By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — For those who think fur trapping is a bygone era, several thousand people attending the 45th Cattaraugus County Trappers Association Sportsmen’s Rendezvous at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds last weekend have other ideas.
Traps and trappings supplies as well as hunting and fishing supplies, guns, knives, furs, animal scents, shirts, hunting outfits and hand-crafted items were for sale in three buildings and under tents along the midway. Many of the dozens of vendors offered collectables from antique traps to fishing lures for the three day rendezvous.
As the prices of furs go up and down over the years, and trappers age out — unable to walk long trap lines — fewer people are trapping as compared to 10 and 20 years ago.
The Cattaraugus County Trappers Association, through its members, encourages young people to get involved with trapping. Young people, mostly, but not exclusively boys, who get into trapping do so with a relative — a father, grandfather or uncle.
“It’s a bygone era,” agreed Bill Blanchard of Mayville in Chautauqua County, who had a prime corner location on the midway where he was selling all kinds of traps. “You can’t give traps away,” he said. He had leg hold traps selling for as little as $1.50 each. Four or five years ago, they were selling for $5.
“If I see a young kid go by, I’ll give them one of the traps,” Blanchard said. “If they are interested, they’ll use it.”
Blanchard said he started trapping in 1955. He’s 80 years-old now and still traps some. “It’s a dying breed,” he said.
He used to go to sportsmen’s shows selling traps from Michigan to Maine. He goes to fewer shows these days, primarily in northwest Pennsylvania and at the Little Valley show. “I might go up to Herkimer (in Central New York).
Blanchard says these days he’s in it more for the camaraderie — meeting and talking to trappers and other sportsmen.
Blanchard said most trappers these days are nuisance animal trappers, where they make more for trapping animals in people’s backyards than on their trap lines.
At a nearby table on the midway, Steve Langert of Pleasant Valley in the Hudson Valley had tables full of collectors traps. The rarest one, he said, was a Triumph Master Grip 34X trap for fox and raccoon. He had a price tag of $550 on the trap.
He agreed with Blanchard that many trappers make more as nuisance trappers than when they sell furs from animals they have trapped, “I can get $2 for a skunk pelt, but I make $100 for trapping a nuisance skunk, ”he said. “While some trappers are still very active, there’s a limited market for furs. Most people do it because they enjoy it.”
Langert said enjoys buying and selling traps that are considered collectors items. Most of the traps were made by companies that no longer exist such as Newhouse, Sargent, White and Diamond. Some of his traps date from the 1800s.
The Sportsmen’s Rendezvous also featured several demonstrations of trapping including fox, coyote, raccoon, fisher and skunk.
The Cattaraugus County Trappers Association and New York State Trappers Association also had a presentation on the 2025 Pat Arnold Youth Trapper Education Camp to educate and train young trappers.
On Saturday night, the Cattaraugus County Trappers Association held its annual fur auction.
The Trappers Association will sponsor a raw fur auction at the Hinsdale Fire Hall on March 14, 2026.
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All Rights Reserved. Star News LLC. Eric M. Firkel.
