If I trapped private property I’d be willing to take more people. Since I trap 100% public land though I don’t want to risk it. Even if the person you take doesn’t mess with your stuff, loose lips sink ships.

and 50% or more of my trapping is paid to trap, land owners see the work involved and they don't want anything to do with it ,

Private land trappers have to learn this the hard way. Especially, if there is something valuable to trap on public land. Definitely an east/ west divide I believe on this strategy. Since most of the public land is in the west.

I’m fine with someone coming along. I usually enjoy the company. It’s not like most people are going to come along when I’m running beaver traps on a Tuesday morning, so their tagging along would most certainly be just a once or twice deal. If they’re the landowner, customer, or gatekeeper, I’d much rather them just say they want to come than to wait until I leave and go poking around looking everything over. The last thing I need is someone stepping in a blended bodygrip or knocking down my snares. If they’re interested, they should say so.



I’m not secretive about my trapping. Never have been. As a matter of fact, it seems like the more knowledge I shared, the more work I got.


I personally wish more people doing beaver work in Louisiana would openly discuss their work. How and what they’re doing. I know there are others doing quite a bit of beaver work in this half of the state, but I don’t hear much, if anything from those people. I know there are other people doing it, because there’s no way beaver problems are just being ignored. Someone is trapping them. An example is Federal Trappers in Louisiana. They’re active, but I have no idea who they even are. I’d like it if they’d post on the forum and share some of their stories and methods. I’ve asked several other trappers I know, and they don’t know who the federal trappers are either. I’ve been to Texas’ state rendezvous a hand full of times. It’s well known who the government beaver trappers are. I consider two of them my friends, and I enjoy getting to visit with them, but I don’t know who else is doing beaver work here.


Being secretive and being discreet when appropriate are two different things. I personally believe that being secretive and not sharing ideas and methods with other trappers actually does more harm than good. My opinion.