Trappers and Hunters

(NOC 8442)

in All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

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 Outlook

Undetermined

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  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

  • Estimate 415 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1430 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$18.00

Median

$30.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$4,009

Minimum

$23,520

Median

$87,170

Maximum

About the job

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.

By the numbers

Quick look

< 50

employed in 2016

0.0%

employed full-time

100.0%

self employed

0.0%
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100%
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N/A

median age

Compared to: All Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Mining

14,665

employed in 2016

78.0%

employed full-time

20.0%

self employed

15.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
84.9%
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44.6

median age

Where will I likely work?

100.0%

North Shore

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

100.0%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Education & training

There is no information to display in this section

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Department of Resources and Renewables
Halifax, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.