Interest in trapping grows in Maine

Maine Trappers Gain New License, Embrace Family‑Friendly Outdoor Life

Augusta, Oct. 16, 2026 – The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine Outdoor Center hosted a mandatory course for anyone seeking a trapping license in the state. With the state’s number of licensed trappers rising from 4,381 in 2020 to 5,345 in 2025, the session highlighted the shift in why people pursue trapping and the strict educational standards that accompany the practice.

The one‑day program, led by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s recreational safety supervisor Ronald Fournier, began in a forest clearing surrounded by orange and yellow leaves. Participants, nine in total, gathered to learn how to properly set and check live‑restraining devices, such as a metal cable loop used to capture a black bear’s paw. When Fournier asked, “You’re always checking live restraining devices how often?” the group answered in unison, “Every day,” and when pressed further, “In the morning.”

Fournier, who also oversees safety training across the state, explained that the course is a prerequisite for a trapping license that is valid from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. “Maine requires more education than most states,” he said. “People need to finish homework in advance and attend a full‑day course that includes an exam. The curriculum covers practical, legal, and communication skills so trappers can present themselves well to landowners and the public.”

The course also offered hands‑on demonstrations. Joshua Dostie, a recreational safety coordinator, knelt beside a beaver trap on the floor and explained how to confirm the presence of target species, when to abandon a location, and how to ensure the trap kills the animal swiftly to minimize suffering. “If we as trappers want to keep our seasons manageable, we have to make good decisions,” Dostie noted.

Maggie Morgan, a 34‑year‑old volunteer instructor from Bowdoinham, shared that trapping has become “more flexible around family schedules” than hunting. “I see more women and kids in these courses,” she said, adding that her own children enjoy helping with equipment and accompany her on traplines. “If I spend three hours out hunting, I may or may not get a deer. With a trapline, a few beavers can feed the family and produce craft items,” she explained.

Brooke Blood, 30, from Avon, registered for the course as an aspiring game warden. “I’ve been hunting, but trapping is new to me,” she said. “I want to learn about species I’m less familiar with, like beaver or otter.”

Adam Austin of Belgrade, who first obtained a trapping license more than a decade ago for animal control duties, said his renewed interest in the practice stems from both personal and practical reasons. “It’s not about the pelts, the money or anything like that,” he said. “It’s learning about the animals.” He plans to use his license to target predators that have been killing his chickens and to spend more time outdoors after recovering from cancer treatment.

Brian Bernosky, president of the Maine Trappers Association, observed a cultural shift among trappers. “We used to guard our techniques because we worried about losing income or facing opposition,” he said. “Today, there’s a broader culture of mentorship. If we don’t share what we know, we risk going by the wayside.”

Fournier’s research on the recent surge in licensing revealed that many new trappers are motivated by self‑sufficiency rather than fur profit. “The No. 1 choice was to expand hunting and outdoor activities,” he told the group. “Right behind that was trapping for personal use to make craft items and garments.” He added that some participants hope to use the license to trap a few furbearers to make beaver mittens or family hats.

Maine’s strict licensing process and the growing diversity of participants suggest that trapping in the state is evolving. While the state’s requirement of a full‑day education and a passing exam may seem rigorous, it appears to foster a more ethical, community‑oriented approach to trapping that balances tradition with contemporary outdoor life.