Sharing thoughts of all the ways people cut costs for trapping whether it is something minimal or big. Me personally I like to always try my best to buy used traps for my trapline. By doing this it helps cut the costs from new traps as used traps are usually less than new ones, have some upgrades on them, and sometimes even come dyed which helps on time and money. Same with stretchers buying used is a great way to cut costs and if you have a healthy amount of basswood in your area and you are decent at woodworking you can even make them yourself. Making your own rebar stakes / earth anchors are another way of saving money along with finding equipment around your area to help you for trapping. Be creative!

Don’t buy too much, if you do trade what you don’t want.

Pick your favorite 4oz. fox, cat, or coyote gland lure and mix it with about a pint of fresh turds of these species. Mix it into a paste. Add a little glycerin to keep it pasty. 4oz of lure is now a pint or more.

You can keep it species specific or mix it all all together. Works well no matter how you mix it.

Buy Quality Products

Ride your bike to check traps instead of taking your vehicle!!!!

I make my own super stakes, form boards, baits, harvest as much urine as I can, finish all my fur, map out my line so as not to backtrack, use quality traps, she traps with walnut hulls, many other ways also.

Doing your best to maintain the tools, traps and vehicles you already have. Neglect is much tougher on these things than hard use.

I try to make a few things along and use some things that work but are cheaper. But I'm slowly going to the get what you pay for side

Always keep an eye on scrap piles, you can find great stuff at times. My first drowning rods came from some fence tightener rods I found in a pile of junk fencing.

Will say one thing about used traps...you have to be wary about it. You don't know always if you're just buying someone else's problems. I've got a pile of traps that just needs to go to the scrapyard.

Partner up with a someone ,saves money, and time, or if you want run separately cover twice the ground end the day at the fur shed,

Make high percentage sets.

Good tools make you money

I have found this to be true as well. Used traps frequently have the original owners problems - poorly done night latching, weak springs, the list is long. If you can get them at the right price you might be able to replace the parts and come up with something workable but now you are spending more time and money to do it right. Consequently, I rarely buy used anymore unless they are in perfect condition.

That said - conventions are a good place to buy new traps especially on the last day when people would rather sell what they have than haul it back to their showroom.

I make my own earth anchors and rebar stakes. I peel sumac bark in the winter for trap dye. I save walleye fat from a couple hundred walleye I catch and make pure fish oil with very little slurry in it and no hassle that goes with doing whole fish. I make my own lures with glands I harvest. I make bait with woodchuck, rabbits deer, etc... I save feathers from duck hunting for attractors. I don't really do any of these things to save money, I enjoy doing it, but it does save some money. Probably more things but that's the short list

Guess I’m the oddball in the bunch. I don’t mind spending a little money for something I enjoy. As long as at the end of the year I make more than I spent...so far that’s been the case. Plus I can write off what I spend on my taxes, within reason, lol.

In my humble opinion I think you should get GOOD equipment the first time. Get a good heavy duty sifter, trapping hammer, earth anchor driver, etc. Spend a little more money the first time, and it will save you money on the long run. Cheap stuff, you'll have to replace often.

2X. I know, I have learned the hard way.

There are multiple threads on DIY projects if you do a search.

Just make sure to evaluate the cost of DIY versus buying from someone else.

Yep...if you have to buy a welder to diy something...you've blown all the savings unless you have a good CPA