Outdoors
The BDN outdoors section brings readers into the woods, waters and wild places of Maine. It features stories on hunting, fishing, wildlife, conservation and recreation, told by people who live these experiences. This section emphasizes hands-on knowledge, field reports, issues, trends and the traditions that define life outside in Maine. Read more Outdoors stories here.
A longtime Maine outdoorsman has received one of the highest honors in his profession after spending nearly seven decades preserving the heritage of trapping.
Neil Olson, 78, of Bethel was inducted into the National Trappers Association Hall of Fame during the organization’s 67th annual convention, held this past weekend in Richmond, Indiana.
Olson is the founder and longtime chairman of the New England Trappers Weekend and has authored the trapping books “Trapline Adventure Stories,” “Fox & Coyote Trapping” and “My Lifestyle Is My Pay.” He was also featured in Tom Miranda’s book “Master Trappers,” which includes biographies of many of North America’s most productive and innovative trappers.
Held on Olson’s Bethel property since the late 1960s, the New England Trappers Weekend attracts hundreds, and in some years thousands, of attendees for demonstrations, educational programs and vendor exhibits. This year’s event will be held Aug. 13-16 in conjunction with the NTA Northeast Regional Trapping & Outdoor Expo.
In addition to organizing the event, Olson has spent decades buying furs at auctions throughout the region. He was inducted into the Maine Trappers Association Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Trappers of North America Hall of Fame in 2003.
Olson began trapping at age 10 and has since harvested more than 16,000 beavers, 6,000 foxes, 2,000 coyotes and 1,000 otters.
“I was really surprised,” Olson said. “I’m honored to be among the best.”
Olson is just the third Mainer inducted into the National Trappers Association Hall of Fame. The other two recipients were the late Oscar Cronk and Norm Gray.