Notana Lake (Mar 10/06) - A hands-on approach is the best way to teach youth about trapping, according to Michael Cazon.

Despite seeing a decline in the number of youth trapping, Cazon said there is still a future for the fur industry.

"Today lots of youth are interested, but no one has approached and asked them," said Cazon.

Creating an interest in the traditional industry was one of the goals for the trapper training program, which Cazon hosted at his camp on Notana Lake. From Feb. 1-10, six Fort Simpson youth between the ages of 12 and 18 learned about life as a trapper from Cazon and Edward Cholo, a certified trapper instructor.

In the past all you needed to know was how to chop wood and keep an axe sharp, said Cazon. Now youth need to know about snowmobile maintenance and how to mix gas.

How to travel safely on the land is still one of the most important skills.

Participants were taught to brainstorm about what they need to bring with them into the bush.

The youths were also introduced to different types of trap settings, including underwater traps, ground sets and tree sets. They learned how to get themselves out of traps using string.

A lot has changed since Cazon started trapping almost 25 years ago. He grew up around Fort Simpson. When he was in Grade 10, his parents went back to the bush and he followed to help them.

He started by using deadfall traps. In the last 10 to 15 years that changed with the use of humane traps. Cazon promotes these to new trappers because they are important if you are dealing with international buyers, he said.

Some changes have made trapping easier. Today you can travel two hours by snowmobile, but it would have taken a day to traverse with a dog team, said Cazon. This allows you to travel twice as far and set more traps.

Through his company Land is Life Ltd., Cazon promotes trapping as a different way of living.

There are no deadlines to meet and you don't have to worry about going to a store, he said. You get up before daylight, go out for the day and come back to camp at dark to work on things.

"Everything is there to live on," he said.