"The fur trappers of the Old West were fearless, daring men. They knew the West when it was a wilderness... they explored (it) until it held no secrets from them." Those words, written by author A.M. Anderson in 1946, speak of a place that still calls men and women to it—inviting them to discover its secrets again.
"Trapping is still relevant," said JD Ridge, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Senior Wildlife Biologist, "and there's still an interest in it if people are given an opportunity to learn about it." Ridge and other ODWC biologists are working together to meet that public interest by offering free trapping workshops across the state.
"Trapping is somewhat of a dying art," Ridge added, "but this training is a viable program, and it's proven popular and successful." According to Ridge, the workshop attendance numbers and the geographic variety of the attendees speak to the interest in returning to the wilderness. Five total workshops have seen a combined 79 participants gather at wildlife management areas across the state.
"Folks from 29 (of Oklahoma's 77) counties have attended these workshops," Ridge said. He added that these hands-on trainings are a first-time experience for many of the participants; Ridge himself revealed his first exposure to the art form came through the influence of his grandfather. "I trapped as a kid, but didn't know what I was doing," Ridge explained. "Then, I did a lot of trapping in college with buddies for money, and now... I've gravitated back to it." Back to the woods, back into the wilderness, and full circle back to introducing new generations to the secrets of those wild places. "The trapping community has gotten smaller, but trapping is still a viable, consumptive outdoor activity," Ridge said.
Presented by Wildlife Department biologists, these workshops will cover everything from scouting to putting up the fur. You’ll even have an opportunity to set a few traps and catch some fur of your own! All equipment is provided, and the events are free. Space is limited.
Dates & Locations:
Jan 25-26, 2025 - Fort Gibson WRP
February 1-2, 2025 - Pushmataha WMA
February 8-9, 2025 - Packsaddle WMA
February 22-23, 2025 - Osage Western Wall WMA
To learn more about the upcoming ODWC trapping workshops, contact JD Ridge at 918-617-1113 or Colby Farquhar at 918-316-2281.
In addition to the free workshops listed above, the Wildlife Department and the National Wild Turkey Federation are hosting an open house from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday Feb. 8, at Cherokee Wildlife Management Area. Space is limited to 75 attendees. Participants will have the option to shoot rifles at the WMA's shooting range, learn about how to hunt Oklahoma's public land, explore Cherokee WMA and attend a trapping workshop. More information and to registration visit gooutdoorsoklahoma.com