Well I don't like that particular adjective of recreational trappers, but I understand the point you are making. It's only the very first step of many that need to take place in order for things to get better.

Well you may not like that term, but when you are not earning a living, that is what you are, especially if you enjoy trapping.

How much you need to earn a living depends on how you live.

I think very few ever earned their sole income from trapping. I guess that makes nearly all of us, past and present, hobby trappers.

Fur trapping is seasonal work. You only need to be earning a living from that time period. I agree there are few years, that one can earn enough to support the family the entire year from 2 or 3 months of trapping. Very few jobs pay enough in 3 months to support a family all year.

I have been called a hobby trapper on more than one occasion .When I consider who it was that called me that I took it as
a compliment . In light of who it was that decided I was not a real trapper but he was He had a full time job at a local factory . He planed his vacation time around trapping season . It did not appear to me that he was a professional any more than I was I was pleased to know that I was not in anyway near to his self proclaimed idea of what it was about himself that made him so special . I doubt that I made money trapping but I could convince myself I was at least paying most of my expenses .But with gas at $3.50 or more a gallon and prime red fox bringing $3 to $5 each it does appeal to me to killed them and skin them out .Over the past 10 to 15 years large prime fur had good value But most of what I catch is not top lot fur .But if you want to be a part of the trapping tradition we all need to adapt to the changes that happen throughout our years of being part of our heritage

Must be awful cheap living in Canada.

I 100% agree ^^^

Here in the Southeastern US, every trapper is either operating in some manner of ADC or they are "tanning their pelts" for whatever reason.

Some of the ADC-type trappers are still catching good numbers of critters and making the best of any sellable pelts/parts. They are holding onto the commercial aspect of the better fur market years...(this describes me anyway.)

The trappers that catch small numbers and tan/have tanned their pelts are truly hobby trappers....who can sell hundreds of tanned pelts in the Southeastern US??? And consider the additional $$ invested in having pelts professionally tanned.

The 1970's and 80's where great times when you got your fur check .And the trapping industry expanded with all types of better equipment that was of benefit to all that chose to use it .For me those better prices motivated me to improve my fur put up skills And by attending conventions and learning new methods I became a better trapper .But I trapped in and area that had lots of would be trappers .Many had no problem with removing other peoples fur and trap for others traplines Going out in the dark to check your line only to find that a number of your traps had been stole since you where there the last time put me in a bad mood for several days .The bottom line is all trappers are providing a service to the general public by keep animal populations under control .Ad if you are getting paid with a fur check of by providing ADC services it is still carrying on a long tradition I feel blessed that I was able to be a part of both the high fur price days. And the days when you could still make out OK But you had to improve your skills to make a little money from it .

going to be hard for many of you to realize but Boco is right.

Always better to "add value" than just selling the raw material.
Sure it takes more time and some extra skills but when the final product sells its you getting all the money instead of it being divided up by middlemen, processors and salesmen.

Like I said I think a trapper this year would be better off tanning his own pelts. Good year to learn how to do it.
You can not loose money when I see dozens and dozens of raccoons that were caught from thanksgiving on too last weekend sale for 2.00 each to 10.00 each. Would not buy a coon on the carcass. Fur buyer competing how good the fur was that the trappers were bring in. I guess so. Every one. Said they did not Start trapping till thanksgiving day. Those prices skinned and stretched. The 2.00 coons were graded as xl coons which here in Iowa I would say is a good 1st year coon that weighed about 18-20 pounds and they were boar coon. The 10.00 coon were 25-30 pound coon and all boar coon. ThTs a huge coon. I saw 3 female mink sale for $1.50 each skinned stretched. Even if you had a learning curve were 50% of pelts you ruined tanning them yourself you would get the process down and would be money ahead. Would make great wall hanger gifts. it is the saddest thing I every seen. In 1977 I made $6800.00 and paid for my college tuition for 2 years !!! Same fur would maybe sale for 500.00 now. No I take that back because I I only stretched rats and mink. Unbelievable. MD

I feel bad for those that depend on the trap line income to help meet expenses The supplier (trappers )have no say say in what they will be paid for their product (FURS ).While I agree that there is still a demand for good fur the bar gets higher for what the quality of good fur is And producing more often does not make up for the lower prices and the additional expenses it takes to have more to sell .And many part time trappers myself included used their fur check to make their life a little more enjoyable .All trappers in general are hardworking and resourceful people .So we keep doing what we enjoy

I paid for my 2 son’s college by trapping. Took about 12 years of trapping to get it paid off. I would hate to try and pay off a college loan with fur money in this fur market.

You dont have to-Big Joe will pay it off for you.

Everything is subsidized in Canada! I'm a minority in the U.S. and I'm not getting any subsidy, what's wrong???

Who photo-shopped out the lovely lady that was under the covers.....I'm disappointed

Unfortunately....... that's the problem with big auctions and the entire fur market around the world.

No demand

monopolies

And war.
And politics(sanctions)
Much of the raw fur trade is global.
Local market here has been solid for years, unaffected by the geo political turmoil.