing. Im glad we dont have to worry about that here. Lines cost a lot of money, but once you pay for them they are yours.
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6418302
01/04/19 03:32 PM
01/04/19 03:32 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,201 Armpit, ak
Dirt
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,201
Armpit, ak
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My trails will virtually disappear a few years after I disappear. Between the constant trees falling over and fast brush growth it is a constant battle to call them trails.
Who is John Galt?
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Dirt]
#6418323
01/04/19 04:02 PM
01/04/19 04:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421 Yukon
yukon254
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
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My trails will virtually disappear a few years after I disappear. Between the constant trees falling over and fast brush growth it is a constant battle to call them trails. Mine are much the same Dirt. The old timer I bought the line from told me that I was going to be amazed at the amount of timber that comes down over the course of a year and he was right! Even on my main trails I carry a saw everywhere I go and use it daily. I envy the guys that trap at higher altitudes where you can go anywhere and never cut a stick.
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6418347
01/04/19 04:36 PM
01/04/19 04:36 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,512 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,512
james bay frontierOnt.
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Sometimes it is easier to cut a new trail than try to open an old one.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6418350
01/04/19 04:39 PM
01/04/19 04:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,221 Alaska and Washington State
waggler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,221
Alaska and Washington State
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Everyone has to start somewhere, I don't begrudge anyone pursuing a dream. That being said, I hear of a lot of guys who dream, and even actually start planning a move to Alaska without ever having visited the State.
Airfare is so affordable nowadays and travel in general is pretty easy. There is no excuse for not spending a month or more just exploring a couple of places you think you might want to relocate to. If you don't have the funds to do that you shouldn't really even be thinking about it; dreaming yes, planning no.
I know a lot of guys who did move to Alaska sight-unseen back in the 70's; it worked for many of them, many of them left with their tails between their legs. However, it's not 1974 anymore.
"My life is better than your vacation"
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6418807
01/05/19 02:33 AM
01/05/19 02:33 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144 AK
bfisch
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144
AK
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A couple of months ago there was a fellow on here that was trapping out of a mine somewhere. During that thread it was mentioned that a trapper had passed in that general country and his widow might be looking to sell his line. If we are thinking of the same one, I only know of the couple second hand, but I think you will need a plane to get in unless you plan to fly to a village and snow machine from there at least 40 miles as the crow flies to where it might start. I guess you could boat in and spend the winter. Should be good marten, beaver, and wolf country with the occasion wolverine and lynx around.
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Re: Do you own a trapline? Know anybody who does?
[Re: Wolverine Hunter]
#6419779
01/06/19 04:18 AM
01/06/19 04:18 AM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,500 Kenai AK
KenaiKid
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,500
Kenai AK
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Your question has been answered, but I’ll sum it up: You don’t legally own a trapline in Alaska unless it’s all on private land, which would make it a very small line by our standards. You can own real estate (like a cabin along the line) equipment and most importantly, knowledge, but the vast majority of us trap on the millions of acres of federal, state and tribal land with no exclusive ownership whatsoever. The only thing that keeps us from stealing lines is decency, respect and secrecy. So when a trapline is sold in Alaska, what you’re getting is the knowledge and whatever real estate or equipment is included. You still have the same risk of interlopers that the previous owners did.
Boco couldn't catch a cold. But if he did, it would be Top Lot.
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