Trapper Roy Glubka was recognized as a “top lot trapper” in June by North American Fur Auctions for martin pelts sold at its auction in February.
NAFA is the largest auction house in North America dealing in raw fur pelts, according to its website.
Glubka, 76, of International Falls, says he appreciates the recognition.
“A world wide attendance of leading fur buyers recognized that this lot contains the most outstanding pelts in the sale,” the letter to Glubka said.
“This is a great honor to get one of these (letters),” he said. “I don’t think very many guys get this top lot trapper.”
Glubka’s been trapping about 20 years and this is the first time he’s been recognized as a top lot trapper.
“I just love to get into the bush and trapping gets in your blood,” he said this week. “When you get out there, trap the animal, I like doing that.”
Glubka said the letter recognized the high quality of the martin’s fur. Maintaining that high quality takes skill in trapping and skinning the animal, he said.
“If you take care of the fur real good and then they really like that,” he said of the NAFA.
The pelts are taken to auction and graded and then sold to buyers, he said. The buyers use the pelts to make hats and coats and other fur items.
The pelts sold on average for $82, but Glubka said some of the martin pelts in the lot sold for more.
“I run up to $115 for one, $82 is an average,” he said.
He runs a trap line about 30 miles from International Falls.
“I check traps every day and then run a trap line about three miles,” he said. Depending on the season, he uses a snowmobile or six-wheeled all-terrain vehicle to check his traps.
“You get a lot of exercise,” he said. “A lot of times you have to walk to your sets and check them.”
Trapping keeps you in shape, he said.
“It’s better than sitting in a rockin’ chair,” said Glubka. “It gets you going and you feel good in the woods. It’s a lot of fun.”
Many times, Glubka said he sees deer, wolves, owls and other wildlife while checking his traps. “That’s nice out there and it keeps you busy,” he said. “It’s just good to be out in the woods.”
Glubka says he’ll be trapping for many more years. “You get that trapping fever in your blood,” he said. “You just keep going.”
Glubka said his son, Mike, began trapping at about the same time he did and often accompanies his dad when he goes out to check his traps.
“That’s good, the two of us out there trapping and we have a good time,” the elder Glubka said. “He loves to trap, too.”
Glubka said the money he earns by selling his pelts “is all right, but it’s really not for the money, because if you just go out there for the money, you might as well stay home. Usually you just get out there and if you make a few dollars fine, if you don’t you ain’t going to cry about it. That’s all part of trapping. But mostly it’s getting out there in the woods and trapping animals and you have a good day.”
