You and boco are beating a dead horse. The "sport" reference is put into trapping articles in magazines such as the American Trapper, NAFA's old International trapper, and FFG. This is the reason most people trap today. As prices remain below reasonable profit levels this remains the main reason people trap. Very little people trap for commercial purposes and much of it uses creative accounting. Furbuyers and trapping supply sellers want people to trap for recreational reasons.

Nice pictures! and post! I couldn't agree more

that great,

Very nice pics!

Grandkid got to trap some with me this year

Way more enjoyable with them in the truck John !

Absolutely. He has trapped with me since he was 4.

Once pelts are sold it is commercial activity.
If you trap to make your own clothing or meat to eat and have no intentions of selling your harvest then it is either sustenance or recreational.
Supplimental income is a commercial endeavour regardless if it is your sole source of income or just a part of your income.
I would bet the vast majority of part time trappers sell their pelts for monetary return as opposed to for their own use(non commercial)

Keep the youngins engaged in trapping. There will always be a need for trapping. As the population becomes more and more urbanized, people stop going outside, let alone solve their own wildlife damage issues. They will need us more than ever as each year goes by.

Heck yes. That is awesome!!!

"Definition
A commercial enterprise is any undertaking that seeks to engage in a profitmaking (i.e. commercial) activities. In simpler terms, a commercial enterprise is a business."

Lots of profit in the fur buisness from top to bottom,especially manufacture and retail.
Anyone supplying the trade is participating in the commercial fur trade whether they are savvy enough to make profit or not.
Lots of buisnesses show losses on paper from time to time,and that is not a bad thing for the buisness owner.It offsets your tax liability in the big years.
It doesnt cost much to keep a commercial trapline viable in the down years,and it would be silly to lose the considerable assetts due to periodic slump in sales,especially when the commercial activity is seasonal or supplemental income.

Excellent

I need a pair of rose colored glasses just like Boco has.....

Baco I don't trap to sell or make money, for food or clothing though I will eat the beaver I catch. I trap to keep the population at a healthy level on my farm and reduce predation.

It's not for money though I profit from reduced losses, it's not for food or hides I throw away, it's not recreational there are things I would be better off doing. With my limited time.

But I have not found 10 random dead coon laying around the farm like I did they year before I started trapping it again. And that my catch reduced the first few years and now holds steady about the same numbers from year to year.

So what's my catalog?

I certainly try and trap for profit. I tried to teach my grandkids to do the same. Minimize your investment and maximize your opportunities. Cost nothing extra to tend traps on the way to or from school or work. Take advantage of living rural, setting key location available at home.
Target species with current demand. Invest some of your fur check back into equipment. Enjoy what’s left !

Amen to 2poors comment.
From my experience you dont want an audit from the tax man. I have never seen a person go through paper work soooooooooo slowwwwwwww.