Trappers and Hunters

Nature of work

This group of jobs is concerned with hunting and trapping wild animals for food, pelts, live sale, and killing unwanted predators. Trappers and hunters may specialize in trapping or hunting a kind of animal.

Job duties

Trappers:

• Set traps with bait and position traps along trails.
• Use snowmobiles or travel on foot, snowshoes, or skis to patrol trapline.
• Remove catch and reset traps and snares.
• Kill and skin catch for pelts and treat and pack pelts for marketing.
• Trap live animals for sale to buyers or for relocation purposes.
• Maintain and repair trapping equipment.
• Maintain trails and access to trapping lines.
• Trap designated animals for bounty or other control programs.
• May monitor animal population in the trapping regions to ensure future sustainability.

Hunters:

• Use boats or snowmobiles or travel on foot to reach hunting areas.
• Kill wild animals using firearms or other weapons.
• Skin dead animals for pelts using knives.
• Treat, pack, and transport pelts to processing plants or to public auctions.
• Maintain hunting equipment.
• May monitor animal population in the hunting regions to ensure future sustainability.

Sample job titles

• beaver trapper
• fur trapper
• game trapper
• hunter
• seal hunter - hunting and trapping
• trapper

Skills

• You should enjoy working outdoors and being physically active. Good eyesight and health are important. You may be exposed to extreme weather conditions and varying climates. You must be alert, patient, and observant.

Job requirements

• Trapping or hunting courses may be required in some provinces.
• A provincial trapping or hunting licence may be required.

Other considerations

• Trappers and hunters are usually self-employed and work on a seasonal basis often involving irregular or long hours. In some jurisdictions, trappers may be allocated trapping areas based on their experience.

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

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