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Post by mole on Jan 21, 2006 6:14:05 GMT -5
I see a lot of questions about what is this worth and what will I get. Curious as to how this plays into your trapping activity. Ed
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Post by Itrapny on Jan 21, 2006 7:51:04 GMT -5
Well I've stated it here before, the money that you receive is nice but I would still trap for $5 raccoons, oh wait, I did trap for $5 raccoons this year. Seriously though, I would trap no matter what I received for my fur, I do it for the enjoyment of matching wits with the animals, spending time outdoors and passing on a tradition to my kids. I skin everything I kill, I see no reason to kill one of God's creatures and then waste it. Knowing that a certain critter may bring a few more dollars than another may influence how many traps I set for the animal but I still try to catch whatever I can. One of the reasons why I use dirthole sets for fisher, I have a chance at 'yotes, fox, raccoon, whatever vs. just using a leaning pole set where I'm pretty much limited to certain animals. Anyway, after all this rambling, no prices don't effect how much I trap......Wayne
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Post by walkonwater on Jan 21, 2006 8:12:11 GMT -5
I think if it were about $ there would be fewer people on these boards. I am sure that if I collected aluminum cans I could make more $ than I do as a hobby trapper. Those cans just don't light the fire within like the critters do!
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Post by spencer on Jan 21, 2006 8:13:49 GMT -5
This durn hobby COSTS me money. I buy some traps, I buy some lure, I use gas getting around, I send somes hides in to be tanned for me. I need to find a cheaper hobby ;D
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Post by herm on Jan 21, 2006 8:46:38 GMT -5
I have trapped for the last 44 years.Sometimes more so than other years,high prices or low.If a certain animal price was so low that it was bringing about next to nothing I would not persue it as I believe it would be a waist of a resurse to harvest it for nothing.We are not farmers who get paid by the goverment for a harvest which is subsidised,wait until the market changes to a more favorable price.Neusance trapping has nothing to do with this of course. While the price of furs is not the driving factor of why the majority of the trappers on this sit trap,watch and look out at what happens when the next fur boom hits ,we will see just how fur prices can effect trapping.All it would take is just a rumor of an increase in the coon price around September on any given year and look out.We as trappers are not preparing for the trouble trapping as a whole will be in in NYS when this happens.Instead of a one or two annual incedent like the recent one on Long Island it will be happening at a much higher rate.When the money trappers jump back into the game it will be a sad day for us that truly love the sport and work hard a preserving trapping in our state year afer year, regardless of high or low fur prices.
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Post by Hawken315 on Jan 21, 2006 8:47:00 GMT -5
Wayne,I could not have said it better,I trapp every year.No matter what is pulling what.Trapping is in my blood and and I believe being out checking your traps is one of the best ways to watch the sunrise,and be outdoors. Jay
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Post by walkonwater on Jan 21, 2006 11:07:48 GMT -5
Herm I have to agree to an extent. You used coon as an example..I would certainly target coon if prices were $50+ but a difference between 8.00 and 20.00 would not prompt me to target coon. I do enjoy trapping dryland coon but they are just not a critter I enjoy putting up. I have given all my coon to Pappy over the last couple of years. It was a beautiful relationship, I'd catch'em, he'd put'em up. Money did not play a role. As a hobby trapper I would much rather see a fox bouncing around or a beaver on the end of the wire. Coon are just not a critter that I get any enjoyment from beyond the catch. Anyway, it is definetely not a for-profit endeavor for me.
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Post by nightowl on Jan 21, 2006 11:30:33 GMT -5
I think most of us agree it's not about the money. I take the money for my fur and put it in an envelope to spend at conventions or for hunting and trapping gear. Last year got a new Browning Gold Hunter 12 gauge for goose hunting. I like to get something you can say was a direct result of your trapline and not see it frittered away on gas money. I'm fortunate enough to be able to do that. One year a long time ago I bought supplies and ingredients to start a lure business from my fur check and have never borrowed a dime to keep it growing. Selling lure it quite similar actually. You spend countless hours grinding,rotting,aging,squeezing oil sacks, extracting skunk juice,wading through things most people would toss their lunch over. Put it all in a bottle for a whopping $4.00/ounce and then have somebody ask you " If I buy two how much would it be? " Gotta love what your doing is the bottom line ;D
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Post by Scottthetrapper on Jan 21, 2006 11:45:34 GMT -5
Herm, you hit it on the head. I truely fear a relapse of the late '70's - early 80's. I'm not sure that trapping would survive that in this day and age. Although coon aren't the top reason on everyones list, they are the major factor in the amount of pressure on our furbearer population. A $35 average across the board or highs of $50 to $60 would make it hard for me to justify going to work.
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Post by bballou on Jan 21, 2006 19:14:39 GMT -5
No its not entirely for the money!!!! I have been at it for 55+ years ( less 4+ years in the service of my country ) I would definetly trap some type of furbearer each season regardless of fur prices. I GET A HI on the trapline, hardly a day will pass on the trapline that I dont stop and look around and thank GOD for the beautiful scene that is taking place in front of me. ( Maby the riseing sun over a waterway - a triple on fox - a quad on coyote or jest a muskrat in a conni. ect. ect. ) There are no words I can use to explain what I see but you as trappers know what I mean. What could possably be greater than that type of ' HI' ?? As long as I can set a trap I will pursue that HI with little thought to $$$$. I believe its a life time gift for a special group of outdoors people.
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Post by mole on Jan 21, 2006 19:39:17 GMT -5
I started this so I guess I should say something. I too have trapped for many years. I have seen the ups and the downs. I have seen the money hungry exploiters and the dyed in the wool trappers. My barber,who is an avid golfer asked me once if there was any money n trapping. My reply to him was ;How much money do you make playing golf? His reply was; I understand now. Thanks for the replys. Ed
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Post by seandicare on Jan 22, 2006 12:07:14 GMT -5
i started partly because of the money. i knew i wouldn't get rich, but at least maybe get back alittle of what i put into it. doesn't seem to be working out that way either, but it is fun and exciting....lol in a couple years, once i get some experience i'll probably be starting a small ADC business (no one around here really does it). Dom
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