Hey guys! I don't get a chance to post on here often but as we start planning for our next Womens Trap Camp in August, I wanted to give a little info on what it is and what we've been doing. Several years ago, the WI DNR had reached out about using the R3 dollars to do some sort of trapping class targeting women to get more into the outdoors. We saw a need, as usually, trapper education classes have 25 men and maybe one or two gals. We have only a handful of female instructors in the state, well, had. We did our first ever Womens Trap Camp last fall, which was 28 female students and 5 female instructors. The camp filled up in 48 hours after posting that year. It was such a success, that we were able to hold it again this year, scheduled for August 26-28, and this time, it filled up within 24 hours, and we increased the roster to 41 students, and we have a lengthy waiting list for future camps! Many of the students from last year's camp are now becoming trapper education instructors! I'll attach a few photos from last year's camp. In a nutshell, we spend 3 days teaching the women EVERYTHING they could possibly need to know about trapping, including trap prep, modifications, ethics, going through all the regs and traps (it's a full certified trapper education course), checking traps each morning, possible dispatch, then skinning and fur handling, sewing tanned pelts into hats, and even a wild game feed where we cook up furbearers including bobcat and beaver!

Our camp isn't about feminism or anything like that, and even though all trappers are so welcoming, there is a different vibe about being in an all-female camp. We've noticed in past classes that sometimes women feel intimidated by male students or instructors and are afraid to ask questions for fear of looking dumb, or screwing something up so they aren't very hands on. We noticed in this camp that everyone seems so relaxed and don't mind getting their hands in there and making mistakes and asking questions. We've only done this last year and we have already been on the cover of the Wisconsin Trapper, featured in Trappers Post, and will be on the cover of next year's Wisconsin Trapping Regulations pamphlet.

Posting this mostly to just share the fun we've had and what we are doing. We have a few main sponsors that have really helped fund and supply the camp with what is needed, such as Southern Snares, WTA, and SheTraps, however if you would like to donate any items for the door prizes, swag table, goodie bags, we would be so appreciative. All the women ran their own traplines the winter after the camp and many of them start from scratch, which means they take our suggestions on where to buy traps, supplies etc., so that weighs heavily on their decisions on how to get started! If you are interested in donating anything to our camp, we could definitely use any trapping supplies but also, tanned furs, even ones with holes or slip spots, would be so appreciated for our fur sewing night. If interested, please email me at skyeskyegoode@gmail.com.

That is awesome!
Thanks for sharing!!!

Nice work.

Way to go women trappers.

Absolutely fantastic Skye! Maybe this would inspire other states to start something like this as well. Good luck and keep up the good work!

very cool

That is one awesome post SKYEGOODE

The good stuff! I heard so many good things about camp! We do similar for deer and turkey hunting here, and have had a lot of requests for a trapping camp! Hope it pans out one day.

Excellent.

Great job Skye! Women continue to step up and get things done in our society...I’m glad these women have organized. Trapping , hunting, fishing and the shooting sports are being followed by women/girls and they are excelling at them.

If you need any help Cristina, just let me know and I can share with you our agenda or our planning sheets once we get this second one under our belt!

Very good, hat's off to all that make it happen.

Now there is a place to meet some quality ladies!

Good on you Skye!

O ya!

I read the article in the Wisconsin trapper. Glad to see this going on!!
WTG ladies!!!

That's great!!

Too cool!

WOW You make me proud to be from Wisconsin.Good job trappers.

I showed the pictures to Diane and she asked why the one hat had a double tail. Did the living animal have a double tip tail like that?

Keith