Georgia’s Trapping Tradition: A Look At Georgia Trapping In 1990

Many a country boy has yearned to make a living off the land hunting, fishing or trapping. Some dream about it, while others seize the opportunity and head to the woods.

One group that actively pursues an outdoor livelihood is the Georgia Trappers Association (GTA), a tightly organized group of approximately 400 sportsmen scattered throughout the state. According to newly elected GTA President Steve Green, of Hinesville, the GTA is a group of sportsmen and conservationists joined by mutual interest in trapping and sharing a desire to promote the wise use of Georgia’s natural resources.

The GTA recently held its 10th annual convention in Cordele at the Lion’s Fairgound.

Just what does one do at a trappers’ convention? They learn how to trap, of course, as well as other tricks of the trade. Experts from all over the Southeast gave detailed demonstrations on setting traps. Johnny Wade and Bill Oliver showed how to set a trap line, while George Wacha installed a water trap. Dan Dezarn, of Dry Ridge Kentucky, demonstrated the techniques of snaring. Ron and Pete Leggett, of Boonesboro, Maryland, showed how to rig up a fox and coyote set. Charles Dobbines, of Canton, Ohio, in addition to lecturing on mink and otter trapping, showed how to put up and store fur for the market. The group also had the opportunity to visit the local Holloway Fox and Mink Ranch where they were treated to a fur show by Barnes Fur Co. of Macon. Peppered throughout the conference were turkey shoots, games, contests and live entertainment.

Pete Leggett, of Boonesboro, Md., demonstrates setting a coyote trap at the recent GTA convention.

The participants represented a wide cross section of rural Georgians as witnessed by the parking lot filled with a variety of 4-wheel drive pick-up trucks as well as a Mercedes Benz. Members include not only trappers but farmers, hunters, doctors and lawyers.

Twenty years ago a meeting among trappers would have been next to impossible,” said Steve, but the winds of change and necessity have brought trappers together in recent years. “Trapping is a solitary business, and trappers tend to be loners by the very nature of their occupation.”

The situation changed when trappers realized that they needed to band together to strengthen their trade and educate members.

“Trapping, like hunting and fishing, is an American heritage that we love, and we intend to preserve it,” said Steve, an articulate spokesman for the group and an active trapper himself.

“You’ve got to love trapping to stick with it because it’s expensive to get set up in the business, and it’s very time consuming. The traps have to be checked every morning, rain or shine, and the hides tended during the day.”

Steve and his wife Kathy trap in woods and on farms located in three different counties in the Hinesville area, and they may have 50 to 150 traps out in one location. They normally trap from five to seven days in one area before the catch rate drops off, and then it’s time to move to another location.

GTA officers: (Front row left to right) Gene Arnold, James E. Elllis, Ricky Bazemore, James Cabby Ellis; (back row) Wendell Whitmore, Dale Mitchell, Steve Green, Kathy Green, Eve Hazen and Dan Hazen.

Although the number of trappers in Georgia is declining, this is more an indication of fur prices than a loss of interest in trapping, said Steve.

“For example, in the mid 1980s, we could get $40 to $50 for a fox hide that now brings $6 to $8. Likewise, a bobcat that fetched $100, now only earns the trapper $10 to $15. A lot more people want to trap when the price is up. Right now the folks trapping are earning some money, but they’re primarily trapping because they enjoy the sport.”

Steve says the demand for fur clothing is still high but a glut of fur on the market from the Scandinavian countries where fur ranching is a government subsidized activity, has acted to keep the prices lows. He anticipates that because many fur ranchers are going out of business and furs in cold storage are being depleted, the prices will begin to rise.

The GTA is actively educating its member through its newsletter and conferences about professional and ethical trap setting.

“We strongly encourage our trappers to work with hunting clubs and dog hunters to let them know when and where they’ll be trapping,” said Steve. “Then dog hunters can avoid the area for the few days the trapper is on the location. Regardless, if a dog stumbles into a properly set trap, he won’t be injured. He will be scared and slightly bruised, but he’ll soon by OK.”

Dogs can be released unharmed by simply compressing the trap springs. Similarly, traps are not a threat to humans, as commonly used traps spring harmlessly beneath human feet.

Of some concern to GTA members is the claim that leg hold traps are cruel to animals.

“It just isn’t true,” said Steve. “That’s a myth spread by irrational animal rights groups. Virtually all scientific tests confirm that regularly tended and properly sized leg hold traps do not cause significant permanent or life threatening injuries. Many trapped animals simply rest or nap when they discover they are effectively restrained.”

Animal rights promoters are not in touch with reality, says Steve.

“They are isolated in an urban environment with tame cats and dogs as pets and generally have no idea how animals live in the wilderness.

“Trappers and sportsmen on the other hand are close to nature and understand game biology dynamics, predation and disease issues among wild animals. They have a deep appreciation and respect for wild animals and know that surplus numbers can be harvested and used for the people. Animal rights groups want animals elevated to have the same legal rights as humans, a ridiculous thought. They don’t want animals used for medical research, food or any other useful purpose.”

Steve pointed out that all sportsmen must stop the “insane proposals” of the animal rights fanatics.

“They got cougar hunting banned in California, now they are trying to stop migratory bird hunting there, too. California first, then the rest of the nation is their goal. They’re legally fighting hunter harassment laws which exist to protect hunters from assault in the field, and they’re trying to nullify trapping laws. They view trapping as an easy target. I assure you we’re not but it’s very important that all sportsmen form a unified front against those who attack us without cause.”

According to W.S. (Nick) Nicholson, wildlife bilogist specializing in furbearers, trapping licenses were purchased by 1,233 residents during the 1988-89 trapping season. No non-residents purchased a license. There was a 44.6% decline in license sales from the 1987-1988 season. Interestingly, 243 individuals (24%) purchased licenses and did not trap.

Significant decreases in harvest were recorded for all species, except nutria. Raccoons continue to be the most harvested species with an estimated trapper harvest of approximately 14,465, which does not include the raccoon hunter harvest. Declines in harvest of other animals were 33% for beavers, 63% for grey fox and 66% for raccoon and opossum.

As can be expected, the decline in harvest is in direct correlation to prices the furs fetch on the market place. The 1988-89 fur dealers report also shows large declines in prices and in the number of pelts. The value of last year’s harvest was $322,993.21. This represents a 72.3% decline from the 1987-88 figure of $1.18 million. Raccoon, bobcat and grey fox were responsible for the greatest total value, while bobcat and mink commanded the highest per-pelt price.

Nick indicated that the recruitment rate of new trappers into the trapper population declined from 21.9% in 1987-88 to a four-year low of 12.4% for the 1988-89 season. There again, this trend points out the fact that trapping is very price dependent. When prices are high, more beginners are lured into the trade and the harvest goes up.

On the average, the Georgia trapper sets traps on 2,011 acres for 20 days with 12 land sets and seven water sets. While trapping pressure is lightly distributed across the state, Gordon and Screven counties were the leading trapping areas in Georgia with 25 and 29 resident trappers, respectively. And, although trapping is presently at a low ebb because of deflated prices, it’s still a strong outdoor tradition in Georgia.