The story about how Trapperman.com came about has been told many times and even published in The Trapper and Predator Caller magazine. But because there are new people coming online all the time who do not know about it, I'll tell it again.

Back in the mid 90's dad was in Mississippi giving trapping instructions to someone, or some group. Somehow he ran up with a fella named Benny in Mississippi. Benny wanted to learn to trap beavers and go into business taking care of problem beavers for land owners.

Dad spent a couple days with Benny showing him how to do it. Dad gave Benny some of his beaver traps because I don't think Benny had much in the way of trapping supplies.

Upon completing his instruction, Benny said something to the effect that he didn't know how he could ever repay Charles for all he'd done for him. Dad just told Benny, "Pass it on".

My first computer was a Tandy 1000SX with two 5 1/4 inch floppy drives and no hard drive. So, in the fall of 1997 after dad passed away I got a new computer that had a hard drive and internet capability. I got online and started searching for trapping sites.

I ran across one called Otter Creek. There was a message board and a chat room. I started frequenting the chat room in the evenings, but didn't tell anyone who I was. I preferred just to be a trapper and not anything more.

Well, one evening when in the chat, Benny came right out and asked if I was Charles Dobbins' son. I replied that I was. He then told me that he was going to repay a debt he had with dad.

I asked him what he meant and he said that he was going to build me the best trapping site on the web and that it would become the most popular. I had no idea at the time what he was talking about. He told me about what dad had done and that by building me the best trapping site on the web, he'd be repaying that debt of "Passing it on" to dad.

I didn't know what to think. I was no puter guru... heck, I barely had learned how to use my dial up modem at that time. I told him that I didn't think I could do it.

He told me that he would put it all together and show me all I needed to know. He asked me what I wanted on the site and I let him know what I thought would be good to have for a site.

He then commenced building. He made the header images, got a forum and put together all the info pages.

One day in the spring of 1998, I got an email from him saying to click on the link he had in the email. I did and there it was. Trapperman.com had been born.

The rest as they say is history.

Dad's generosity, and Benny's returning the favor by investing his skill in creating this place, is what made it happen.

I reckon you could say that Trapperman.com is another learning tool that dad is responsible for, although he never knew of it. And Benny's ability to create such a wonderful place made it all happen.

Thank you for sharing Paul.

That story never get's old.

Nice story, Paul. I'm sure your dad had no idea the words "Pass it on" would reach out and impact, as they have, literally thousands of trappers.

So, whatever happened to Benny? Does he still take care of the site? Is he still around somewhere? Did they name a school in Mississippi after him?

Well I deffently think he full filled his promise to your dad. Since thousands of people have learned from this site.

Great story Paul,thanks for shareing.

That was a really cool story. You know, I have made the same offer to that Lenon Guy. But Alas, he simply won't give in. LOL>

Thats a good story. He has impacted many people. I'm sure Charles had no idea he would pass it on to thousands of trappers world wide.

Thats a good story. He has impacted many people. I'm sure Charles had no idea he would pass it on to thousands of trappers world wide.

Thats a good story. He has impacted many people. I'm sure Charles had no idea he would pass it on to thousands of trappers world wide.

Thanks for the story Paul.

Good story and were "passin it on"!

I had the pleasure of meeting Pauls dad at the NTA in Columbia, Mo and a Missouri rendevous.

Benny still drops in from time to time. He's currently going to college.

He will be on Emeril Live I believe tomorrow night - Jan 7. He got into a burger cooking contest and won. Emeril is cooking his burger on the show and Benny will be there also. The show is already filmed.

He told us about it on Hal's refugee forum not long ago.

(I think that was the date - can anyone else confirm this?)

WOW

great story

great story

that wus a good story paul one that will be in my head for many moons , to think that a couple words could become well the best known trappin site and thousands apon thousands of pages full of infermation bein passed from trapper to trapper.........

good story alway wonder how it happend

great story

Thanks Paul. I always liked hearing this story. Your sites come a long way sence the beginning.

You should be proud.

You are passing it on.

Awesome story Paul. I never get tired of hearing it. This site has cetainly helped a many a trapper that would have otherwise became discouraged, and gave up. Help was as close as "Trapperman.com"!!! I have gained a world of knowledge from the posts I've read on this site. Thanks to You, Your Dad, and Benny for making it so!!

Paul,

Wow that story sent chills up my spine. Very "personal" story and a GREAT way to pass on memories of your father. I have been on the site right after it's creation (under a different name) then left the "circuit" for a few years. I never knew the story behind it though. Thank you Paul, Benny, and most of all thank you Charlie.

I suspect that your dad would be proud beyond explanation that you have kept this forum up like this.

this is why charles dobbins would get my vote for the greatest trapper of all time.

Paul, great story with a big lesson....Many of us forget how we got going one day with a prod or a lesson from someone special. When I was playing football I remember our last game when the coach told us along with what a pleasure it had been that football had given us all something special....lessons in teamwork, sacrifice, dedication, our college education, friendships, contacts, etc....and that was because someone gave us the training and their time from small fry on up. Now fellas it's your time to give something back so get involved with it at some level and you will reap great rewards. I coached high school football as a head coach for 18 years and spent the rest of my carreer as an athletic director always working with kids and sports. Trapping is no different......it was good to you so now you pass it on. Thanks for the story Paul....Mac~

That's Benny? Said he is from Cleveland, MS. That's where I was born. I'll have to watch that show.

Very cool.

Thats pretty neat. Thanks for the enlightment.

Paul, That is the first time I ever heard that story and I think it is pretty neat. I met your Dad in Fond du lac, Wisconsin a number of years ago when there was a National Trapper Rendezvous there. I think it was the only one ever held in Wisconsin. At any rate, I think I talked to the "Legend" for about 20 minutes after his demo. It was a pleasure and Charlie was a very down to earth type person. HP

Paul I marked my calender for Benny's time on the Emeril show and I think it is January 27 at 7pm. I will be watching both times to see if I can catch it.

Awsome story Paul!But you know guys if it wasnt for people like Mr Dobbins teaching others how to do this stuff not many would know how or even want to know how.I feel trapping hunting or even just scouting is alot of fun and very enjoyable but so many of our younguns these days think that if you cant do it in front of a T.V. it isnt fun so us trappers or us houndsmen we are trully a dieing breed
Thanks Paul and very special thanks to Charles
Thanks to everyone that has and will give the advise and knowledge that they have learned to help teach someone else.

Your dad passed on something much greater. When he told benny to pass it on, and he did. He passed it on for countless generations. As I read this forum and learn so much, I'm taking small frys out with me on my line. Now there hooked. The'll start reading this forum and learn a great deal as I did. It will probably keep continuing like that for who knows how long. So, I wonder how many generations your dad actually contributed to by saying, "pass it on".

I remember when Benny got mad at the guys over on a duck hunting site and started his own trapping site. Didn't know it was this one though. Benny sure loved rattling cages over there LOL

Absoluteley fantastic Paul. Thanks a million to your pop and Benny and you. all three of you have made a great contribution.

You know Paul those words "PASS IT ON" is exactually what you have done since I joined the site in 2000 or so.

I owe all of my sucess to Trapperman.

I have been fortunate to have read several forms of popular/famous trappers that have made names for themeselfs over the years.
I can honestly say that I would probably be struggling to cuff a coyote if it was not for this site.

When asked where I learned to catch canines.

I always tell them the truth. TRAPPERMAN.COM

Thanks for passing it on.

Greg

I remember those days. It was an exciting time for alot of us.

This is a screen shot of the forum long ago:



Congrats to you, Paul. The newest version of the forums looks great!

Eric A. Mayer

Paul I make sure my students get a list of good sites to learn tricks of the trade and information and pictures and trapperman.com is always on top. As well as showing them your dads and your videos. I try to get them to go to rendezvous and meet people like your dad and you, is the best way to gain knowledge if they don'tlike reading or watching. Trapperman.com feeds at rondy's are always great way to meet members also.

Nice story

Thanks, Paul, for re-sharing that wonderful story with great life lessons about the generosity of a great trapper, and how we should feel the need to repay kindnesses in some way, and show our gratitude.

I always enjoyed the stuff Benny put on the forum, he is a wealth of knowledge in his own right on many different subjects in the outdoors. I will surely watch for that Emeril episode.

that is a great story of the ol "one hand wash's the other " . I love to hear these kinda stories. A helping hand is a great hand to have, weather it be you holding the hand ,or if you are recieveing the hand. Great story Paul. Others PLEASE post some of your stories like this on another post I really like to read these.

Eric, thanks for that snapshot from the past.

Folks Eric and his friend Paul were in the forum business for awhile. I got that forum from Eric and it worked well.

That was the second forum. The very first one was Paradise something or other.

Rhonda seems to think that Benny's appearance will be on the 27th. I've emailed Benny to verify, but haven't gotten a response yet.

Thanks Paul that is the first time I read the account of the birthing of the T-Man forum. A great lesson in first give and then one shall receive. A thanks to Charles and Benny for their visions for the future.

That makes a great read, but I was familiar with the other version of how T-man was formed........

Once upon a time in the swamps of North Carolina a trapper was trying to stay ahead of rapidly expanding and bark hungry beavers. He was haveing very poor luck catching them and the pulpwood companies that were contracting with him were considering replacing this person with another trapper.
Sensing the urgency of the situation the trapper jumped in his trusty Toyota and headed northwest to the national trappers rendezvous in central IA. On his way he stopped on the outskirts of a modest city in TN to fill with gas and eat a late breakfast.
While eating and trying to sort out the grits from the hashbrowns and get the blackstrap off the bacon a quiet man in a suit asked if he could sit next to him and order some food.
The trapper said yes glad to have you, what do you do for a living oh I am the vice president of the United States but nobody knows who I am and my dad was a famous politician here in TN before me. Don't tell me about famous fathers, I know all about that too. The VP then said that you know I don't get any respect but I did invent this tool that is really going to be great someday it is called the INTERNET.
Well the rest is now history. The trapper got to IA talked with many beaver trappers, picked up some information and got home and started catching more beavers as he worked around the water moccasins. He got his computer and with good help the internet and the forum came to be.
Interesting side note to the story. The trapper has used the internet to trap beavers to save trees for future use. The politician has used the internet to save trees so that beavers can chew them down. Funny how that works some times.

Bryce

seems like it just all fell into place the way it was supposed to.

Thats the first time Ive heard that story amazing how a little help to one guy ends up helping many. Thanks for sharing.

thats pretty neat

thats pretty neat

GREAT STORY PAUL!!!! I have been here 9 mo or so and had never heard that story, thanks for sharing!!!

I'm proud Mr. Charles and Benny were both men of their words. It's nice to know that in a world filled with jealousy, hate, and drugs there's still good people with good intentions around.

I am glad you posted this. I started going to the Otter Creek site back in '97 I think it was and there wasn't much traffic back then. I switched to this site at some point when someone told me that's where everyone was going (Kyle Kaatz I think). I didn't know the full story of what came about until now.

I had the pleasure of spending quite a few hours sitting around a campfire or on a tailgate chatting with your dad. He was truly one of the icons of this sport and I miss him.