Not boasting, but Lord the fur I’ve taken in my day. Spent many years at it, when down at the east coast. In all modesty, was accredited the top fur taker in Nova Scotia for fourteen years straight, and was only beaten once (and only in the bobcat category) – that by two guys working together (covering alternate areas) who took only two cats more than I.

Ontario Trappers and Hudson’s Bay were my fur buyers, until I got sick of getting raked on the fur quality, and their return.  One shipment of 21 cats, of which only two fell below the very highest grade, got demoted by their handlers… which meant several thousand in their pocket, not mine. What could you do, they then had the control and paper-upped poor sale prices (for my benefit). That was the end of my shipments to them. So I then dealt with a more local fur buyer where fair value was won. So amazed he was at my “weekly” return, each time carrying four to six large garbage bags filled to the brim with dried pelts. Can’t quite recall now, but I know I used to run well over three hundred leg traps plus sixty or so body traps, and over five hundred snares out throughout the season. Gone from before daylight and back well after dusk, seven days a week for the four month season - - all the while, up half the night doing up furs. Also did a lot of nighttime coon hunting with my hounds. Oh…. the energy back then. Though thoroughly enjoyed, it was but just another source of income in an otherwise bleak part of the province. Many, many, many stories to tell – when I have more time.

Looking forward to hearing some trapping yarns from others around the world.

One Shot