Elon and Vivek need to take an axe to the USDA trapper program IMO.

My 2 cent worth is that in any thing USDA trappers and fur trapper's there will always be some who really excel at there trade and others that do not preform as well as others.It's the human nature GREAT,good average and poor trappers.

I agree with rick, I got a friend who has had a government trapper in his area for two summers, and there is no beaver left, these two old trappers have trapped this area for years and always get 30-50 beaver, now nothing

Only a fool would underestimate their adversary.

USDA can suck all they want up around northeastern MN
The wolves are doing a good job eliminating the beaver now that the deer are gone

Some are good trappers and some not so good, like everyone else, but the Federal Government has no reason to be in the beaver removal business on State, County or Private property. Beaver are not a Federally protected species.

ATV club had talked with a County Forestry supervisor. They recently had a large remote parcel USDA trapped because of flooding issues. The bill was just under 14K and 10 beaver were removed. I am guessing that also includes a bit of dam removal !

State and county land managers or highway departments generally require this type of work to be let out for competative bidding. However, when using USDA they can get around that with a intergovernmental work agreement. It's easier for the land managers to not go through the contract bidding process, but it is certainly not economical. But who cares when you are spending other peoples money?

I can relate to that.
And that can be taken however anyone would like.

..Hey, I didn't know I was your brother-in-law!

met a good trapper in Wisconsin program, met a good trapper in North Dakota program, met a good trapper in Arizona program and a good trapper in Mn - he was a good wolf trapper back in the day...when they had it. Been out for 13 years and yes many of the new employees have never once set a trap. Missouri program just hired one of those.
Friend and I went down and beaver trapped an area 2 WS trappers had operated in yearly - we caught more in 8 days they did all year. - back when #s were entered in WHMIS - no idea what data source entries are now put into