Doing a Trapping Demonstration

Got called on Sunday afternoon from one of the youngmen from church asking if I would teach the all the youngmen about trapping Thursday (today). I'm looking for suggestions. Below is what my outline is so far. Keep in mind I mainly trap Grey Fox, Coyotes, and Bobcats so that's what my focus is on.

- Basic need for trapping
- Trapping tools of the trade (of course this includes putting my hand in a trap)
- Basic local laws
- K9 vs Feline behavior (includes showing the difference in skulls to show eye size vs nose cavity size)
- Set making (based on species behavior)
- Fur handling tools of the trade
- Putting up fur
- Showing them tanned fur

I only have about an hour. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm them, hopefully it will inspire them to start trapping

I did this about 10 years ago and one of the older kids asked to ride along and ended up running his own line for a season. Then we teamed up and started trapping together for about 5 seasons before kids and work on both sides started making lining our schedules up difficult. He's turned into a really good trapper and is one of my closest friends.

I find is pretty amazing how drawn to hunting/trapping/fishing younger people are. I figured growing up in a small town is why everyone I knew was into those 3 to some extent, but then coming to the city I realized its a natural instinct everyone has.

Definitely bring the fur. Its always a hit at any event I go to.

With the amount of time you have, I would focus more on what traps are and what they are not. The history of traps and how the modern traps are nothing like what is depicted in the movies. Why trapping is important today.

If you've got some good stories, use those. Encourage questions. Its more productive to get questions, if you make it a straight lecture, eyes will glaze over and snoring ensues. Its more fun for you too with questions.

Great stuff cat trapper! Talk about trappers ed. If possible bring some lures along. I can’t tell you the interest I had from my trappers Ed kids when I passed around the attractors. They loved it.
Good luck.

Looks like you have plenty of material to work with and that hour will go by fast!

I'd say you got it well covered.
I think it will be a hit.

Cat trapper, looks like a good list. Make sure to drive home the importance of ethics and perception as a "public service announcement" for trapping in general. I do a lot of demos at our events and one thing that folks really seem to key in on is trapline management...how to successfully run a line for a whole season year after year kinda thing. Logistics, access, preparation, time management, etc. I find those topics most useful when talking to other experienced trappers as well.

Oh, leave lots of time for questions!

Good luck and have fun!

Why do you have to put your hand in a trap???? I see no reason for that.......jk

Putting your hand in the trap is the easy part.
Chewing off your fingers to get out is worse.

Educational. Takes the fear of the trap away

After the catch, unintended catch, release, short videos, etc could be included if time allows. A second hour and field trip may be in your future.

Brother, I like to include breeding habits, litter size, effects of drought, teach part of the demo with that trap on your hand, teach about release of kits and breeders, renewable resource facts, and what happens if we do not trap.

Cat trapper how did the demo go? Anyone show interest in trapping?

I n order to get the kids involved ask the kids questions .What you want to achieve is having a conversation with those that are there You don't want it to be a lecture Once you get that conversation going that hour time limit will go by before you know it. SAnd if something comes up that you do not have the answer to it is OK to say I do not know .

hour talking = water bottle for throat sourness

It went good. Some of the boy's didn't seem to excited about it and were grossed out when I first started sending fur around (city kids), but after a few pelts they started holding them longer and got a little more interested. I told then that if any of them want to ride along I'm more than willing. That seemed to hit the leaders more because they all came up to me to find out what time of the season is best so they can come. Hopefully I sparked an interest in some of the boys, or if anything, helped them understand the truth about trappers and trapping.

Thanks for all the words of advice

Cat trapper thank you for taking the time to do the demo.

Nice to hear you had such positive results for your efforts. A little bit of positive information can go a long way into changing someone's mind.