Thanks for the imputs on the thread "Top Beaver Trapper Contest". I mulled over some of your ideas and this is what I've come up with:

The Contest:

Open to all Trapperman members. The contest beginning date was whenever beaver season opened in your state or province and will go until May 15th, 2024. States that have year round seasons will have October 15th as your official starting date.

The prize is the winner's choice of either a belt buckle or plaque with an "official stickman drawing" holding a beaver. Please see exhibit A following this post.

Rules:

1. All beaver to be considered in the contest were caught during open season in your state or province.
2. If you trap with an active partner who participates in the trapping the catch must be divided by two. Fur shed help is OK.
3. All beaver to be included in the contest must eventually be skinned. No ADC beaver unless they ended up getting skinned and the fur utilized. Doesn't have to be by the trapper who caught them
that does the skinning.
4. The honor system will be in place for reporting. If you would like to share auxiliary info like pics of receipts or catch pics that is encouraged but not a requirement.
5. YOU NEED TO DECLARE YOURSELF A CONTESTANT NO LATER THAN DEC 15th 2023
6. Beginning on December 15th 2023 every entrant will report catch totals up to that date and every 15th of the month following until May 15th, 2024

Happy hunting and good luck to all! Anything that you're unclear about go ahead and give me a shout and we'll get it figured out. BTW, I will pay for the buckle or plaque but if the spirit drives anybody to sweeten the pot that would be great. I was going to add a cash incentive (to winner's state association) but the extra expense of possibly doing a belt buckle made me back off.

Exhibit A

So, based on how many are caught total in said time?

Yes. The winner is he/she who caught the most beaver.

OK, thanks.

sounds good

Perhaps one of the Trapperman site custodians could keep this up at the top. If it turns out there is not much interest then by Dec 15th we'll just forget about it.

ttt

I understand your putting faith in the honor of entrants, but the existence of Johnny Sneakum and his pals suggest that may be naive.

I did my master's thesis on psychopaths (sociopaths). There are a lot more than most people realize--one in twenty-five people in the US, according to some estimates.

Most sociopaths don't kill people. But they might, if there was gain for them and think there's no chance they'll be caught. Most will do anything they think they can get away with, and not necessarily for gain. Many get pleasure out of fooling other people. The prize can be worthless, and they'll still cheat for their own amusement.

I think most trap and fur thieves are probably sociopaths. When I was eighteen, I had a trap thief I caught point a shotgun at me and threaten to shoot me. I looked in his eyes and had no doubt he'd pull the trigger if I didn't back away and forget the trap. I forgot the trap.

With all the members on this forum, some are bound to be sociopaths. (I have my own ideas about that.) I admire you for holding the contest, but you may want to look for ideas on how to verify weights.

Jim

If nothing else, my post above may be controversial enough to keep this thread near the top.

Jim

Hi James, thanks for weighing in. I have been involved in coyote calling contests where there was quite a bit of effort made to insure compliance of tournament rules.

This contest (if it does indeed take place), is nothing more than a friendly competition between good beaver trappers. To be clear it's not based on weights, just total numbers.

Even if I wanted to there would be no way to do this without going the route of "honor system".

And finally, my bet is most beaver trappers are honorable...if perhaps not the brightest. LOL

I know what you mean. My IQ dropped forty points when I was beaver trapping.

Jim

I’m in!!!

Not sure I will win, but I will keep BeaverPeeler motivated at least!

I'm out , our is a lottery draw and only allowed a total of 8.

Need five more to declare they're on board by December 15th for the contest to go forward.

I'm in even though Mike Kelly has likely caught 10 times what I will all year already. Just got to make sure this contest goes on. Come on guys sign up it will be fun just for the pics

Iam up to 5!! Thats like 500 if I was younger!

No chance of being in contention but scored 2 in 3 days so far with only 2 cage traps out

How they looking fur-wise Jingles? West or east side?

Im wondering if there will still be a beaver tail contest? This one sounds like fun to watch, but the vast majority of beaver trappers on this site won’t even have a shot at winning because most don’t bring in huge numbers.

One thing I really like about the tail contest is that it has random winners who have a chance just by entering the contest. That is why I donated to it last year, and will again this year if it happens.

Not saying this contest does not look like fun, but I really like the wide appeal and chance for anyone who participates to win something. I also enjoy the “spoof” entries - it’s nice when there can be friendly competition with lighthearted, fun oriented aspects.