Re: Trapping in the 70s
[Re: TheYouthTrapper]
#7638478
07/30/22 07:56 PM
07/30/22 07:56 PM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,477 Idaho
bearcat2
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,477
Idaho
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I was born in 79, so I was too young for some of the best of it. Grew up on the coast of Washington and I remember dad selling some possums one year for a $10 average (incidental catches, if he would have known they were going to be worth that he would have targeted them). By the time I was old enough to trap I was getting $5 muskrat, averaged $30 on beaver and $100 on otter, $20 average on coon (caught with hounds, and me and a buddy hunting them, we were training pups, they were NOT immaculate coon, lol). Those junk coastal bobcats were going for $100 average and I remember seeing $1000+ averages quoted for lynx. I remember when those coastal bobcats dropped to $25-$30. I was just a kid, way too young to drive but I was hunting them with my dad. Had half a dozen other hound hunters who decided they didn't want to put them up for that. They would drop off the cats they caught each weekend and I would skin and put them up for my dad and at least half a dozen other guys and split the money with them. A couple of the guys didn't want any money and just gave them to me. By the time I was old enough to drive I had the money to buy myself a $6000 truck, mainly from putting up cats. I learned from my dad who was an excellent fur handler and I had a deal for several years with a furbuyer who would pay me $35 a nose on my cats when most were getting $25. Wish I would have had some of these nice Western cats back then instead of the junk Coastals.
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Re: Trapping in the 70s
[Re: mike mason]
#7638486
07/30/22 08:17 PM
07/30/22 08:17 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951 OH
Catch22
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951
OH
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Crazy but good times! Purchased a new 1978 Dodge 4x4 power wagon for $4995 with fur money. If you worked harder and smarter you could out trap all the competition. Ever time I hear this I think to myself dang, and then try to kick myself in the butt lol. I could have bought a nice truck with fur money but blew it on nonsense. Should have listened to the old man! It was crazy, a lot of theft, Johnny Sneak'um, competition, good ground was hard to find. Walking that legal line lol. Back then we were all trying to do our best, put food on the table, make money, out do the other guy etc. I was so green when I started. Now, we have the dang anti's to deal with. But, with all said, I'd love to go back and do it again. That was a great period for trappers and it taught me a bunch.
I wonder if tap dancers walk into a room, look at the floor, and think, I'd tap that. I wonder about things.....
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Re: Trapping in the 70s
[Re: TheYouthTrapper]
#7638487
07/30/22 08:19 PM
07/30/22 08:19 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 310 Iowa
Bruce Rhoads
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 310
Iowa
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You learned to hide your catches or give them room to hide themselves.
I lost ground to some young guys who put up hay for several farmers for free if they could trap thier ground in the fall. I'm talking bucking square bales.
Last edited by Bruce Rhoads; 07/30/22 08:19 PM.
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Re: Trapping in the 70s
[Re: DanN]
#7638492
07/30/22 08:29 PM
07/30/22 08:29 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 867 Indiana
cattails
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 867
Indiana
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There was also loads trespassing, stolen fur, stolen traps . Every bridge had piles of traps set under it. Wasn't uncommon for fur buyers to hide their fur in other peoples barns and sheds because thieves would break into fur buyers places and steal put up fur. Several fur buyers in this area were robbed at gun point because they keep large amounts of cash. I was scraping coon for our local buyer and he got a call that another buyer had been robbed. He set a pistol by me and told me to use it if I had to. Heck, I was just a kid....I didn't want to shoot anyone. lol. That was 1979 or 1980
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Re: Trapping in the 70s
[Re: TheYouthTrapper]
#7638494
07/30/22 08:33 PM
07/30/22 08:33 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,385 western mn
bucksnbears
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,385
western mn
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I started trapping about 1981_82. Had traps/critters stolen. That hurt bad as I grew up poor and scratched for everything I had. Shot my first red fox in about 79_80. Got 76.00$ for it. Dad took the $ and drank it up.
swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo
You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
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Re: Trapping in the 70s
[Re: TheYouthTrapper]
#7638506
07/30/22 08:59 PM
07/30/22 08:59 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,066 NY
rendezvous
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,066
NY
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'81 - '82 I averaged $72 on Reds, $33 for Greys and XL Coons. One auction had an average $10.25 for Rats, a kid walked away with a $1000.00 check!
Last edited by rendezvous; 07/30/22 09:01 PM.
Let's go Brandon!
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Re: Trapping in the 70s
[Re: TheYouthTrapper]
#7638510
07/30/22 09:07 PM
07/30/22 09:07 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7,990 Montana
beartooth trapr
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7,990
Montana
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I remember selling coon's in the carcuss getting $30.00-40.00 Muskrats about $8.00-10.00 Big Sioux River Rats. Opossum's and Jack Rabbit $2.00 -$3.00 Never got alot of Red fox or Coyote but enough to Trade for Traps and Supplies. Was good money for a jr. Kid like me Still remember them fur buyer's, Midwest Fur in Canton S.D. And M&M fur at Bridgewater S.D.
Let me sugar coat this
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Re: Trapping in the 70s
[Re: TheYouthTrapper]
#7638521
07/30/22 09:37 PM
07/30/22 09:37 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 593 Tipton, In.
RHuff
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 593
Tipton, In.
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Started trapping 1978 with a brother and two friends whose relatives owned a lot of farm ground. We split the cost of 2 dozen 110 Body Grips and 12 1.5 Victor Coilsprings. After two weeks of pretty dismal results the others were over it and agreed to sell me there share of the traps as I could pay for them. I had an uncle who didnt trap but knew how to show me what I was doing wrong and by late December I had paid off the traps, bought waders and bought a few more traps. Was getting 6-7 dollars for rats, a big buck mink would bring 40 and coons brought 30-40. Made over $500.00 by the end of January when everything froze up solid. Found out in the off season that my school library carried Fur Fish and Game and read every article and practiced making dirtholes for fox all summer. I caught 13 fox my second season with lures ordered from pages of FFG I remember the two best brought $75.00 each and the others were around $50.00. I worked a summer job and could make 600-800 dollars at it which went for school clothes. Trapped all through Middle school and High School and would save my money to pay for movies and going to ball games with friends. Never lost over a dozen traps to theft which was fortunate. What a great time to have grown up. I dont remember my parents buying me school clothes or having to give me money after I was 13 years old.
Last edited by RHuff; 07/30/22 09:40 PM.
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Re: Trapping in the 70s
[Re: RHuff]
#7638527
07/30/22 09:54 PM
07/30/22 09:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951 OH
Catch22
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951
OH
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Started trapping 1978 with a brother and two friends whose relatives owned a lot of farm ground. We split the cost of 2 dozen 110 Body Grips and 12 1.5 Victor Coilsprings. After two weeks of pretty dismal results the others were over it and agreed to sell me there share of the traps as I could pay for them. I had an uncle who didnt trap but knew how to show me what I was doing wrong and by late December I had paid off the traps, bought waders and bought a few more traps. Was getting 6-7 dollars for rats, a big buck mink would bring 40 and coons brought 30-40. Made over $500.00 by the end of January when everything froze up solid. Found out in the off season that my school library carried Fur Fish and Game and read every article and practiced making dirtholes for fox all summer. I caught 13 fox my second season with lures ordered from pages of FFG I remember the two best brought $75.00 each and the others were around $50.00. I worked a summer job and could make 600-800 dollars at it which went for school clothes. Trapped all through Middle school and High School and would save my money to pay for movies and going to ball games with friends. Never lost over a dozen traps to theft which was fortunate. What a great time to have grown up. I dont remember my parents buying me school clothes or having to give me money after I was 13 years old. Awesome!!
I wonder if tap dancers walk into a room, look at the floor, and think, I'd tap that. I wonder about things.....
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