1. Wildlife, Fish and Forestry Management Mr. Melby
Badger State Trapping
Wildlife, Fish and Forestry Management
Mr. Melby

2. Mouse in Glue Trap

3. Cat in Snare

4. Bear Trap?

5. Why Trapping? There are 7 Reasons people trap…. Economic Benefit
The Challenge
Recreation
For Aesthetics…they enjoy the appearance of fur products….

6. Why Trapping? Heritage/It’s Tradition Damage Control/ Conservation
Responsibility

8. In the beginning… History of WI Trapping…
North America was explored and settled partly due to the beaver furs
hats & coats.

9. Competition
Settlers in Wisconsin competed against the Native Americans

10. Records…
Trapping records began to be recorded in the early 1600’s near Lake Michigan and the St. Lawrence River.

11. A lot of history
No other profession comes close in longevity to the sale & trade of furs in WI.
It is the oldest profession in Wisconsin!

12. In The 1600’s Almost all trappers were Native American
But the European settlers gradually took over

13. Settlers and Native Americans
Settlers bought and traded with the Native Americans to survive the harsh winters
We didn’t have a clue!

14. In the 1800’s
U.S. Gov’t purchased Indian Land and settlements began

15. Trading
Settlers trading with Indians were the first commercial businesses
Traded mainly for food, clothing, crops and money.

16. Earliest WI Traders
The Earliest fur traders were the Huron, Ottawa and Winnebago Indians(Eastern WI)

19. Money 1667 (Great Lakes) 20-40 cents a pelt 1855 (Milwaukee) 70 cents
This is a big part of our local history!