How to become a trapper or hunter
Official title: Trappers and hunters
Also called: Hunter, Trapper, Fur trapper, Game trapper, Beaver trapper, Muskrat trapper, Land-based seal hunter, Seal hunter - hunting and trapping, Sealer, Land-based sealer, Sealer - hunting and trapping
Trappers and hunters trap and hunt wild animals for pelts or live sale. They are usually self-employed and work on a seasonal basis.
Main tasks
- Set traps with bait and position traps along trails
- Operate boats or snowmobiles or travel on foot, snowshoes or skis to patrol trapline or to reach hunting areas
- Pursue animals by observing and recognizing tracks, trails, animal droppings or broken foliage
- Remove catch and reset traps and snares
- Kill and skin catch for pelts, and treat and pack pelts for marketing or for transport to public auctions
- Kill wild animals using firearms or other weapons
- Trap live animals for sale to buyers or for relocation purposes
- Maintain and repair trapping and hunting equipment
How to become one
Completion of trapping or hunting courses may be required in some provinces. A provincial trapping or hunting licence is required.
Ways in
- Licence or registration: A provincial trapping or hunting licence is required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $45,299 a year
Related jobs
- Livestock labourers
- Harvesting labourers
- Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers
- Nursery and greenhouse labourers
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Questions people ask
How do I become a trapper or hunter?
Completion of trapping or hunting courses may be required in some provinces. A provincial trapping or hunting licence is required.
How much does a trapper or hunter earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $45,299 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)).
Do you need a degree to become a trapper or hunter?
Usually not. Only 11% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03