Back when I was trapping for the fur, like you said, early - late 70's, there were no beaver to speak of in my area. Left and spent 6 years touring the world with uncle Sam's misguided children, and when I returned, dang things were everywhere. Landowners, farmers, timber companies were paying big bucks to try to get rid of beavers, but good God, what work, even for a 27 year old right out of the Marine Corps. After about the fifth round of giardia, I'd had enough, lol.
If fur prices were high enough to cover the gas, I'd be on the line now. Still a lot of beaver around, but I'll leave that for the young guys.
