“What is the biggest secret in trapping?”

During almost every trapping course taught, there is always someone who asks this question or something similar. For years, the answer has been the same: there is no secret, just basic knowledge, making sets, and being in a good area with lots of animals. Yet, every time this is stated, someone in the group responds, “Sure — but I bet you’re not telling us your real secrets.”

Photo by Serge Lariviére.

This notion of hidden secrets in trapping has persisted for years. Successful trappers often claimed to possess knowledge that others did not, which enabled them to catch animals when others could not. Growing up, various vague pieces of advice were shared: place a trap in front of an animal, set it where an animal will step, or position the trap between the bait and the animal. Before the Internet, information was scarce, and the desire to become a proficient trapper led to extensive reading and learning. Over decades of trapping diverse species across various climates, a profound realization emerged: the ultimate secret in trapping is not about lure, bait, or magic sets. The secret is straightforward yet powerful: **set more traps**.

Photo by Serge Lariviére.

Before dismissing this as vague, consider this: one might learn about a new set, like a bottom-edge set for mink, read multiple articles, and then try it. After making one set and checking it for a week without success, it’s easy to conclude that bottom-edge sets do not work in that area. However, trapping success requires persistence and multiple sets. Every longliner knows that empty sets are common; thus, to achieve catches, one must set more traps and accept that many will remain empty.

In prime fisher territory, running 250 sets might yield 50 fishers. In contrast, setting just five traps in top habitats may only catch one fisher over 30 days. The key takeaway is that the number of traps directly correlates with the catch. For instance, if 40 beavers were caught last year, doubling the traps can potentially double the catch. Similarly, if 10 foxes were caught with 25 sets, increasing to 250 sets could yield 100 foxes. The principle remains: **set more traps**.

Other factors, such as furbearer abundance, access, competition, and diseases, can impact statistics. Nevertheless, the fundamental rule remains unchanged: more traps yield more animals — so set more traps.

As a child, there were tales of a local trapper catching 100 mink each season while struggling to catch 30 on one’s own line. The assumption was that this trapper possessed secret techniques or bait. Upon interviewing him, it was revealed that he set five traplines with 250 sets each. In contrast, running only two lines of 100-150 sets resulted in significantly fewer catches. The disparity in the number of traps explains the difference in success rates.

A similar awakening occurred while longlining for raccoons. A conversation with a renowned trapper revealed a critical insight: if one can carry their catch in one trip, they are not setting enough traps. The realization that doubling or tripling traps at a location could significantly increase the catch was transformative. Setting more traps leads to more opportunities for success.

Years later, while trapping in a high-density fox area, the importance of setting more traps was reiterated. After a heavy snowfall, a bait station with six snares yielded no catches despite heavy fox activity. By adding more snares, the next check resulted in six foxes caught. This reinforced the lesson that more traps lead to more catches.

The analogy from hockey illustrates this principle: it’s not about how many times one shoots, but how many goals are scored. Increasing the number of attempts correlates with increased success.

IN CONCLUSION

The current philosophy emphasizes setting more traps than the expected number of animals. If a pair of beavers is anticipated, three traps will be set. For a location expected to yield one fisher, double the traps. When encountering a good crossover, set as many traps as feasible, ensuring that one catch does not render other sets ineffective. The mindset regarding empty sets has evolved; it is acceptable for some traps to yield no catches, as many will result in successful fur captures. The more traps set, the greater the odds of a successful catch.

Photo by Serge Lariviére.

This lesson was reinforced during a recent beaver line check. Despite spotting a promising crossover, only two traps were set due to limited time and resources. The subsequent check revealed a beaver and an otter caught, yet it was clear that additional traps might have resulted in capturing more animals. This experience serves as a reminder: to catch more of anything, the secret remains: **set more traps**!