i have to agree with hard worker plain and simple, there is so much information out there about trapping now that i think anyone that has the will can put up big numbers after a few years

You have to want to WIN more than anything. Hard work is a must. With the exception of my daughter. EVERYTHING comes second to coyote trapping

Not sure how it is up North, but catch down here and word of mouth will get you more places than you can trap.

As far as a “great trapper” I think it’s one that’s always learning. Willing to teach or share is a plus also. There’s several on here that willingly share their knowledge and even send PM’s to help.

I don’t look at numbers as a mark of a great trapper. If there’s only 10 critters on a property and they catch all 10 or even 9 and leave one all lonely, then they have to be pretty good. Heck my son in his first year of trapping and has already caught over 500 critters. From coyotes to possums and everything in between. Is he great? Nah, he’s in a very target rich environment with awesome roads that show sign. I share what I learn with him and he actually LISTENS lol.

I think this site has quite a few “great trappers” and I think there are some on here that don’t trap at all.

Spending a lot of time on Trapperman. You can become a great trapper here and never spend a day outside.

A great trapper taught me a lot coming up. Two things he told me that really stuck was, "You learn something new every trap check."
"Once you figure that you know everything, you become complacent and stop paying attention to the details which places a paw on a pan."

Work ethic and persistence. That’s why I’m not a good trapper!!

Common sense, hard work, adaptability and a love for what you do.

I'm lazy, disorganized, and give up easy. So count me out on being a great trapper.

Same here.

Agree

i was thinking about this question over night and numbers are only a small part of being a great trapper, the willing ness to teach and pass on this great tradition. to give of there time to help others learn!!!!!. to help at all levels of a organization !!!

Most great trappers can’t help but think things over, overnight. Yup lay there and ponder.

Danny,
Thanks for sharing that picture and story of the trapper. I would be willing to bet a man (even old like me) could learn a lot if we got to go with this guy a couple days.
Any time he wants to share his trapping strategies I am all ears.

You, others and I have seen it over the years. Some very good trappers over the years have simply been ridiculed when they should not have. Guys get sick of that behavior and simply stop sharing. I have seen it happen with one great trapper in particular, more than once. I have seen folks that did not know their rear end from a hot rock say that he did not know what he was talking about. He rarely posts. I am friends with the trapper. Most trappers would be shocked if they knew the kinds of catches this guy has put up. Yet he would be criticized by those that could not find a date in a house of ill repute.

The trapping community is just a cross section of out society at large. Nuff said.

Lots of guys through out time were not what they appeared to be, just a fact in every segment of society. Lots of paper tigers too or now I guess it would be digital tigers.
LOL. You can click on Youtube and find any number of very young folks giving advice, when they don't have a 100 miles on their boots while scouting or trapping. Yes, it is great that they are trapping and not doing the countless bad things a kid could be into. But come on, making how to videos on something that they are learning? Guess I really am old.

Again thanks for sharing.

Impressive! Wouldn't mind hearing his tactics myself.

The greats ive known don't think they're great, still trying to learn and very humble. Don't see those type's much anymore.

I hunt and trap because I enjoy it Scouting gaining new permission setting checking and managing a line and fur put up are all part of what needs to be involved to be a good trapper .But it is not a competition sport to me I am doing it to please myself For example I live in an area that does not have a large mink population The number of them seems to be increasing however . Thirty years ago I would catch one in a coon or rat set Only just a few .I determined that I could be catching more that I was .And the best way to do that was to make sets that would target mink .So my goal was to make sets that I felt would catch mink. It took a lot longer than it should have but over a 20 year period I caught about 40 mink .And during that time I was able to catch at least one ever year .Of course that is a low number but I proved to myself that I could catch mink in mink sets Anyone catching big numbers is working hard to do it But for me all I need to know is did I make a good effort to succeed

I heard its if a guy uses mb550s and coloreful tools

Canadian auto-correct

A great trapper really is a total package of all of these in my opinion.

Great is pretty vague. If my 5 year old grandson traps a mouse his momma is after, that's pretty great to the momma, the youngin, and me.
Trapping is about a passion for the outdoors for most people and you can't really place that philosophy in a box and call it great.

Trapping itself is great. Not the trapper.

Some trappers are more skilled and more ambitious than other trappers but does that mean they're great?
When I talk to a mom or dad with their youngin in tow, who all trapped and caught a muskrat, an opossum, or whatever..... they all think it's pretty great, and so do I.

Trapping memories are great. Not the trapper.

Food for consideration.
Blessings,
Mark