I’ve searched this till blue in the face and just haven’t found the info I’m wanting. If a trapper trapped 2k acres or more for a two week stretch that was crawling with coyotes and a good amount of bobcats what’s the best way to charge? I’ve been approached a few times about trapping in far South Texas. Thats about a 300 mile run for me so I’d either camp
on property or stay at a local motel. Should I charge a flat rate per acre or by the animal or a mixture of both. I’m thinking per mile for travel and also a set fee to start with. This would be jaw traps and snares only.

I trap a high fence place not far from my house but that a totally different situation. Not many coyotes as I keep them in check and it’s only a 20 mile run so that’s not bad. But long distance trapping has considerable more expense in several areas.

Only you can answer that. Sounds like you're looking at eight hour days or whatever you're personal limit is for however long you and the client are agreeable to. You're going to need room and board, so how expensive are your tastes? Don't forget wear and tear on your tools and truck plus go juice for the truck.

Now figure all that if you were working any other blue collar job. What would make you happy to bring home to mama.

And if it's not obvious by how I put that a flat rate per term of days is going to be your best option. Actually I'd formulate that as a flat per plus per diem for travel.

Forget per animal, per trap, per whatever. Because you have zero control over what the animals will do other than busting your hump to make it happen and you should get paid well to bust your hump.

I would not do the job for less than $400/day plus mileage.

It doesn’t sound like a job we’d want, but how’s your access? Are you driving a truck to all the places you’re trapping, using a quad, or is it so rugged your transportation has legs of its own? Is the target a specific area of that 2000 acres or all of it?

Can you make more sitting in town pulling woodchucks and opossums from under sheds? For example, we charge $150 to spray a house for insects. If I’m moving slow, customer decides to get chatty, it’ll take me 30 minutes to treat it. If nobody is there it’ll take 15. I drive my truck up to the house, jump out, and walk around the house twice looking for issues spraying the house. Im not beating myself up in the TX sun hiking around looking for sign. I lived in Houston for years and you’re probably hitting 80s already. It sounds like it may be fun to play at, but a tough way to earn pay. The coyotes are going to breed and move around fast enough that the dent you make in the population won’t last a year.

150 to spray? That is noice.
I could use a service provider for 30 bucks a month in AZ…..
Spray myself,,,,,,

But there is something different about not being a bug guy….
Sure the money is there on contracts,,,, but then it just a job, not an adventure…

I used to chase storm damage when I was young…

Things just cost more in NYS. $30 is the employee’s hourly wage if they’re licensed/experienced.

Depending on the size and scope of the project, pricing is relative to initial setup days which can run 2-4 days on bigger projects plus mileage, also considering access and degrees of difficulty for access. After initial setup is completed also factor in approx.daily maintenance check times, then resets and moving to set up new locations.

$250 > $500 daily is where I would be once I have looked things over by analyzing the above criteria. Plus the costs of any extra licensing, permits or bonds that need posted prior to commencing work. Cost of lodging, room/board, food etc. all come into play. Aggrivation / interference / theft at times comes with a price if i run into that, it will be added to the final bill with the notification of such given to the payer at the beginning of the contract period.

Whatever dollar amount you want to go home with, add 30%.

Thanks for the feedback guys this is the exact info I was hoping for.

The 2k acre high fence property I trap locally I only charge $500 a week as it’s right down the road and I can run my line in about 3 hrs if i get after it. Usually trap it twice a year. 2 months in the winter then again in the spring for 2-3 weeks . Going out of town on a really large property though is a whole different ballgame. Yall have given me good direction and a lot to think over. Thank you!

I would have a set up fee as well. $1K to $1500, for example