Trapping holds a place in the history of the United States that dates back to it’s very origins. In 1670, the Hudson Bay Company established in what is now Canada for the purpose of trapping and selling furs making trapping one of the oldest industries in North America. With the exploration of the Louisiana Purchase Territory by Lewis and Clark in 1804, a wealth of furbearing animals was discovered that would provide the foundation that a countless number of “mountain men” would build their lives on throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, trapping provides a means of recreation for outdoor enthusiasts and serves to keep wild animal populations in check. It also carries on a tradition that is older than the U.S. itself.

Recently picking up that tradition was Three Timbers Outdoors pro-staffer Rick Thomas. As deer season wound down, Rick began learning trapping tactics from more experienced trappers so that he could extend his own hunting season into a period of time when nothing else is in season. Over the weeks of getting up early, running traps and rebaiting, Rick was fortunate enough to harvest a gray fox, a coyote, raccoons, and a countless number of possums, earning him the nickname, “Possum Daddy.” His trophy though, was a long sought-after bobcat.

Do to sensationalism and the outcrys of fringe groups such as PETA, trapping has been given a bad name in recent years under the banner of “animal cruelty.” Nothing could be further from the truth. When properly used, modern leghold traps and Conibear-style traps provide a humane and necessary means of implementing wildlife management. Just like bowhunting, fishing, or turkey hunting, trapping is apart of the outdoor heritage that all of us share as sportsmen. Before we make quick judgments about the use of traps in the hunting world, we need to take time to investigate it thoroughly and do what we can to educate others about the long held tradition of trapping.