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Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Wayofthewoodsman] #6524842
04/24/19 07:22 PM
04/24/19 07:22 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 206
Ridgefield, WA
B
Bearguy Offline
trapper
Bearguy  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 206
Ridgefield, WA
I did this work about 25 years ago. I worked for a contractor, so I don't know all the particulars of the contract, but I know it was based on per acre charge. It believe at that time he was charging about $18 an acre. The distance to travel was figured in to the bid. I would imagine that price per acre now to be two or three times as much. Hundreds of 110 conibears are gonna be needed. Your wasting your time setting and checking 15 traps.


All you "Woke" people need to go back to sleep!
Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Wayofthewoodsman] #6524848
04/24/19 07:32 PM
04/24/19 07:32 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,484
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,484
james bay frontierOnt.
I worked full time seasonal as a nuisance agent for a company.I retired 6 years ago.
They supply the vehicle,and all equipment.Wages currently for that job now are $32/hr-10hr days-40 hrs week-Time and 1/2 for all hrs over 40.Per diems are $150 per day.
If you have to supply your own vehicle and equipment,adjust accordingly.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Wayofthewoodsman] #6524870
04/24/19 08:13 PM
04/24/19 08:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13,076
Central Pennsylvania
Nittany Lion Offline
Don't call me Mister, Mister
Nittany Lion  Offline
Don't call me Mister, Mister

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13,076
Central Pennsylvania
Do you have to punch a time clock?


I got myself a seniors' GPS.
Not only does it tell me how to get to my destination,
it tells me why I wanted to go there.
Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Wayofthewoodsman] #6524887
04/24/19 08:48 PM
04/24/19 08:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,194
Alaska and Washington State
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waggler Offline
trapper
waggler  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,194
Alaska and Washington State
I'm not a ADC trapper, but the ones I know charge per animal plus set up fee and a check fee (each time you check your traps). However, if they insist on an hourly wage $30 per hour isn't enough, by the time you pay self employment tax (15%) plus mileage and wear and tear on you rig, insurance, etc., you'll be lucky to clear $20 an hour.
If they insist on hourly, then set an hourly rate plus mileage.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Wayofthewoodsman] #6524918
04/24/19 09:36 PM
04/24/19 09:36 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 7,680
Virginia
5
52Carl Offline
trapper
52Carl  Offline
trapper
5

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 7,680
Virginia

I will assume that you have no idea how much time it takes to catch one mountain beaver, not to mention enough of them to solve their problem.
First thing I do with these type of problems is to have them tell me how much monetary damage the mountain beavers are causing them. Then all you need to do is come in with a price significantly less than that amount. I like to have a 3 to 1 benefit-to-cost ratio. In other words, for every dollar they spend on you, they save 3 dollars in damage.
Once you get that information, you can select an hourly wage for yourself. I would not go under $25/hour. Mileage should be charged according to operating costs including price of fuel, maintenance, and truck payment. 50 cents/mile is what I use. Then you will need to charge for traps and trapping supplies.
Doing business in this fashion requires gaining the trust from people for whom you work. But then if you just charge by the animal, there is also a trust factor involved.
Once you work up all of these costs, you can plug in how much time will be available to reach the 3 to 1 benefit-to-cost ratio figure.
Example: The guy tells you that they are causing $6,000 in damage. This means that you have $2,000 to work with. Once you have charged that amount, you will either be done, or it is time to set up a new agreement.

Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Wayofthewoodsman] #6524928
04/24/19 09:48 PM
04/24/19 09:48 PM
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 44
Oregom
W
Wayofthewoodsman Offline OP
trapper
Wayofthewoodsman  Offline OP
trapper
W

Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 44
Oregom
This company is very large and they already use a team of trappers as well but there apparently is a lot of activity showing up. I assume I will just be taking care of the smaller units at first until I have proven myself. I was thinking about getting about 100 conibears to start. I am not experience with mountain beaver specifically but have the technical knowledge and have been trapping other rodents for quite some time, so I have no doubt I will be successful at it. I really thank everyone for their input, it really does help. Do you think with this kind of trapping and the large amount of traps I will need that I should just go with what is cheap? I was thinking Duke or Bridger although it seems like Victor and Sleepy Creek are better quality... but twice the price. Also I am curious but do you all buy stakes or make your own? Again I apologize for the newbie questions. Thank you.

Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Wayofthewoodsman] #6524956
04/24/19 10:33 PM
04/24/19 10:33 PM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,561
SE Minnesota
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dustytinner Offline
trapper
dustytinner  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,561
SE Minnesota
Pm sent


Life member Minnesota Trappers Association
FTA,Sportsmen's Alliance
Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Wayofthewoodsman] #6524960
04/24/19 10:39 PM
04/24/19 10:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,170
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
trapper
beaverpeeler  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,170
Oregon
In some cases the company may be willing to spring for the traps. Trapping boomers is hard work, lots of hiking up and down in rough terrain. And you need to set 100's of traps and flag them for retrieval. PM Bearguy as he's an expert. But it is basically just finding their runs and dens and setting them up. Pretty simple.


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Wayofthewoodsman] #6525182
04/25/19 10:35 AM
04/25/19 10:35 AM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,904
Adirondacks, NY
Fisher Man Offline
trapper
Fisher Man  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,904
Adirondacks, NY
Mountain beavers are far smarter than them flatland beaver.

Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Fisher Man] #6525190
04/25/19 10:45 AM
04/25/19 10:45 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,694
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
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Trapper7 Offline
trapper
Trapper7  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,694
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
Originally Posted by Fisherman
Mountain beavers are far smarter than them flatland beaver.


I'm not familiar with mountain beaver, but I've seen some pretty smart flatland beaver. When their buddies start disappearing, they can wise up pretty fast. Especially if they saw one dead in a castor-based set. They will avoid pinch sets or anything castor after that. Sometimes they get spooked and won't move for days.


We are told not to judge all Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but are told to judge all gunowners by the actions of a few.
Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Wayofthewoodsman] #6525264
04/25/19 01:34 PM
04/25/19 01:34 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,484
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,484
james bay frontierOnt.
Are they any good for bait for fur trapping?


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: bowhunter27295] #6525268
04/25/19 01:38 PM
04/25/19 01:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 206
Ridgefield, WA
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Bearguy Offline
trapper
Bearguy  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 206
Ridgefield, WA
Originally Posted by bowhunter27295
Are these the ones that carry the holy grail of insects, the mountain beaver flea? I am not kidding. These fleas are VERY valuable in the insect market. Look them up.

Yes, one and the same. However you would go broke collecting them for sale.(I didn't even know there was an insect market) After handling thousands of Mountain Beaver I saw two of the giant fleas. This may be because the animal had been dead for a while, or maybe they're rare?
More Mountain Beaver factoids: Most NW outdoorsman, foresters, and the general public that is aware of them call them Boomers. They make an unusual sound that some describe as booming. They are very secretive and rarely seen. I know many foresters that have never seen one, after working in the outdoors for decades. I have only seen three.


All you "Woke" people need to go back to sleep!
Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: Wayofthewoodsman] #6525389
04/25/19 04:35 PM
04/25/19 04:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,760
S.W.Oregon
newhouse114 Offline
trapper
newhouse114  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,760
S.W.Oregon
It is obvious that most folks here are thinking about normal fur trapping methods. When you get into a large Boomer colony it is all about finding runs and setting traps. You don't target individual animals, you try to clear an area of infestation. Either a per acre or hourly rate is the only way to price the job. You should have some idea how long the job will last. Trapping boomers is more like planting tree than it is like fur trapping.


Life Member NTA & FTA
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain

http://alaskastoneanivory.com/index
Re: Trapping mountain beavers... what to charge? [Re: newhouse114] #6525403
04/25/19 04:55 PM
04/25/19 04:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 187
Mass.
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Trapper Don Offline
trapper
Trapper Don  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 187
Mass.
I highly recommend by the hour including.travel and any documentation time..
I charge if special equipment is needed...aka tracked 4x4. It usually saves me time so I loose money, so I'll add 1 hour per day and make it up that way.
Using this plan 22 years been working well.
Good luck
Don

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