Charlie here (you’ll have to introduce me to this “Chuck” you mention, OBA) …
Here’s the operative paragraph about trapping from the Quetico “Background Information” document. (All 91 pages of it can be downloaded from THIS site.)
Quoting now …
“With the establishment of the Quetico Forest Reserve in 1909, commercial fur trapping was prohibited. This ban remained in effect until 1949 when representation was made by the Indian Affairs Branch of the Federal Government to the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests to re-open part of the park fur trapping. At this time, it was successfully argued that Quetico’s fur resource could provide a much needed source of livelihood to members of the Lac La Croix First Nation. Initially, fifteen traplines were established in the northern and western sectors of the park. Trapping operations commenced on these lines in 1949. In 1951, the Lac La Croix First Nation made an application for additional traplines. At that time, about forty trappers were without lines while an abundance of beaver existed in the park. As a result, additional traplines were established in the park’s northeastern sector.
Until 1977, there were 14 traplines (as a result of trapline consolidation) operated by Aboriginal or Métis people in Quetico. Between 1977 and 1986 two non-native trappers acquired two traplines within the park. There are presently eighteen registered traplines wholly or partially within Quetico and of these, 13 are operated by members of the Lac La Croix First Nation. These lines are located in the park’s northwestern, northern and northeastern sectors, as shown in Figure 20. Non-native trappers hold four traplines in Quetico as a result of trapline transfers and as a result of an adjustment in the park’s northern boundary in 1977. Provincial park policy directs that those traplines not held by Status Indians exercising treaty rights will be phased out by January 1st, 2010. Trapline transfers may only occur to licenced members of Lac La Croix. Trapping is limited to the harvest of beaver and marten.
A number of traplines in the park are served by trapping cabins. Three trap cabins remain in use within the park, and are discretely situated away from shorelines and away from major canoe routes.”
Charlie again now …
I’ve heard a second-hand story from a Quetico winter-camper that one of those trappers keeps an ATV trail he uses passible by rigging two upright, running chainsaws to his 4-wheeler and then cutting back the brush growing in from the trail-sides as he drives along!
That winter-camper might be in favor of keeping the trappers in the park — he liked using that trail to toboggan into the park late in the winter since it was so well cleared!
— Charlie
