Becoming a California Trapper

[shanedante0917]

I'm posting this because I love trapping and I live in California. When I first decided to get my trappers license, not even the DFG could help me. I called everywhere and finally got a hold of some people that could help me. It wasn't as hard as they made it seem. You basically just study the test material online, go into there office make an appointment and study. Than take the test, it's a really easy test about 80 questions. You have to get better than 80 percent. Than they give you a card saying you passed and you just send it in each year with the money fir the license. When I went in to take the test the warden didn't understand why more people didn't trap. I assumed because it was the difficulty in being able to get the license and not being able to use steel traps. They also told me I was the only junior trapper they have ever seen take the test, I was 13 when I got it. I am now almost 17, so I have a lot to learn. But it really sucks that I have never met another trapper in California and want to get the word out that it's not that hard to acquire one.

[Spaslab]

Glad to have some new blood around here.:welcome sign:

[dthome]

Thanks for the tip. I was wondering how difficult the test would be. Good post.

[472x1A/B]

Welcome to JHO shanedante0917. Have you been trapping the last 4 years? If so where have you sold your fur? I am not being nosey but just curious. Don't know any of the laws there so can you use leg holds, conibears, or snares? Hang in there, been doing it for 55 years and still learning.

[tony270]

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/ /><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT> </P><P><FONT color=black><FONT face=Verdana>No body gripping traps allowed in <?xml:namespace prefix = u1 /><u1:State u2:st=<u1:place u2:st="on"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/ /><st1:State w:st=<st1:place w:st="on">California</u1:place></u1:State></st1:place></st1:State> for fur baring mammals. All the traps that you mentioned are considered body gripping traps. There's a guy up in Northern <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> that goes by the name of Yancy. He's an old time California trapper, and he makes different type of traps including what he calls a dog proof trap.<o:p></o:p>

Just google "yancy trap" and to check it out.

HH and good luck.

[472x1A/B]

So the only traps that can be used are dog proof and cage traps? That figures for your state. Everybody looking out for your welfare.

[tony270]

Yeah, only live traps. But dog proof traps can be used with body gripping traps. A dog proof trap is basically a bucket set used on a tree.

[shoot-it]

I want to get mine to. Does anyone have a link to a we site.

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

i know someone who has their trapper license and works for an extermiator company, they come out and set the trap and get a $100.00 a day weather they catch something or not, thats not bad money at all! and the only person who is allowed to touch those traps at all are the licensed trappers them selfs. have a great day!....tra

[WildlifeBranch]

link to trapping reference: Special Permit and License Information (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/specialpermits/specialpermits.html)

[DirtyDave]

Can you trap in Ca if you have a hunting license or do you need a trapping lic too? I haven't found much info on it. I know you need a trapping lic to sell the furs.

[BADBuckfever]

I know you can trap rabbits in Orange county with a box trap as long as you have a hunting license and your name and address are attached to the trap and the trap must be checked every 24 hours and it must be during the legal season.

I've been thinking about doing this for awhile but never made or bought a trap yet. Something I could do fairly easily w/o much cost involved near home. Some people say rabbit tastes better than chicken, so I gotta try it out at least.

As far as the trapping permit, it doesn't seem that beneficial to have one unless you are going to trap non-game animals and sell the fur etc...or am I not getting it? Too many regulations to go through from reading the info at the link by DFG. California is famous for tons of regulations written in legalese that starts to give you a head-ache after a couple pages.

I did see that you could trap unlimited Bobcats with a trapping permit/license, but the season was very short. Only five Bobcats yearly with the hunting license and tags.

[phatdog]

Too many regulations to go through from reading the info at the link by DFG. California is famous for tons of regulations written in legalese that starts to give you a head-ache after a couple pages.


Isnt that the truth!!
It makes me SCARED to trap or hunt in CA, i feel like i have to think about every little step i make, they want to control EVERYTHING.

[palladin]

I know you can trap rabbits in Orange county with a box trap as long as you have a hunting license and your name and address are attached to the trap and the trap must be checked every 24 hours and it must be during the legal season.

I've been thinking about doing this for awhile but never made or bought a trap yet. Something I could do fairly easily w/o much cost involved near home. Some people say rabbit tastes better than chicken, so I gotta try it out at least.

As far as the trapping permit, it doesn't seem that beneficial to have one unless you are going to trap non-game animals and sell the fur etc...or am I not getting it? Too many regulations to go through from reading the info at the link by DFG. California is famous for tons of regulations written in legalese that starts to give you a head-ache after a couple pages.

I did see that you could trap unlimited Bobcats with a trapping permit/license, but the season was very short. Only five Bobcats yearly with the hunting license and tags.

I am of the impression that a trapping license, in most ways, allows you to sell the furs, skulls, and whatnot. Also maybe a way to validate the authenticity of the furs. I think I read somewhere that you have to mark the furs before a sale (I briefly looked at the trapping regs when I was reading my hunting regs).

My impression of the hunting rules is that you can't sell the hides, etc.

[shoot-it]

link to trapping reference: Special Permit and License Information (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/specialpermits/specialpermits.html)
I can't seem to down load the pdf file for some reason.