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Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638478
07/30/22 07:56 PM
07/30/22 07:56 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,417
Idaho
B
bearcat2 Offline
trapper
bearcat2  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,417
Idaho
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.

Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638480
07/30/22 07:59 PM
07/30/22 07:59 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,746
S.W.Oregon
newhouse114 Offline
trapper
newhouse114  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,746
S.W.Oregon
A thief behind every bush!!


Life Member NTA & FTA
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain

http://alaskastoneanivory.com/index
Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638481
07/30/22 08:01 PM
07/30/22 08:01 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,886
new york
M
mike mason Offline
trapper
mike mason  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,886
new york
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.

Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: mike mason] #7638486
07/30/22 08:17 PM
07/30/22 08:17 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951
OH
Catch22 Offline
trapper
Catch22  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951
OH
Originally Posted by mike mason
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.....
Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638487
07/30/22 08:19 PM
07/30/22 08:19 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 310
Iowa
B
Bruce Rhoads Offline
trapper
Bruce Rhoads  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 310
Iowa
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.
Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: DanN] #7638492
07/30/22 08:29 PM
07/30/22 08:29 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 866
Indiana
cattails Offline
trapper
cattails  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 866
Indiana
Originally Posted by DanN
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

Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638494
07/30/22 08:33 PM
07/30/22 08:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,249
western mn
B
bucksnbears Offline
trapper
bucksnbears  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,249
western mn
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. frown


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.
Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638497
07/30/22 08:41 PM
07/30/22 08:41 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,723
SW Georgia
W
Wanna Be Offline
trapper
Wanna Be  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,723
SW Georgia
It had to be about 1980 or so and two young boys, my buddy and myself, were getting $25+ for coons, $45-60 for Reds, and $75 or so for bobcats…all green. We’d release any “she” coons we caught because they wouldn’t bring as much as the males. All this with a homemade broom stick release pole, lol. We’d flip a coin to see who was gonna check the gender, lol. Coyotes were nonexistent for the most part.
When two 12yr olds were pocketing $500 each every other weekend, you knew the fur was worth something.

Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638506
07/30/22 08:59 PM
07/30/22 08:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
R
rendezvous Offline
trapper
rendezvous  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
'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!
Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638510
07/30/22 09:07 PM
07/30/22 09:07 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7,939
Montana
B
beartooth trapr Offline
trapper
beartooth trapr  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7,939
Montana
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 laugh
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
Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638512
07/30/22 09:11 PM
07/30/22 09:11 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,227
wantage n.j.
E
eric space Offline
trapper
eric space  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,227
wantage n.j.
Caught 104 coons the first night of the season in '79. Averaged $55.00 per coon ($50 for pelt, $5 for meats). Was enough to buy a brand new 4x4 pickup in one night of trapping. Sold finished possems for $19.00. Made over $60,000.00 in '79-'80 season trapping while still working on our mink ranch full time (7 days a week is full time on a mink ranch). Theft of traps and animals was a problem. That's when I learned that more traps and animals are stolen in "the back 40" than right next to the road.

Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638513
07/30/22 09:15 PM
07/30/22 09:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 690
E. Oregon
S
super cub Offline
trapper
super cub  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 690
E. Oregon
In 79 I caught 92 coyotes and averaged $96.00 took the money and bought a new chevy 4x4 pickup for $6,000
In1980 i caught 350 coyotes and got to sell 290 the other 60 got stolen along with 50 traps

Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638521
07/30/22 09:37 PM
07/30/22 09:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 591
Tipton, In.
R
RHuff Offline
trapper
RHuff  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 591
Tipton, In.
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.
Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: RHuff] #7638526
07/30/22 09:52 PM
07/30/22 09:52 PM
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 202
KS
K
ks wolfer Offline
trapper
ks wolfer  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 202
KS
fur was worth real money then----so--- how many coon does it take to buy a new truck today ? truck at 65,000 and coon at 1.86 $ ??? ---- 34, 946 LOL sad

Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: RHuff] #7638527
07/30/22 09:54 PM
07/30/22 09:54 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951
OH
Catch22 Offline
trapper
Catch22  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951
OH
Originally Posted by RHuff
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.....
Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7638532
07/30/22 10:00 PM
07/30/22 10:00 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 623
Brazil Indiana
H
harrison72 Offline
trapper
harrison72  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 623
Brazil Indiana
I was born in 1972. Dad had me trapping with him at very young age. I remember very well going to the local buyer(we had 2 within 10 miles) you would not imagine the ENORMOUS piles of critters they had! I swear, you would think they were all going to become extinct. If memory serves,$40 was about the most a dozen of any size traps cost. There were traps in every pond, ditch, creek, river - you name it. And you could step outside literally any night during season and hear coonhounds running. If I hadn't experienced it, I wouldn't believe it.

Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: yotetrapper30] #7638579
07/30/22 11:35 PM
07/30/22 11:35 PM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,295
South Dakota
T
TheYouthTrapper Offline OP
trapper
TheYouthTrapper  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,295
South Dakota
It really is crazy that you used to be able to a truck for that much.

Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: Drifter] #7638580
07/30/22 11:36 PM
07/30/22 11:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,295
South Dakota
T
TheYouthTrapper Offline OP
trapper
TheYouthTrapper  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,295
South Dakota
Yes, it did it seems, Luckily I haven't had a trap stolen in 3 years and hopefully don't have to deal with it any time soon.

Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: Catch22] #7638582
07/30/22 11:39 PM
07/30/22 11:39 PM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,295
South Dakota
T
TheYouthTrapper Offline OP
trapper
TheYouthTrapper  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,295
South Dakota
Luckily I had my dad shuttle me around while I ran my trapline but that won't happen very often now as I'm about to get my upgraded permit. I have had 3 old trappers that have helped me so much and I'm super grateful for them as I would have had a very rocky start getting traps otherwise.

Re: Trapping in the 70s [Re: RHuff] #7638585
07/30/22 11:45 PM
07/30/22 11:45 PM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,295
South Dakota
T
TheYouthTrapper Offline OP
trapper
TheYouthTrapper  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,295
South Dakota
Great story, at the age of 14 I pay for pretty much everything I want but I don't think I would want it any other way. I would have way too much free time and be like the rest of my classmates chasing girls.

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