Electronic Remote Trap Monitor

[Trapper John]

Hi Guys,
I have got to ask you a couple of questions.
I was thinking about investing some money into manufacturing a "Electronic Remote Trap Monitor device."  As you know or if you don't there are several of these items out on the market today.  The only problem I can see is the cost that they are being sold at.  Plus a couple of them you have to set it up with a cell phone service company locking you into more money spent on this product.  Some of these Electronic Remote Trap Monitor devices cost $350.00 a piece.

I think I can get this cost down (not sure how far down maybe around the $200.00 mark) and I think I can get it to ring on your cell phone without having to have you to hook up with a phone company.

Here is my problem.  The FAA is making rules for the small Drones now.  This might lead to new changes with the Departments of Fish & Wildlife across the country with trappers having to check their traps every 24 hours.  Rules like you can not use devises like drones and a Electronic Remote Trap Monitor devices.  They might change the rules from what we have now to something like have to walk up to the trap, can't check it from a distance like we have now.  If they made rules like this I would be out of business

So before I step out an invest a large sum of money into this devise, would you purchase these to help you out on your trap line?  And if you would, what would be the maximum amount that you would pay for a devise like this?  With fur prices being down this year and for the next few years, I'm not sure it would be a good time or a good investment.

I would like to hear your input
JC   

[Bigshooter]

If I could buy them for $5 a piece  then I would consider it.  But for $200 not a chance.

[UrbanTrapper]

I have property and other trapping areas that are 100 miles from my home.  A device like this could easily pay for itself with all the gas money I would save.  I'd want to buy two or three of them.  Reliable coverage in the remote and steep areas I set some of my bobcat traps is something I'd be looking closely at before I bought any.

[-Trap_addicT-]

 As a quadriplegic, I would be very interested in a device like this. I've looked into drones and thought about purchasing one for this exact reason. My trapping partner works until after dark on week days and is not always able to check traps with in the legal timeframe. This means I have to call on another buddy or family member to drive me to these locations, so I can explain how to get to the trap in order to be legal. I have been doing it this way for several years now and I have found reliable people that are willing to help. However, it is still inconvenient and it would be very nice to check my phone periodically to know that I am within the regulations and I am not leaving a critter out in the cold. I couldn't afford many at $200 apiece, but I often have traps several different directions. Even one would be worth the money to me. Obviously, the cheaper they are the better, but they sound like quite the contraption and I'm sure they cost a pretty penny. Thank you for posting this though, I'm anxious to hear more.

[Carp Commander]

Jc,

I would not be interested if given to me for free. In my very simple mind, technology is the enemy!

[winslow]

There are already states (Minnesota pops to mind) that don't allow electronic monitoring. I'm sure other states are close behind. I wouldn't buy them because I would not want to invest in technology that could be outlawed at any moment.

Also, part of the reason I trap is because I love the outdoor lifestyle - I spend almost as much time in the woods as many people do at their jobs, and I wouldn't want to give that up and be forced into "profit mode" to pay for my equipment.

If I knew for sure they would not be made illegal AND I somehow needed to produce like crazy (and that production would be certain to pay off) then yes, I would buy some if they were in a price range that made them pay off in 1-2 seasons. Perhaps only one cell connection per area with multiple sensors (one per set/trap) reporting to it would bring the overall price down?

Winslow

[bob maier]

John, I'd be interested but not at $200. Bucks, maybe $50. Per unit.

[KFhunter]

I can think of more negatives than positives when I brain storm the idea.

even at $50/each that's double the traps I could put out for the same $
monitor failures could leave animals in the cages for too long
lot of trapping areas lack cell coverage for a monitor to send an SMS to a cell phone


It leads to lazy man trapping, and that defeats the purpose for me.  I want to be out there at least every other day and a monitor could lead to skipping runs on the line.

[Machias]

It's about to be made legal here in Virginia.  All the NWCO's are for it.  That is mostly who it will benefit.  The Virginia Trappers Association is all on board as well as the Virginia Fish and Game folks.

[Trapper John]

These units have been around awhile, nothing new.
When I had my ADC Business I looked into this.  It saves a lot of time and  a lot of expenses.  But than again, I was driving 150-200 miles a day and checking and setting up new customers.  Running 9-10 hours a day.

Here is how this all came about.
We had a group of Fur Trappers talking about the problems they have during the trapping season.
One of them was saying the problem he has is with bobcats around January and February.  He said that it cost him a lot of time and expenses to go after them even when he is making $350.00 plus on them.  He said it takes time for him to load his snowmobile onto he truck, drive an hour away, unload the sled and drive another 45 minutes on sled to the area where these cats are.  Than back to the truck, load it and back down to his house.  With the 24 hour trap check time, he was wondering how to cut the cost of going after them.  I told him about this idea and he said that something like this would cut his time so it would be well worth it if the price was right.

I have checked on having them made and the cost to get it down to under $100.00 a unit was impossible.  So I'm thinking maybe $150.00 a unit but at that price I would have to purchase a couple thousand units or a semi-truck load of them.  Or maybe have them made in China, which I would have a problem with but still here I would have to have a train load made.  The more I have mad the lower the price will come down.

I"m not sure I want to invest in this at this time with the price of what we are getting for our furs.  Maybe ten years ago would of been better.  But that was than and this is now.

But I would still like to hear your input.  Changing the laws (pulling the rug out from under me) is what bothers me.
JC   

[KFhunter]

It's about to be made legal here in Virginia.  All the NWCO's are for it.  That is mostly who it will benefit.  The Virginia Trappers Association is all on board as well as the Virginia Fish and Game folks.

NWCO would be a good fit,  they could always just use a game cam that sends images to a cell phone.  $10/month for 1000 images through Bushnell.   
It would show more than a simple "trap fired" message.

[Humptulips]

I have spoke with a couple people that wee trying similar devices. One in OR and one in ID. It sounds like the laws pretty much rule them out in ID.
In OR I was told you must have a way to check if they are working on the 48 hour trap check schedule. His device basically continuously sent a signal while it was armed and another when it was tripped. That way he could show it was working all the time.
I think something like this would be a must.
The laws in WA would be more friendly towards something like this. There is no 24 hour check law in WA. It merely says animals must be removed within 24 hours of capture.

Price: It all depends on the animal you are trapping. Probably no way this would ever be cost effective with muskrats but bobcat would probably be a go.
Trappers are spending a couple hundred plus for some traps so I would probably go for some if the price was say $100. More then that I would likely give some a try before I made a decision. Over $200 I would probably baulk.
Low priced fur makes this a tough sale on most animals. Be something a WCO would probably go for.
Cell coverage would be problem. Might have to plan my trapline around a coverage map. Can you hear me now?

[Hannibal]

did not read the post past electronic monitors,,,,,,

Legal in WA as the usfs wdfw and usda use them

I have many  that work off satcom for sale if anyone is interested