From Training to Trapper

By Andrew Barbato

I had just started a new job as a Wildlife Technician with DEC when my boss asked if I would like to attend a Trapper Education Course that he was conducting. I would be working on furbearer research and interacting with trappers in my new position, so the training was definitely relevant. I let him know that I’d be there, with little idea of the impact the course would have on my future!

After the one-day training, I dove into trapping head first. An entirely new wing of outdoor adventure had been revealed to me, with much to learn. Early on, I became fixated on catching a bobcat. I spent a portion of each fall dedicated to this goal, setting out early in the season for locations that I had scouted over the summer, toting various optical and olfactory curiosities. I made elaborate sets amongst the hills and swamps where I was certain a surly tom bobcat would lurk. In the years that followed, I successfully harvested every furbearer in my area…except for a bobcat. Though achieving my goal has proven to be a bit more difficult than I first imagined, I haven’t given up. There is plenty of enjoyment in the pursuit, whether I succeed or not! Each bobcat set that I have made remains vividly recorded in my memory, along with a host of other experiences that I have had along the trapline.

If you have ever considered trapping or fur handling, I strongly encourage you to sign up for a Trapper Education Course. If you “catch the bug” like I did, you’ll come to know and respect the coyote, fisher, mink, and other furbearers in your area. You’ll find yourself learning new skills, meeting new people, and exploring new corners of the forests, fields, and wetlands. Most importantly, you’ll end up with a rewarding new hobby, another unique avenue to connect with nature, and a new way to create lasting memories in the outdoors. Maybe you’ll even catch a bobcat!