^^and as already mentioned, the Archives here is amazing!..but still no substitute for a mentor and in the field training.

Trapped as a kid, but it was almost 35 years when I started back at 50. Didn’t have anyone, but I found this site and binge read the archives one weekend and saved the important ones that I thought would help. Struggled and and still do, but I learn as I go. I can watch someone or videos all day long, but until it wasn’t until I got my feet wet that it all started coming together. Just get out and throw some still in the deck and get learning.

I got him connected.

My beaver trapping ADC biz all started with Pauls Beaver Sites and Sets dvd, his Summertime Beaver dvd is good for off season work
A loved one should be getting you this for an upcoming gift!

I gota ask if you tried asking some of these folks for a mentor, to shorten your learning curve? http://www.gatrappersassoc.com/officers-and-directors.html

I started at age 44, and had I not swallowed my pride, etc, and attended a few FREE Trappers Ed classes and attended our conventions to see more demos, then picked those teachers brains and asked for local mentors thru my state assn I would have never earned a good living doing full time ADC work a few yrs later.

Go to conventions to look for used traps if you chose to go that route. Make offers the LAST morning of the convention as many times guys prefer to not carry stuff home. For going public with this National secret I hope I don’t get impeached. Look at the list of dealers attending. My experience is paying them in advance and you avoid shipping cost. I’m so cheap if I rub two buffalo nickels together I can make at least one of them s—-.

I have a job and make great money. I have no desire to retire and do full time ADC work. I enjoy trapping and make enough money at it to pay for my addiction.
As far as asking anyone on there for help, no. Not a one listed is in my area code. I have asked a few trappers I know to ride along and was basically told no. Guess fear of losing a property to a novice scares them. I have however talked to many great trappers on here who have offered advice and solutions.
Just curious, are you the same Trapper John that works SWGA? Or do you advertise for help on FB?

Wanna BE wrote:
"As far as asking anyone on there for help, no. Not a one listed is in my area code. I have asked a few trappers I know to ride along and was basically told no. Guess fear of losing a property to a novice scares them."

It is an odd but understandable truth. You can get on a forum and guys from hundreds of miles away would basically give you the dirt off their back as far as information goes. Ask someone in the next town over and you can expect a big old NO!
When I was starting out, local trappers would take a leak on you if you were on fire.
Mac

No one not a soul around me would give you any help. The local beaver trapper would have his wife drop him off so know one know where he was trapping.
but come snow time I would get on his tracks and follow him on the line. I learned a lot by doing that and I never once touched his traps or messed with his sets.

I gave the beginner trapper a # that should get him on the road. But so far he has not read my PM.

I have seen similar cases in the hunting world. I was lucky to grow up hunting and learning the trade from an early age, but had friends who had no one to teach them growing up. I took a few under my wing and taught them how to hunt deer, duck, and turkey. But now I’m in their boat with trapping, and this forum has already been a world of help. Just read and responded to your message, Beav. Thank you all for the valuable advice. Looking forward to sharing my progress with you all.