Jeff Dunlap is one of the most recognized names in modern trapping — a highly accomplished professional trapper, lure maker, educator, and industry leader from Michigan. Raised in the trapping and fur world, Jeff grew up learning the craft from his father, who founded Dunlap Lures in 1970. Today, Jeff proudly carries that legacy forward, running Dunlap Lures with the same commitment to quality baits and lures that built the family name.

Jeff has trapped across the lower 48 and Alaska, consistently producing success on a wide range of furbearers. He’s also one of the most influential voices promoting trapping today, sharing techniques, education, and real‑world experience across multiple platforms. His Dunlap Lures Facebook page has over 100,000 followers, and his “Trapping Talk” Facebook group brings together more than 70,000 trappers. Jeff and Sarah also purchased “Predator Control Group” from Clint Locklear, and Jeff hosts “Trapping Radio 2,” available on all major streaming platforms.

Last season alone, Jeff trapped in Michigan, Iowa, Arkansas, and North Dakota — putting up impressive numbers everywhere he went.

While Jeff doesn’t focus on “numbers” much anymore, his past seasons speak for themselves, and he continues to surpass many of his own records. Highlights include:
• 2011–2012: 1105 muskrats, 495 raccoons, 76 otter, 326 beaver, 25 grey fox, 21 bobcats, 3 red fox, and 18 mink.
• 2012–2013: 53 otter, 703 raccoons, 97 grey fox, 5 red fox, 54 coyotes, 404 muskrats, 32 bobcats, 18 mink, and 243 beaver.
• 2013–2014: A multi‑state bobcat, grey fox, and coyote run, catching bobcats in three states over a three‑month stretch before returning home to Michigan for mink and muskrats.

When he’s not on the line, Jeff is on the road — traveling to conventions nationwide, selling his personally tested lures and baits, teaching demos, and preparing for the next demanding season. His experience, production, and influence make him one of the most respected and widely followed trappers working today.

Ryan began trapping muskrats and mink at age 16, and it didn’t take long for the line to become a lifelong passion. That first season he also caught his first coyote and two red fox, fueling a drive to learn everything he could about the trapping. A friend of his father’s had taught Ryan’s older brothers how to snare beaver under the ice, and as Ryan tagged along, he knew this was something he wanted to master on his own someday. Beyond those early lessons, nearly everything Ryan learned came from personal experience, trial, and time on the line. Now, with 46 years of trapping behind him, there’s hardly a furbearer in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that Ryan hasn’t caught.

A skilled all‑around trapper, Ryan has taken mink, muskrats, raccoons, otter, beaver, weasels, skunks, fisher, and marten, and he typically fills his annual limit of two bobcats. Over the years he has posted impressive numbers: 35 mink in a single season, 150 muskrats in another, and during one high‑value year for weasels, between 65 and 70. But beaver is where Ryan truly shines.

He is especially known for making large beaver catches in the dead of winter, working through the ice in conditions that would stop most trappers cold. In Bergland Township — where snow is measured in feet, not inches — winter trapping is a test of grit as much as skill. Deep snow can be a blessing, though, keeping the ice from getting too thick and allowing snowmobile access to remote, frozen beaver ponds.

After many years trapping beaver under the ice with conibears and footholds, Ryan was thrilled when Michigan finally legalized under‑ice beaver snaring. He quickly discovered that snare poles were a far more efficient way to get the job done. While he still sets the occasional conibear in an obvious run, he now relies almost exclusively on snare poles.

Ryan traps alone and keeps his gear simple. He hauls a large plastic sled behind his snowmobile, and his trusty ice spud leads the way across treacherous ponds — testing the ice for safety and locating the thin spots where beaver are actively working. His equipment list is short but effective: a chainsaw for thick ice, pre‑cut snare poles, a large aluminum grain shovel, plenty of homemade snares, wire, safety cables, screws, a cordless screwdriver, a small axe, and something to start a fire with in case he gets too wet to travel safely. Fresh poplar poles — prime beaver bait — ride in his covered sled, which also doubles as a clean work surface for attaching snares and hardware.

How well does his system work? One day Ryan checked 17 snare poles and caught 16 beaver and a muskrat — 17 animals from 17 sets. He has taken beaver and otter on the same pole, and even three beaver from a single pole. In one season he caught 162 beaver, with roughly half coming from under the ice — all while holding down a full‑time job. Anyone who has trapped, clean‑skinned, and boarded that many beaver in a single winter knows there isn’t much time left between the day job, the line, and a few hours of sleep.

Ryan has also served as President of District 2 of the U.P. Trappers Association and also serves as a fur pick‑up point for the Association, sending pelts to Fur Harvesters Auction in Canada. A substantial portion of that load comes from his own fur shed — and the way Ryan puts up fur would make even the crankiest old fur grader smile.

Ken Luedtke began trapping at just 10 years old and now brings more than 45 years of hands‑on experience to share with fellow trappers. He caught his first beaver at age 13, and from that moment on he was hooked – especially on water trapping. Like many young trappers, Ken had no mentor to teach him how to properly skin and handle the fur he was catching. As the animals piled up, he had no choice but to teach himself.

Early on, Ken learned the hard way that clean‑skinning beaver and otter was slow, frustrating work. Once he switched to rough‑skinning and fleshing on a beam, everything changed. His speed and quality skyrocketed as he constantly searched for—and “borrowed”—better, faster techniques. By the early 1990s, his skills had advanced to the point where he was earning multiple Top Lot awards for the furs he shipped to North American Fur Auctions (NAFA).

His talent didn’t go unnoticed. Legendary NAFA agent Fred Salczenko soon hired Ken to put up fur professionally. It wasn’t unusual for Ken to walk in and find 50–60 beaver dumped at his feet with Fred joking, “This should keep you out of mischief for a few hours.” The joke wasn’t far off—Ken has fleshed and stretched as many as 40 beaver in an 8–10 hour day, and over 100 raccoons in a single day. Over his 8–10 years working for NAFA, he skinned, fleshed, and stretched *thousands of mink, muskrats, beaver, otter, raccoons, fox, coyotes, and more.

The workload was nonstop. Ken recalls one day when a Wisconsin fur buyer arrived with a truckload of 1,300 rough‑skinned raccoons that all needed to be fleshed, drummed, and stretched. In his “spare time,” Ken also put up fur for the DNR (incidental catches), for friends, and for his own sizable catches.

Ken has shared his expertise widely, presenting demos for NAFA at major events, including several national conventions. He has also taught at state, regional, and local conventions and workshops. His ability to clearly teach the techniques needed to produce top‑quality fur has made him a highly sought‑after demonstrator.

Ken is not only a master fur handle – he’s a highly accomplished trapper. While trapping for the railroad, he and a partner caught 450 beaver in one season. His best one‑day catch was 49 beaver, with many other days topping 30. These accomplishments led to appearances on Buck LaVassuer’s TV show *Discovering*, where Ken demonstrated under‑ice beaver trapping with both snares and traps.

Reflecting on his decades of experience, Ken says: “I love teaching and sharing what I’ve learned—and I love learning from other trappers too. Every bit of knowledge saves time in the fur shed, puts more fur on the stretchers, and adds more dollars to the fur check. I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the best in the business, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I look forward to passing this knowledge on to others.”

Don Nyman — A Lifetime in the Fur Shed, the Woods, and the Lure Room.

Over fifty years ago, Don Nyman started trapping in the place he grew up—North Lake in Ishpeming, Michigan. By age 22 he was on his way to Maine, building battleships by day and running a trapline by night. It was there he met legendary trapper and lure maker Oscar Cronk, a relationship that sharpened his skills and deepened his understanding of animal behavior and scent.

When Don left the shipbuilding industry, he moved to Seattle to work in his family’s business making airplane parts for Boeing. It wasn’t long before he found himself high in the Cascade Mountains, trapping once again. Those years on the line—and a lifetime of studying scents and ingredients—set the stage for what came next.

Don eventually had the opportunity to purchase an old lure business from a man who would become a close friend, Ken Luedtke. That opportunity lit a fire. Don dove into studying perfumers, refining formulas, and experimenting until he transformed the business into 906 Predator Lures.

Behind the scenes, several people played key roles in his success, including his nephew Richard Wickstrom and Jeremy Laakso, both instrumental in helping Don bring his ideas to life.

His crown jewel became the long‑distance lure SCREAM, named by Jeremy. When Paul Antczak from the History Channel’s Mountain Men mentioned it, demand exploded and the lure took on a life of its own.

Don has shared his expertise widely — appearing twice on Discovering with Kristin Ojaniemi, joining Adam Carpenter on his radio show, and currently in discussions with Jordan Browne of Michigan Out of Doors TV.

You’ll be able to catch Don at several conventions this summer, including Minnesota, Antigo, WI, and Escanaba, MI. Stop by, shake his hand, and meet a man who has spent a lifetime perfecting the craft.

Dave Radandt’s trapping journey began out of pure necessity — and a little mystery. At twelve years old, he and his friends raised pigeons, but something kept killing them. With no trappers in his family, Dave turned to his best friend’s father, a hunter and trapper, who handed him a single trap and a quick lesson on how to use it. The suspected culprit was a weasel.

Two days later, Dave checked the set and was stunned to discover the real predator — a mink. When the pigeons started dying again, he reset the trap and this time caught a weasel. He brought the story to school, where his classmates were captivated. That same year, at a school library book sale, he bought *Trapping North American Furbearers* (1976), the book that became his first teacher. With no other trappers in Kenosha County, Wisconsin to learn from, Dave absorbed everything he could from its pages.

Over the years, Dave developed a deep passion for bobcats, otters, martens, and fishers. He prefers to focus on one species at a time, mastering its tracks, habits, and behavior before moving on. Because of this approach, he doesn’t measure success by “best catches,” but he does consider his six‑week Montana trip especially memorable. He caught only one animal — a wolf — but it required two weeks of scouting and nineteen days of persistence, making it one of his proudest accomplishments.

Before moving to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in 1995, Dave trapped mink, raccoon, muskrat, fox, and coyotes in Wisconsin. His only out‑of‑state trip, due to a demanding work schedule, was that unforgettable Montana wolf hunt in December 2024/January 2025.

Dave is an active member of UP Trappers District Three, the NTA, and a life member of the NRA. He volunteers at youth events, the annual convention, and the national convention whenever it’s held in the UP. He traps alongside his partner and mentor, Bob Guntle, and has become a mentor himself — something he takes great pride in.

Dave lives in Cedarville Township and traps primarily near home, though he travels to the Baraga area each year to target martens and fishers. He continues to expand his skills through YouTube, out‑of‑print trapping books, and the shared wisdom of fellow trappers. He believes strongly in the value of mentorship, hands‑on experience, and involvement in local and national trapping organizations. Above all, Dave feels that the most important thing is to spend as much time in the woods as possible, learning the ways of God’s animals.

Al Dubord’s introduction to trapping came early. At six or seven years old, he remembers peeking into the back of his Uncle Elmer Aho’s Model A and seeing fox, coyotes, bobcats, and a box of clean traps. As he got older, he talked trapping with his uncle every chance he could.

By age eight, Al had his first #1 Victor long spring trap—and he caught trapping “fever.” A neighboring farmer noticed his knack for catching critters and handed him a 1½ Victor long spring, asking if he’d take care of the woodchucks in his field. Without realizing it, Al had become an ADC trapper before he even knew what the term meant. After helping neighbors with woodchucks and skunks, he moved on to muskrats.

A grade schoolteacher later took him along to check beaver traps, and that was all it took—Al was off and running, trapping beaver on his own. At twelve, he began working on his uncle’s dairy farm, which left little time for trapping. Farm work ran from late spring until the snow got too deep for timber cutting. Through his teenage years, he squeezed in late fall muskrat trapping, the occasional fox, and spring beaver trapping whenever the fields were too wet for farm work.

In April 1978, Al packed up his guns, traps, tools, and his new wife and headed for Alaska. He didn’t know anyone and had no job lined up, but he found work right away. Before long, he landed a seasonal position at a remote fly‑in fishing and hunting lodge. There he earned his assistant hunting guide license and lived the dream—seeing Alaska from the air, on the water, and deep in the bush.

In November 1979, he moved to Fairbanks for steady work. That’s where he met other trappers, joined the Alaska Trappers Association, and soaked up everything he could from his new friends. He has been an ATA member ever since. Later he would become deeply involved in the organization, but in those early years it was all about learning how to trap in Alaska.

The spring of 1980 took him back to the western Alaska bush—180 miles from the nearest road and 60 miles by bush plane from the nearest village. That’s where his trapping really took off. Marten became his primary fur, and on his birthday that year he caught his first wolf and wolverine. In his best season in western Alaska, he put up around 50 marten along with fox, lynx, wolf, and wolverine—all while holding down a full‑time job.

Four years later, Al returned to Anchorage so his son could attend school. Not long after, he and three others founded the South-Central Chapter of the Alaska Trappers Association, where Al soon became Chairman. The SCC‑ATA eventually took over the famous Anchorage Fur Rondy Fur Auction, restoring its tradition of selling only locally caught Alaskan fur. It remains the premier fur sale in Alaska today.

Al’s job sent him all over the state, and he couldn’t stand passing up good fur. He carried traps and snares with him, setting lines after work in new areas. He hauled fur back to Anchorage in airplanes and company trucks, skinning in the generator room when he had to. Once, returning with several frozen coyotes and fox wrapped in a tarp, he nearly got “busted” when co‑workers were in the parking lot. He parked strategically, kept them away from the truck, and later slipped the fur into his personal vehicle before heading home.

After trapping across many regions and terrains, Al has now spent 30 years working the same semi‑remote area, putting more than 2,000 miles each year on his primary trapline snowmachine. He has been trapping in Alaska for 47 years—and he’s not going anywhere.

Jeff Hagerty is the owner of J3 Outdoorz and the innovative mind behind HAGz® Trapping Products — a line of American‑made tools that have reshaped modern water trapping. A lifelong outdoorsman, Jeff grew up hunting and fishing, but it wasn’t until he returned from the Marine Corps in the late 1990s that he discovered his passion for trapping. After noticing increased coyote activity during late‑season hunts, he set his first traps in 2002. Within two seasons he caught his first coyote, along with impressive numbers of mink, muskrats, and raccoons — and he was hooked. 

Jeff’s dedication and skill accelerated quickly. Only a few years into trapping, he was consistently breaking the 50‑coyote mark in Michigan. Today he averages around 75 coyotes annually, all while balancing a full‑time job, running a trapping business, and traveling across the country to trap in new environments. 

In 2012, Jeff began developing what would become his signature innovation: a versatile bracket that allowed trappers to use 3/8″ rods with a true “set‑anywhere” approach. That prototype became the patented HAGz® Bracket, followed by the HAGz® Spring Clip and Spring Clip XL — products widely credited with revolutionizing water trapping. 

In 2019, Jeff introduced the extremely popular HAGz® Universal Lock, followed shortly by the HAGz® Beaver Rod Ends. Their popularity comes from real‑world efficiency: the HAGz® Universal Lock can remain permanently attached to the trap, sliding smoothly over the rod end for faster, cleaner setup and eliminating quick‑attach steps. The design also allows seamless switching between rods, wire, chain, and other anchoring methods without extra tools or single‑use locks. 

As many trappers will tell you, the proof is in the field. The combination of HAGz® Beaver Rod Ends, HAGz® Universal Locks, and Fiberglass Beaver Rods has earned a reputation as one of the most effective, user‑friendly systems available — one that trappers quickly appreciate once they try it. 

Jeff is a proud member of the Michigan Trapper and Predator Callers Association and a Lifetime Member of the National Trappers Association. He has trapped in 11 states, with memorable lines ranging from fox trapping on Kodiak Island, Alaska, to high‑elevation bobcat lines in New Mexico, to beaver, otter, and marten lines in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and predator lines across Nevada, Utah, and Georgia. 

When he’s not on the trapline, Jeff is developing new products, refining prototypes, or traveling to trapping conventions across the country. His work continues to shape the tools trappers rely on — and reflects a deep commitment to the craft, the community, and the future of trapping.

Heimo and Edna Korth are two of the most beloved wilderness figures in America — the heart and soul of the hit TV series *The Last Alaskans*. Their life deep inside the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge captured millions, showing a level of grit, tradition, and authenticity that’s almost unheard of today.

Fans connected instantly with their warmth, their humility, and the incredible partnership that has carried them through decades of true off‑grid living. Whether you’re a trapper, an outdoorsman, or someone who simply fell in love with their story on TV, Heimo and Edna have a way of making everyone feel like they’ve known them forever.

Living over 100 miles from the nearest road, the Korth’s spend their winters running long traplines, hauling wood, hunting for their winter meat, and maintaining the cabins they built by hand along the Coleen River. Temperatures can plunge to –60°F, storms can last for days, and every season demands skill, toughness, and teamwork. Their life is a rare blend of Athabascan tradition, frontier self‑reliance, and deep respect for the land — a way of living that has nearly disappeared everywhere else.

The long hard road to becoming the highly skilled trapper that Heimo is today began in 1975 when Heimo left Wisconsin for Alaska to take a job as a packer for big game hunting guide, Keith Koontz. He and Keith became friends and Keith set him up with a wilderness cabin on beaver creek for a winter of fur trapping. In the ensuing years, Heimo would continue trapping and sharpening his skills. Heimo built his first cabin on the upper Coleen River in June 1978.  Here he would trap for over 40 years and raised a family along the way.

Heimo runs his traplines by snowmachine and continues to learn more about the habits and patterns of all the animals is this northern boreal forest. His primary target is marten, and he has had several seasons when he has taken over a hundred of these beautiful, valuable animals. While Marten are his “bread and butter” he also takes more than his share of wolf, fox, marten, wolverine, lynx and beaver.

Heimo and Edna will be joining us at the U.P. Trappers Convention & Outdoor Expo, giving fans the amazing opportunity to meet two of the most loved personalities from *The Last Alaskans*. They’ll be here both days, visiting with folks, sharing stories, and bringing the spirit of the Arctic right to Escanaba. Trappers and non‑trappers alike absolutely adore them.

A passionate trapper from a young age, Jeremy Laakso was introduced to the art of trapping at just five years old by his father, who balanced a full-time job with running a trapline. Growing up in Michigan, Jeremy has fond memories of beaver stretched on boards in the basement and the thrill of setting traps in local creeks and ponds. By age eight, he was independently setting traps for mink and muskrat, marking the beginning of his lifelong dedication to the craft. 

October 25th became a cherished holiday for Jeremy and his father, symbolizing the start of the trapping season. For 38 years, this tradition remained unbroken until the fall of 2025 when Jeremy’s Dad became ill. Even so, both father and son continued to embrace their shared passion when Jeremy would stop by after a day of checking to show his dad the days catch. 

Throughout his trapping journey, Jeremy has trapped a variety of species, including beaver, otter, fox, coyote, muskrat, weasel, skunk, raccoon, fisher, marten, wolf and bobcat, with a particular focus on mink—a love instilled by his father. 

Recognized for his innovation, Jeremy has worked to enhance the efficiency of their trapping methods, taking his skills to the next level. He served as District 5 President for ten years and is currently the District 5 Treasurer as well as the President of the UP Trappers Association. He emphasizes the importance of community and continuous learning. He believes in the responsibility of every trapper to support local and national organizations. Jeremy is a lifetime member of the National Trappers Association and Lifetime member of Michigan United Conservation Clubs. Annual member to Fur Takers of America, UP Trappers Association, Michigan Trapper and Predator Callers Association, Alaska Trappers Association, Ohio State trappers Association. 

In February 2026, Jeremy’s father, Alan Joe Laakso, passed away after a battle with aggressive cancer. While it was a challenging time, Jeremy continued to honor their bond through trapping, cherishing the memories and lessons shared over the years. His story is a testament to the enduring legacy of mentorship, tradition, and the love of trapping.