2021 Trapping Season Full Time with Actual Costs Figures

I am providing this information for beginners that may look at trapping and wonder what it costs to get into it. I left my old job so that I could pursue my love for the outdoors, not everybody will be able to do this, but if you did this is probably close to an average of what it might look like. This is pure trapping, no ADC or for hire work, during the months 20NOV2021-31MAR2022. I want to give a special thanks to John Chagnon who was very gracious with his time and sent me some things to help start. Thank you to everybody who gave me tips, advice and recommendations during the season.
I started full-time on 01DEC2021 after I finished with the deer season. I purchased older books from the late 1800s and early 1900s which is where I got the majority of my information on traps, making sets, and different techniques related to trapping. There were some nice individuals who were willing to provide some wonderful information that helped me not only in the fur shed, but out on the line as well.
This is all within the state of Louisiana and the most traps I had out was around 50 give or take a few. I mainly ran 20-30 for the majority of the season. I purchased 90% of my traps on an auction site, a trapping forum and the rest I got new from distributors. I have close to 150-200 traps at this time, but as this was my first year, I am trying to figure out the line, and how best to run it. I only used 12 dog proofs Bridger T3s that I had to modify early on due to severe issues with pull outs which was caused in my opinion by the screw used on the pan trigger. I replaced the screw with a nail and pressed it with my rivet press, this seemed to fix the issues I was having with slow firing speed due to the screw threads. The only lures I used were Lenons and Cavens. Lenons Beaver SCA, Raccoon #2, Violator 7 and Lenons Fox SCA were heavy hitters in my opinion, but there are other variables that could be at play. Bait was Lenons and Cavens did use beaver, rabbit, chicken, I originally started out with some doctor brand dog food for the DPs. This stopped working though after the initial 4 or 5 raccoons, I switched to seafood cat food which seemed to work way better.

We have a mandatory 24-hour trap check on all sets, which I never missed. Below are the actual costs (with $400 added for the month of March) of my fuel cost, trap and book cost. Every daily check I averaged around 4-5 hours per, next year I expect to get this down significantly with more traps out. I have right at 75 animals harvested, I am anticipating right at 100 come 31MAR2022. I am not selling any furs from this year for what it's worth.

Fuel:
$1700.00
Traps & Supplies
$2179.73
Hours:
600 Checking Traps, 600 Prep & Fur Handling

Grand Total: $3879.73 and 1200 hours.

Very Respectfully,

Matt

Matt, what’s your breakdown on critters thus far?

You have my number. Just ask if you have questions.

Someone needs to delete this just incase I leave this open and my wife see’s it, lol.
With that said, if I read this and was a beginner, I wouldn’t even start. But, each area and season is different. I’ve maybe spent that much in the last 5 years and probably less than half that in man hours. But I’m not doing it full time either, just Jan-May or so.

That is a chunk of change and a lot of hours, but I bet you had lots of fun and it was all worth it.

How long is the trapline to have $1,700 in fuel? How many miles daily? What are you driving?

My most economical was a large loop trapline of 19 miles where I had permission from many landowners, but not too many to not be trapping the same animals. Using a Kawasaki Mule diesel for all driving on township gravel roads and off road at farms and woodlands, I used less than 2 gallons each day.

For the beginning trapper = Its not all gloom and doom out here. SEVERAL of us on here make a good living trapping. Thats all im going to say !! LoL!

I agree, steel.

Since prices collapsed again, I looked into getting into the ADC business. The first day I went looking for people to hire me. After a whole day looking for people on the line, I didn't find any humans. So much for that idea.

You need to move

Tofan,
Arent you the guy that posted pics trapping in Crocs shoes?

If so, figure in a pair of trapping boots.

Also....full time trapping and you only ran 50 traps? What did you spend the other 21 hours of the day doing?

I hobby trapped and this season and it was more about getting back in shape from from heart surgery. Caught some muskrats, a few mink and weasels. With current gas prices I broke even.

Oh I didn’t realize he was a full time trapper. Thought it was just during trapping season. If I didn’t have a cushy job that has great pay and benefits I’d probably try it full time. I turn down places every year. Just like scratching the itch and making a little money while doing it.

With a considerable amount of money and time invested, and no plan to sell any of the fur harvested, what is the long term plan with this endeavor?

I'm looking for a place where there are less people.

I dont blame you at all Dirt!!!

Doing an extensive and accurate financial accounting creates awareness, now the big question for you is what will one do knowing the facts? Even if fur prices tripled you would still earn about $10,000 in 5 months and about $8.00 per hour instead of the $3 you made this year. What are the things in your control that you can change? Finding better locations, better fur pockets, more permissions within your area etc. I would not worry too much about what type of lures, baits, urines etc. as that is not the reason for low revenues and high costs. If there were land owners, etc. that knew you were a hard working, dedicated trap person and they wanted to hire you for animal, predator control I would not shy away from those opportunities. They could be worked while you are in your 5 month window. I don't know your situation but if you could find a good seasonal occupation with Health insurance that you could put in 2-2,500 hours in say 8-10 months then run your intense line you could enjoy the benefits of both worlds. We have had almost 8 years now of very low prices for most wild fur and there has been no drop in supply costs, in fact most are up and will not go lower. What may happen as fewer and fewer supply dealers or fur buyers will be in the industry and that puts even more upward pressure on costs and more downward pressure on income.

Bryce

Where does the $3/hour figure come from? All I see reported is expenses and hours, with no income.

I'm guessing bblwi thought the grand total was income not grand total for expenses.

My question would be what books did he get on trapping in the 1800s and early 1900s and exactly what information he got from them that pertains to traps today, and what sets/ techniques did he employ from those books?

If you have another job and having to pay taxes, you could set up your trapping business in a LLC and deduct much of your cost.

Ding ding ding…we have a winner! Traps, cameras, mileage, lures, baits, etc all get deducted. Including my future UTV, lol.