Has anybody had any luck finding traps at garage sales. I’m hoping to find some this year

You would better off earning some money and purchasing traps online. I have never seen even a single trap at a garages sale, but some people do get lucky and find some.

Keith

Check estate auctions

I saw a pile of traps at an estate sale.

I see random traps at garage sales but not consistently

Go to a state convention when they open the last day. Many good deals because people don’t want to bring stuff home. Gave away my secret.

I bought 5 330 Belisle at a garage sale for 15 each up here in Alaska.

I'm planning to hold a garage sale with traps offered later this summer.

Maybe I'll try to sell some on Alaska List.

Jim

I have come across live traps once in a while. Other traps found rarely, even here in MT.

When I do they're at estate sales and WAY over priced

What do you call over-priced?

Jim

Probably more then NEW prices.

Every once in a while you can get lucky. I bought a whole large bin of traps at an estate sale for about $20. There were a lot of good users in there (about 40) as well as a lot of collectors(20-30). Plenty of tags as well! Does not happen all the time but sometimes you can score big time.

Moosetrot

I explain it to people this way , when going to garage/estate sales , second hand stores and the like , it is hit or miss. With a LOT of misses. But when you hit , you hit good. Gotta put in the time and leg work.

Sounds like you hit it GOOD. I bet there was a lot of misses too.

X2

Yeah, I keep a sharp eye out and always ask if they have any old traps or hunting stuff, even if they don't have any out. When I go "garage sailing" I have a wad of cash for those lucky times when I can make a big buy. When I walk into a garage I always look up in the rafters, under benches, etc. Even if it's not tagged for sale I can make an offer. The worst that can happen is they can say "No".

Been pickin' for decades.

Moosetrot

when i lived in ohio i always found them at barn sales and most of the times you have to ask. but when they do 9 out of 10 times they are old muskrat traps. also a good way to get permision.

Nice thanks for the tips, I’ll be looking out for estate sales.

Around here people will buy them at auctions and then put them in their antique stores for crazy prices. Have offered a fair price (compared to new) to them but they say no. The stories they throw at you about how old and how antique they are is funny. I just laugh and walk away.

Russ

The amount of time and gas you spend taking a chance on finding good traps at a garage sale could be spent on newer or new traps on line or at conventions. Bite the bullet and get quality traps and equipment right off, you'll be better off in the long run.

Mason-I am going to agree with 20scout on this. I do a lot of garage and estate sales because I buy a lot of antiques, not just traps. Once in a while I happen upon some traps, most times nothing. If I wasn't going to the sales anyway, they may not be the best way to find and acquire traps.

Somebody said earlier that the conventions are a great place to get traps and other equipment. They are also a great way to learn a lot about traps and trapping. While you might get lucky and find some traps at sales, I can guarantee there will be traps at any convention you go to. It's worth the trip and you will probably be able to pick up any traps you are looking for at reasonable prices. Some of the manufacturers also offer great convention prices on their traps.

Picking is really fun when you have a broad range of things you are looking for. If you are looing for only one thing it can get pretty tedious and sometimes an outright waste of time.

Good luck!

Moosetrot