Made the mistake of trading out some beaver trapping for a friend in trade for some other work I needed done (estimated value $450). I thought going in I was going to tag 2-3 beavers and be done, so it was a good deal. 9 beavers later, I was ready to eat my hat...

Some jobs whether beaver or coyote work can end up being more time and expense then you first anticipated. Since I have done this longer then most and when you are doing this for a part of your annual income you learn to bid for the unforeseen as more times then not it ends up that way. Interference from do gooders, stolen equipment, traps set off, time spent watching the job site to prevent more lost equipment etc. It all adds up fast on some jobs.

I have had some beaver and coyote jobs that took way more time and effort then initially expected. Some go like clock work others not at all.

Oh heck, a simple grey squirrel job with an entrance a 10 feet off the ground can cost a lot more than you anticipate when you catch a squirrel, then a grackel, a couple sparrows, then the baby greys finally decide its time to make it out of the hole. By this time the customer is so paranoid that every sound they hear is a squirrel. Then the carrion flies show up...

Point is, even the simple jobs can become stupidly complicated when you least expect it. In my experience, this only happens when you think the job is simple and quote a price that reflects how hard you think the job will be.

Had a big job this spring and charged per beaver. 4 weeks and 84 beaver later and still made out very good.

Emphasis on BIG! Nice job. A job like that could’ve missed out if it was quoted on a per trip basis.



This is spot on. Especially the last sentence lol. Recently caught 12 moles in less than a .25 acre. Every time I showed up there was more activity.

Some jobs I price per animal and others I give a flat rate and maybe a per trip cost added on. I’m moving more and more towards flat rates. Many times customers freak out thinking you’re going to catch 40 squirrels despite what you tell them. I know this is a beaver topic but could go either way.

Maybe a setup fee, per trip fee, and then a per animal fee is best. Drop the $40 trip if you get a $100 animal that day. Just thinking out loud here.

I have always found over time a set up fee and a per trip fee will cover time vested and mileage all the time. Profits are based on your experience on how well you bid your per trip basis in most cases. If multiple catches are expected and extra time/work is anticipated a per animal fee is added at times. Some jobs are fluid others are simple and basic.

Per animal fees only work don't allow much profit most of the time I have found. In fact you will loose money in many cases on those types of jobs due to the go back for nothing trips. Set off traps, interference type scenarios etc. Just not enough profit or margin for error in that method of pricing for a full business operation.

A one man show you may get by but not much to show for it unless you don't value your services to a higher standard and profit margin. When you are paying considerable monthly overhead you begin to re think your business model.

If you cant handle some jobs efficiently you shouldnt pass on the cost of that ineptitude to customers.
Every job must be charged on the same basis to every customer to be ethical.if you dont have the depth of experience to catch educated beaver and have to make a bunch of extra trips the customer should not eat that cost-you should.

I charge based upon distance and yes, difficulty. if I'm ineptitude about it,.then so be it. As long i get paid, i'm good with whatever someone wants to call me. I stay busy, so, must be doing something right. It's also the customers right to refuse my proposal. Free market here in the U.S..............Sarge

Sometimes there are limiting conditions...like permission limits...beaver on other side of creek/ pond where no permission is granted. Or a lone single beaver that has a mind of its own....no pattern...long time between visiting where your traps are positioned. Careful scouting and then questioning can help when pricing jobs like this but still there are those unusual situations that can’t be helped.

Beaver jobs you have to charge per beaver. Depending on the time of season things can change ver fast.

Now that sounds like a fun job. Most beaver jobs are fun, but that one sounds great

A big consideration is who's paying and how fast you will get paid, if it is a landowner on the spot that is one thing if you are doing it for a large company/ industry you need to charge more because most take a couple of months to pay. Plus you may have safety requirements that add extra time into the job. Charging by the animal can be a tough go depending on the situation. Do you require insurance, not all jobs are the same.
One place I do beaver work requires me to wear category three high visibility clothing, which is extra and above just trapping the beaver.

I say, do what works for you. If you are satisfied with per animal and set up fees vs hourly. Then who cares, as long as it works for you. I've tried it that way, didn't work for me. so, i went to hourly and that works. Might have to go up on my prices since everything is costing more.

I don't worry about who's doing what and isn't. The beavers will force people into doing some type of removal sooner or later. The problem will not fix itself. Sarge