8 Alaska Trapper

My grandfather sparked my interest in the outdoors at an early age. He lived in Massachusetts. Although not known for its outdoor opportunities, Massachusetts had plenty of cotton-tail rabbits. My brother and I would hunt rabbits every winter with my grandfather and his neighbor and close friend Chester. I was always disappointed at the end of February because that also meant the end of rabbit season. As a boy, my grandfather trapped to earn extra money during the Great Depression. He would often talk about trapping, but never pursued it later in life mostly due to other competing demands for his time along with the burden of increased regulations. I was always eager to listen to those stories and learn about trapping but it never happened. As an adult I entered service in the Army. The Army took me to multiple different locations, which provided an abundance of experiences in the outdoors. I was able to hunt white-tail deer, black bears, wild pigs, dove, quail, turkey and numerous other animals and birds. Some of my most memorable hunting experiences come from living in the state of Georgia, in which I spent almost nine years all together. In 2003, Georgia opened up a lottery hunt for alligators (the first time in over 35

years) as a means to control the population. I applied and was one of the lucky 200 to get one of those first tags. I ended up harvesting two alligators during my time in Georgia; the first one being an 8 footer and the second one being 10 ½ feet long. In Georgia, you have to harvest the gator with a bow and arrow or a harpoon and can’t use a firearm till the animal is secured with a rope. All of those regulations can make it a bit sporty at times. Over my time in Georgia, I encouraged all my friends to apply for a tag and was able to take several of them on successful alligator hunts. Alligator hunting is high adventure, dangerous and will definitely get your adrenaline pumping. In 2010, I received orders to move from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to Fairbanks, Alaska. My son Will (age 10 at the time) wanted to get into trapping in Alaska. My service in the Army had given me many outdoor

experiences, but nothing in terms of trapping experience. Other than trapping nuisance mice in some of our previous homes, I didn’t know where to start. Luckily a friend (Ray Johnson), who we met through a Hunter Education course, introduced us to beaver trapping that first winter and spring. Will loved it from the start. I remember him asking if we could go check the traps half-way through the night.The next year, we signed up for and attended the trapping school run by the Alaska

By Bill Gottmeier

www.alaskatrappers.org 9

Trappers Association. It was a great experience and we both learned a wealth of knowledge. That year, I bought a case of #4 coil spring traps and a case of #1 long-springs. I coordinated with Fort Wainwright Environmental division and we received our own area to trap located in the Yukon Training Area. That first year was definitely full of highs and lows. Before the season even began, we were prepping our traps in the garage. I told Will repeatedly don’t play with the traps. Being a ten year old boy, the temptation was too great. I went into the house for a few minutes while he stayed in the garage. The next thing I heard was a snap and a lot of screaming and crying. He had tried to set a #4 coil-spring and it closed on two of his fingers. After a trip to the emergency room (which would be our first of two connected to trapping that year), we confirmed there was no permanent damage, just some significant bruising – both physically and emotionally. There were high points too that first season … our first marten, ermine and lynx. The marten came first. When we checked the trap, the marten had gone up the pole just like we learned at the ATA class. I guess those old-timers knew what they were talking about. The same day we got our first marten, we also got our first lynx. We made a blind set on a small stream where we had seen tracks the previous week. As we approached the trap, I saw the lynx’s head poke up – that was exciting. Next was an ermine. It had been on our list as one of the animals we wanted. We got two that first year but the first one was in a #4 trap

and nearly cut in half. It was still a great feeling of accomplishment. Now, the low points of that first season. I already shared one with you, which was the trip to the emergency room for the fingers in the trap. The second happened as we were pulling onto the highway from Eielson AFB on December 24, 2011. We hit an ice

patch, our trailer spun around and we slammed into a snow bank. The snow-machine went flying and landed upside down, sustaining some damage. The side-view mirror on the truck was knocked off, but we were not injured. A gentleman stopped and helped me get my truck out of the snowbank and roll my machine right side up. As I was preparing to load my snow-machine on the trailer, another vehicle came around the bend and hit the same patch of ice. He plowed into my truck, spun around and nearly ran me over. Will was in my truck when the other vehicle impacted. In some senses, we were lucky because my truck had a large stout brush guard. Due to the angles of impact, the other vehicle struck the brush

guard first. The State Trooper said that brush guard absorbed the majority of the impact and kept Will from being more seriously injured. Will was taken to the hospital via ambulance and sustained some trauma to his nose and teeth, but was released to come home a few hours later – we were lucky. That accident ended our first year of trapping here in Alaska. We have continued to trap and we learn more each year. For example, having previously had the success

of catching the lynx in a blind set on a stream, we tried that again. In that way, I found out what overflow can

Alaska Trappers Association

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do to traps set on a stream, and why you need to carry a hatchet and an ax. One of the rewards from trapping is the people I have been able to meet and learn from through the ATA. Several trappers such as Bill Larry, Randy Zarnke and Bill Brophy have been kind enough to take me on their ‘lines. Each time, I learned new techniques. I enjoy the ATA meetings and serving on the Board of Directors. I don’t trap for the money. In fact, I have yet to sell a fur. I have given some as gifts and had clothing made for my family. I’m not a big trapper in terms of running a long ‘line, nor do I even consider myself a very skilled trapper. However, I think trapping is a rewarding outdoor experience, part of Alaskan culture, a valuable wildlife management tool and needs to be protected. Our family has chosen to remain in Fairbanks, Alaska. I am now on what is referred to as transition leave from the Army after serving 22 years. For someone who has loved being involved in the outdoors since his grandfather took him cotton-tail hunting as a young boy, it was an easy decision to stay here in Alaska. This state lives up to its reputation in so many ways and I’m glad I am able to experience one outdoor activity that is so deeply imbedded in this state’s history – Trapping.