I didn't start til I was 44.
Here’s what helped me shorten my learning curve by decades. Join your state trapping assn, Google it. ANd contact officers off their site and ask for a mentor to ride along with. MANY states have their own forums. Like here in NC. And TN has 2 and Va has 2 also and KY too. A mentor helps Learn trap prep and techniques and tricks and the laws in YOUR state regarding jaw spreads, shock springs, etc, etc. (( Laws vary a lot from state to state so BEWARE of FB and utube. You can be shown things that are illegal in your state!.)) This gets you in the info loop of FREE trappers ed classes and meets and fur sales/pick ups, and conventions. Then attend ALL YOU CAN, this shows folks you are serious and will be a good student. It sure helped open many doors for me and it could for you as well. ALSO, get several different trapping supply catalogs, like MTP, Dakotaline, Sterling Fur, FandT, PCS, Flemings, Northern Outdoors, Trap Shack, Schmitt enterprises, Southeastern outdoor supplies, JR & Sons, Grawes, rpoutdoors, etc etc, THEN circle gear you need, and give the catalogs to loved ones to buy your Birthday and Christmas and July 4 and Easter and Anniversary gifts. Explain to them, you want their money to go towards what you will use and need, as opposed to another sweater hanging in your closet. WORKS GREAT in our family.

for the 1st 2 gifts from loved ones, who want to help in this new challenge,
Click on the Dobbins link at the page top.
2 of the best books out there are:
Variations of the Flat Set
and
Land Sets and Techniques
written by Pauls father.

Good call. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. Thanks!

Thank you SO much for taking the time to write this. I'm 51. I joined the state trapping assn and have one officer say I could follow him along while he ran his line in the fall. I'll absolutely take him up on that. He mostly does water sets. I have another that I'm going to reach out to that they say does a lot of canine sets.

Right now I'm just trying to get my own gear together so I can set a few canine and a few coon traps when the season opens next month. I have a bunch of things to buy so that if I do finally catch something I know how to prepare it properly, having never skinned or prepared a pelt. I'm putting together a list of things I think I need based on the suggestions of others or what I see in videos.

I'll request some catalogs, too.

Run your list by your local mentor before ordering to double check....heck you could call or email some off the state assn. site.

This is what I cut my teeth on when I was younger, now my boys look at the same book almost daily. Some info is dated, but basics are there and with a little imagination your options are limitless. As trappers we are always looking for a edge or advantage to be better trappers, we as a whole are very ingenious group on solving problems that arise. If not you or me personally can figure something out, a simple post on here will get you many different options on what to do and why, there are trapping legends that walk the halls of this forum. I fully enjoyed the back pages of this book as a kid, food rations to pack for trapping, how to build a cabin, ect. It was a book that explained how I wanted to live as a child..

I super appreciate all the advice. I'm watching the videos available online and ordering some some of the books suggested. Thanks!

I was talking to another trapper and I mentioned that most of my leads for land owners have come from the police who suggested a few people that have predator issues and would likely be open to allowing me to set a few canine or coon traps there. This trapper suggested that I form an LLC as a trapper? I have a small homestead and sell a few things to friends, but I've never thought of an LLC. Has anyone, except for the ADC folks who do it as a business, done or considered this?

If you want to figure out how to trap raccoons there is no better video that tells u everything u need to know like Sam Woods “Fast track to coon trapping” on YouTube, promise! Shaved years off of learning and for coyotes I really like the book “one square mile” by Ed Schneider, maybe a bit advanced for a beginner but tons of useful info.

You will learn more from any of Mark June's DVDs then you will probably anywhere else. He makes it plain, simple, & easy to understand. It will put you on the fur!