North Dakota Furtakers

This trapping education manual is intended to improve your knowledge of North Dakota's Predators and furbearing animals and the basics on how to trap them. In this manual we hope we can provide you with enough trapping techniques to encourage conscientious trapping and good sound fur management. This manual was written for the beginning or inexperienced trapper, who is sincerely interested in trapping but lacks any direct information on how to do it. We will explain the habits of various predators and furbearing animals of North Dakota and some methods on trapping them. This manual will include classroom sessions with the use of proper trapping equipment and in the field demonstrations from qualified instructors. Above all you will learn by doing various sets by yourself. The purpose of this manual is to get you started in this reaming process and get you on the right track.

This trapping program is intended to provide you with a base of knowledge that will help both beginning and active trappers to conduct their operations responsibly. Also, to have consideration for others who use the same land, with respect for the various objectives established by landowners or public land laws for managing individual units of land.

1997.  North Dakota Furtakers Educational Manual.  North Dakota Furtakers Association, North Dakota
     Game and Fish Department.  58pp.

1997.  North Dakota Furtakers Educational Manual.  North Dakota Furtakers Association, North Dakota
     Game and Fish Department.  58pp.  Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 
     Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/furtake/furtake.htm
     (Version 16MAR98).

Table of Contents

• Trapping Ethics
• Fur Management
• The History of the Fur Trade in North Dakota
• Steps of a Trapper
  • Traps and Equipment
  • Trap Preparation
  • Mink
  • Raccoon
  • Muskrat
  • Skunk
  • Badger
  • Beaver
  • Red Fox
  • Coyote
  • Bobcat
  • Draw Baits and Attracters
  • Snaring
  • Care of Pelts
  • Correct Way to Measure Blanket Beaver
• Conclusion

Additional copies of this manual are available free of charge from North Dakota Fur Takers Association.

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