I've never joined the that one. Only American ones are NTA & FTA for a couple years, Idaho & Alaska. I did buy one of Goodman's shirts in Sioux Falls last summer. When I got it home I looked at the back and it said something like "Passing down the sport of trapping". That's my skinning shirt. Too bad, it's otherwise really nice.
I've got a couple good friends that stack the wolves and other critters up and call it hobby trapping. I just tell them to drop the hobby part when someone asks why they trap. In the end, we all gotta pool or resources and work together which is why this thread was started, who's all a member of an association?


Reason I'm posting this early is I'm waiting on a digger truck to help replace a defective 100kva transformer. This is paying better than beaver right now.

Yes, I do trap and a member of Wyoming State Trappers Assn, FTA and NTA.

Trapperman's mission statement....

As we have inherited our great trapping heritage, so too have we inherited the responsibility of carrying out our wonderful sport in an ethical manner. Through education of today's trappers, our goal is to provide the information necessary for them to carry through on this responsibility.

Our goal is also to provide the information necessary to enable the novice trapper to learn the techniques of constructing sets, humanely dispatching animals, fur handling, etc. This will be done primarily through the input of the many experienced trappers out there interested in the education of our young trappers.

Our goal is to encourage today's trappers to join their national, and state trapping associations. By joining these organizations, we strengthen our numbers for battle against those who would take this great sport from us. We have many battles ahead in the legislative arena and these organizations need more than just our money. It's imperative that we show the public who we are and the good we are doing for the wildlife. Always keep in mind that we are the true protectors of wildlife and the wild places in which the animals live.

Our goal is to keep the sport of trapping alive to pass on to the next generation by keeping the trapper abreast of any impending legislation that may threaten our sport and suggest the proper action the trapper can take on any such legislation.

Our goal here is to teach trappers. In the pursuit of educating trappers, we respectfully request that no anti trapping rhetoric or any such input that does not promote the education of trappers in the ethics and techniques of trapping be posted.
Paul Dobbins

They probably call it hobby trapping, because it is the truth for them. I could spend a fortune catching wolves and wolverines and lose money doing it. Plenty of people do.

One more time, it is getting harder to actually make decent income doing this as time goes by. Most trappers are not doing this.

I agree trappers should lie, but the figures won't.

Even during the fur boom years, there were VERY few trappers making a living from trapping only. Its always been a side hustle

For some reason people don't grasp that fur trapping is seasonal work. Fur trapping is when the animals have fur worth selling. Most jobs don't allow you to earn all your yearly income needs in a 3 or 4 month period.

Yes , I trap. And I belong to La. Trappers association. But, I haven’t trapped in a couple of years! Been very busy!

True! Even way back. It was extra money during the winter when you weren’t farming.

I Trap a little, caught a few coyotes and one cat this year, belong to NTA, OTA, I have been the OTA Rendezvous chairman for 15 years plus, so I help the Oregon Trappers with fundraising as well. Looking to expand my trapping effort next winter.

Never been a sport for me.
I get paid or I don't do it.
To those that can afford to,
An Honest "good for you" from
Olympic coon scraper wannabe, NOT.

The antis don't care what you call it. They just want it gone. Nothing is going to change that.

Sport trappers are abound then.
Have at er fellas.

… I trap for primal gratification

Iam a member of New Mexico,Colorado,Idaho,Texas and Fur Takers. I have used the money from trapping to keep the bill collector from selling the children! I have to trap it defines who iam , it is the most enjoyable of all the things I have done. Savell has it pegged "primal gratification". The people who disapprove of trapping are envious of our skills and understanding of the natural world. If for whatever your reason is to not join a trappers assoc. you should consider the Sportsman Alliance.

Its a good time to be a trapper!

To take a break from self..........?

…. No sir

True but I ran across an old news paper article interview of a friend of my wife's family. And he paid for at least two of his farms trapping. Been a long time since I read it but I think he was getting $2 for skunks. He ran through the prices for each animal he was geting. It was a long article got into the first time he saw deer tracks on his line and some info on the reintroduction. I think it was in the 50s- 60s. before my mom's time.

I believe the side hustle paid more than working. Think 3 dollars an hour. Then think 5 dollar coon. Then. Now think 15 - 20 bucks an hour and 5 dollar coon. Today. This was before the boom. Boom 20-30 dollar coon 4 to 10 dollars an hour. Guys took vacation time to make more money then work. Or trapped around work to make more money then work.

I'm 60.

I don't think I (or any trappers close to my age) will see another fur boom. Especially one that will compare to the cost of living, inflation, etc of today.

I am thankful for the memories of the late 70s-80s and again in 2010/2011. Trapping is something special to experience when you get rewarded pretty good for your efforts....all while doing something you truly enjoy.

Ahh...the cold days, the numb fingers, cold & wet feet, the tiredness after hours skinning/scraping/boarding pelts, the aching & cramping hands, the satisfaction of looking at that put-up fur hanging in the shed, the sadness after its all sold and the shed is empty....I could go on & on....but you guys already know what Im talkin' bout.

Very well put Swamp!!! I'll be 76 next season and doubt I'll see those prices again, but inside every trapper lives
eternal optimism for better prices next year and full traps.