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I suppose everyone thinks of trappers a little differently.
I image some people envision them as the rough and rowdy buckskin-clad mountain men of old who saw civilization only a couple times a year, when it was time to sell pelts and buy supplies. Most days I have a hard time arguing against that. Others possibly see them as gruff, smelly, greasy chaps whose standard attire is a scraggly beard and a sweat-stained undershirt.
I knew a fur buyer like that when I was a kid. He once offered my brother and I a plate of fried muskrat that smelled too much like him to even consider. I just returned from a day at the Kansas Fur Harvesters’ annual fall convention and rendezvous, and I’d like to give you my impression of today’s (Kansas) trappers.
Modern day trappers are the most conservation-minded sportsmen I have ever encountered. They understand the importance of trapping as a means of managing populations of predators and fur bearing animals, yet at the same time, they understand the detriment of over-harvesting.
Many have found ways to use every possible part of the animals they catch. They sell the pelts for fur, they clean and sell the skulls of animals like beavers and badgers and they harvest and sell skunk essence and glands from beavers and coyotes as ingredients for making baits and lures used by all trappers.
A couple years ago, our fur buyer was keeping beaver tails because he was told Tony Llama was considering making beaver tail boots. Often bobcat carcasses are even sold to be made into predator bait used for trapping coyotes. They are very careful to adhere to season dates and other regulations, and it’s important to them to maintain good relationships with law enforcement personnel.
Today’s trappers are very conscious about the public’s image of trapping. They have developed ways of modifying and setting traps that minimize damage to the animal’s pelts. They have designed and built traps that now make it possible to catch problem and destructive raccoons around barns or homes without catching pets.
Maintaining positive relationships with landowners is a priority to them, and they are very careful not to set traps in places and ways that offer the probability of catching the land owner’s cat or a hunters dog.
They are also the most innovative sportsmen I know. One trapper at the rendezvous told the group about a body of water on public land near Topeka he has trapped for years that has always produced an abundance of fur bearers for him. When the ground around it recently became a special handicapped recreational area complete with parking lot, he was forced to adapt.
I suppose everyone thinks of trappers a little differently.
I image some people envision them as the rough and rowdy buckskin-clad mountain men of old who saw civilization only a couple times a year, when it was time to sell pelts and buy supplies. Most days I have a hard time arguing against that. Others possibly see them as gruff, smelly, greasy chaps whose standard attire is a scraggly beard and a sweat-stained undershirt.I knew a fur buyer like that when I was a kid. He once offered my brother and I a plate of fried muskrat that smelled too much like him to even consider. I just returned from a day at the Kansas Fur Harvesters’ annual fall convention and rendezvous, and I’d like to give you my impression of today’s (Kansas) trappers.Modern day trappers are the most conservation-minded sportsmen I have ever encountered. They understand the importance of trapping as a means of managing populations of predators and fur bearing animals, yet at the same time, they understand the detriment of over-harvesting.Many have found ways to use every possible part of the animals they catch. They sell the pelts for fur, they clean and sell the skulls of animals like beavers and badgers and they harvest and sell skunk essence and glands from beavers and coyotes as ingredients for making baits and lures used by all trappers.A couple years ago, our fur buyer was keeping beaver tails because he was told Tony Llama was considering making beaver tail boots. Often bobcat carcasses are even sold to be made into predator bait used for trapping coyotes. They are very careful to adhere to season dates and other regulations, and it’s important to them to maintain good relationships with law enforcement personnel.Today’s trappers are very conscious about the public’s image of trapping. They have developed ways of modifying and setting traps that minimize damage to the animal’s pelts. They have designed and built traps that now make it possible to catch problem and destructive raccoons around barns or homes without catching pets.Maintaining positive relationships with landowners is a priority to them, and they are very careful not to set traps in places and ways that offer the probability of catching the land owner’s cat or a hunters dog.They are also the most innovative sportsmen I know. One trapper at the rendezvous told the group about a body of water on public land near Topeka he has trapped for years that has always produced an abundance of fur bearers for him. When the ground around it recently became a special handicapped recreational area complete with parking lot, he was forced to adapt.He designed and built small wooden structures that are dog proof yet allow a raccoon to squeeze inside for the bait. Once inside, the animal is killed nearly instantly by a specially designed trap that keeps them hidden from view.Twenty-First Century trappers also are concerned with teaching young sportsmen and women how to trap ethically and successfully. Most are more than happy to teach a youngster or beginner what they know (with the possible exception of a few tricks kept up their sleeves.)Many trapping supply companies have state-of-the-art websites, some with help and discussion forums where answers and advice can be gleaned from trappers all across North America. Completion of Fur Harvester Education is mandatory here in Kansas before a young trapper can get their first fur harvester permit. Yes, we are trappers; part of a waning breed that once helped shape our country. We are at the same time sportsmen, conservationists, public image technicians, innovators and teachers. We trap in the farm country of the Midwest rather than in Rocky Mountain streams, we drive pickups rather than ride horses and pack mules, we wear jeans and overalls rather than buckskin, and we use modern day traps rather than the antiques of our ancestors, but our spirits remain the same.Yes, we are trappers. Take a youngster along into the outdoors this season as we continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve Gilliland is a syndicated outdoors columnist and can be contacted by e-mail at stevegilliland@embarqmail.com.
