Trappers' Council Fishing Derby On Big Gull Lake

Jeff Green | Feb 19, 2014

The Frontenac Addington Trappers' Council are counting on good weather, and a good turnout, for their annual fund-raising fishing derby on Big Gull Lake on Saturday, March 1.

Not only do they want the event to be as enjoyable as possible for the families that attend, and for the fishing to be good, but the council also needs money to carry on the work they do. They also want to continue to be able to support the outdoor education centre at North Addington Education Centre, the Pine Meadow Nursing Home, the Conservationists of Frontenac/Addington deer contest, anglers and hunters programs, student
bursaries, walleye spawning beds, as well as public education programs and workshops throughout the region.

Wilf Deline of Dead Creek Outfitters is the council president, and he said that there have been challenges for the council and for trappers in general in recent years due to low prices for pelts, and other factors.

“We like to point out how much work trappers have done over the years in the area of conservation. There are more fur-bearing animals in Ontario now than ever before, and because trappers are on the ground we are in the best position to track the numbers of different species. When there are threats to any of the populations we are the ones who let the MNR and others know,” he said.

The council was formed in 1981. It has a number of goals, including: fostering conservation; encouraging the wise use of land and resources; maintaining and enhancing the habitats and populations of fur-bearing animals and fish; and maintaining relationships with auction houses, buyers, suppliers and bodies such as the Ministry of Natural Resources and others.

The council is currently involved in a number of projects, including setting up duck nesting boxes and establishing walleye spawning beds on selected lakes. In addition to donating money to outdoor education and other causes, they run a youth trapper education program.

“There seems to be a bit of a renewed interest in trapping in the area,” said Wilf Deline. “Our youth program has been well subscribed, and there have been a number of baby boomers coming back into it as well.”

One incentive has been improved pricing for pelts in the last couple of years.

“The prices have been better for fisher, muskrat, coyote, mink, raccoon, all the species we tend to trap around here,” he said, “and also for beaver, which is sort of the base of the industry. There is also an over-abundance of fur bearers in this region, so there is plenty of room for more trappers to get into it.”

Prices for beaver pelts, which had dropped to $12 - $15, have rebounded, in large part because of the Asian market, to three to four times those prices.

The trappers' council members also work for landowners and local townships to help deal with beavers that cause damage to roads and property as they expand their territory and cause flooding.

“We are not going back to the time when you could make a full living from trapping. I get out about 2 days a week, there's only enough money in it for that; but if I could I would be on the trapline all the time. We like to say it's the oldest land-based industry in Canada. It is part of our heritage as a country, and we work hard at the council to keep it viable,” he said.

Tickets for the Big Gull Lake Fishing Derby are available at Kaladar Auto Parts, Bishop Lake Outdoors Centre and Hook's Rona, or call 336-8359 or 335-2695. Please reserve tickets by February 28.