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10 a.m. to 3-4 p.m. each day
Get ready to kick off trapping season the right way! This two-day, hands-on clinic is your opportunity to learn safe, ethical and effective trapping in Michigan alongside the Outdoor Skills Academy pro-staff at the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center. Designed for beginners and those looking to sharpen their skills, this annual trapping clinic walks participants step-by-step through the ins and outs of building a successful trapline.
To help you arrive prepared, a Zoom meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29 to go over logistics, gear recommendations, safety expectations and how to prepare for a productive weekend in the field.
Throughout the weekend, students will receive classroom instruction followed by field demonstrations on the accessible hiking trails surrounding the center. Participants will gain firsthand experience reading sign, selecting locations and building effective sets to increase success during the upcoming trapping season.
Day 1 (Saturday) focuses on land trapping techniques, including equipment selection, foothold and dogproof traps, scent strategies, lure placement, and how to construct effective dirt-hole and flat sets. Students will handle gear, rig equipment and practice building sets under instructor guidance.
Day 2 (Sunday) shifts to water trapping, covering gear used for muskrat and beaver, scent application, colony and body-grip traps, and proper construction of water sets. Participants will learn how to read waterways, identify productive locations and safely anchor traps in aquatic environments.
Cost is $40, which includes lunch, a commemorative tumbler and additional materials.
To receive your official certification, make sure you complete the free Michigan trapper education online course prior to or following the class so you can obtain your trapper education certificate. While the course is not required to attend the clinic, it is required to receive certification.
To register for this class, go to Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses and click on the "Purchase a license" button. Sign in (using either a username and password or your ID and birthdate), and find the class under the Outdoor Skills Academy tab.
Cancellation policy: To cancel your registration, please contact our Customer Service help desk line at 800-737-6367. Cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the program will be completely refunded to the original form of payment. If you cancel after the two-week deadline, no refund will be issued.
For more information, call 231-779-1321 or email DNR-HFC@Michigan.gov.
A Recreation Passport is required for entry into Mitchell State Park.
This class is part of the Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Skills Academy, which offers in-depth, expert instruction, gear and hands-on learning for a range of outdoor activities at locations around the state. Learn more at Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills.
6087 East M-115,
Cadillac, Michigan, 49601
Start: October 10, 2026 10:00 AM
End: October 11, 2026 4:00 PM
The Carl T. Johnson Hunt and Fish Center, located in Mitchell State Park, is named for the founder of the Michigan Conservation Foundation who is a life-long supporter of hunting and fishing. The center is universally accessible.
10 a.m. to 3-4 p.m. each day
Get ready to kick off trapping season the right way! This two-day, hands-on clinic is your opportunity to learn safe, ethical and effective trapping in Michigan alongside the Outdoor Skills Academy pro-staff at the Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center. Designed for beginners and those looking to sharpen their skills, this annual trapping clinic walks participants step-by-step through the ins and outs of building a successful trapline.
To help you arrive prepared, a Zoom meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29 to go over logistics, gear recommendations, safety expectations and how to prepare for a productive weekend in the field.
Throughout the weekend, students will receive classroom instruction followed by field demonstrations on the accessible hiking trails surrounding the center. Participants will gain firsthand experience reading sign, selecting locations and building effective sets to increase success during the upcoming trapping season.
Day 1 (Saturday) focuses on land trapping techniques, including equipment selection, foothold and dogproof traps, scent strategies, lure placement, and how to construct effective dirt-hole and flat sets. Students will handle gear, rig equipment and practice building sets under instructor guidance.
Day 2 (Sunday) shifts to water trapping, covering gear used for muskrat and beaver, scent application, colony and body-grip traps, and proper construction of water sets. Participants will learn how to read waterways, identify productive locations and safely anchor traps in aquatic environments.
Cost is $40, which includes lunch, a commemorative tumbler and additional materials.
To receive your official certification, make sure you complete the free Michigan trapper education online course prior to or following the class so you can obtain your trapper education certificate. While the course is not required to attend the clinic, it is required to receive certification.
To register for this class, go to Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses and click on the "Purchase a license" button. Sign in (using either a username and password or your ID and birthdate), and find the class under the Outdoor Skills Academy tab.
Cancellation policy: To cancel your registration, please contact our Customer Service help desk line at 800-737-6367. Cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the program will be completely refunded to the original form of payment. If you cancel after the two-week deadline, no refund will be issued.
For more information, call 231-779-1321 or email DNR-HFC@Michigan.gov.
A Recreation Passport is required for entry into Mitchell State Park.
This class is part of the Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Skills Academy, which offers in-depth, expert instruction, gear and hands-on learning for a range of outdoor activities at locations around the state. Learn more at Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills.
