Lost my first job

I had a good job setup for a beaver problem on a local lake. Just about to apply for the NJ beaver permit.
I offered to do it for less then the regular ADC rates. As I am less experienced.
Then someone told them they would do it for free just for the beaver. I guess they like losing money on $10 beavers.

They don't even pay for the permit.

Oh well, beavers probably aren't the best to start ADC trapping for.

I wouldn't worry about it.You will likely get a call back after the other guy (amateur) leaves a few beaver behind thus not solving the problem.

Even if they do get an experienced trapper, there are beaver downstream that will move in once the current are trapped out.

If you know that someone else has either trapped some of them or attempted to, do your prices increase?


If you find out that the landowner (or anyone else) has been shooting beavers, does your price increase?


Seems like prices doubled ought to be about right whenever someone else screws up the job. Is that how any of you look at it?

From my point, I am not very experienced, so I lower my prices and don't charge for time. For beaver. I also would only use snares, so I don't educate the beaver, for the most part.
Seems fair right?


Aix Sponsa, I think charging for time would account for the jobs that somebody else screws up.

No,the price to remove beaver is the same for all jobs.$75per beaver,$.45\km $50 to lower the water to natural flow.Might take one or at the most two extra trips to get any educated beaver.Most problem beavers have already had someone harass them before I am called.
Why would you double charge a guy that has already paid someone and didn't get the problem taken care of?
I wouldn't penalize someone if I wasnt proficient enough to get all the beaver.

What about the landowner that tried to cheap it out and do it himself and totally screwed the pooch? You gonna charge the same for educated animals?

Yes I charge the same for all jobs.I have no undue difficulties catching beaver educated or not.Like I said maybe an extra trip or two at most.

Well, if you charge by the job, I guess it doesn't matter much.


By the catch there are fewer to cash in on, the more they remove.


$0.45/km is pretty dang good mileage imo. $75 a day for a 50 mile trip one way if my math is correct. That makes up for a lot compared to paid by catch only.

Did it for free for the beavers?! In this market?!?! Not sure about Jersey, but ain't nuttin prime here yet.

Just back off and let someone that stupid tire himself out. Only problem is he might just be too dumb to realize how stupid he is...

Had a guy last summer thought I should trap his beaver for free "because their fur is beautiful and worth a lot". Yep
I'll keep working for the people that pay my "set up charge" and $95 per beaver

Let it go, there are plenty of beavers to cause damage on other properties

Do whatever it is that you want, but remember that it's work. Trappers are the only workers I can think of that people that need their services that expect it to be free. If a landowner can take care of it, great, but if they can't....whats the difference between the AC repairman coming over for a couple hours and leaving with a $295 check and a trapper working his tail off?


Don't sell yourself short. I've trapped exactly one beaver for someone else that I didn't charge them for. They hosted my wife's bridal shower.


It's work, and when done right, worth every penny to pay someone.

Something else to consider is how important confidence is. Whenever you're confident, I think you'll probably make better sets and do a better job.


Customers can usually sense whenever a trapper (or other worker) is confident or not when they're trying to sell their services.

If a plumber were trying to get my business and told me "well, I don't know if I can do the job, because I've never done it. I guess I'll try, what's the worst that could happen?" I would be looking for a new plumber.

If I was told "I've never done this particular job, but I am confident that I can easily handle it. I'm the type of person that will get the job done", well I can honestly say that the second one is the guy that I'd hire. Does this make sense?


I am not saying you can't do this job. I am not saying you're not confident. What I AM saying is that it's important that a person believe in themselves.

Good Luck!