Name
Jessica Power
Occupation
College Student – Land Surveying/Civil Engineering, Waitress, and Mother of three teenage boys 😁
Hometown
Born and raised in North Platte, NE. I currently reside in Seward, NE
How did you get started in trapping?
I started trapping all on my own in 2014 on the South Platte River. The reason I started was to see if I could decrease the predator population of turkeys within the area. I had been trying to hunt the same “Dirty Dozen” for years, and never could get them called in under forty yards. I thought surely there has to be more than twelve birds over a mile of ground! I was well aware that the South Platte River receives the snowmelt off the Rocky Mountains annually, causing flooding. Many of the early clutches, laid in the cover of the dry river beds, are washed away. And with flood waters up, means that there are less places for the adults to hide. With further investigation, I discovered the land owner had not done any type of predator control on his land in over seven years! So I gave trapping a go and discovered that I enjoyed not only the challenges but the research of each animal and the ground that I covered. I think I caught maybe ten raccoons and three opossums that first year. The most rewarding feeling, after two seasons of trapping, was seeing trail camera photos of, my “Dirty Dozen”, the rafter of turkeys had tripled!!!
What is your favorite animal to target?
Badger and Bobcat
What do you enjoy most about the sport of trapping?
The thing I enjoy most about trapping is the memories I get to make with my children. I get to teach them the moral ethics and the benefits of managing the predator population. Trapping connects us with the environment and as a family.
What is one of your most memorable trapping moments?
My most memorable moment was descending from the top of a canyon road and being able to see the dirt mound of a trapped badger over a half mile away.
What would you like to see changed as far as trapping regulations in Nebraska?
The regulations are acceptable and honorable to the sport of trapping. What I would like to see is more trap thieves caught, with steeper fines and more community service, given to offenders. Rural community service they could partake in to help farmers and ranchers within our state.
What other hobbies do you have?
Currently:
– Public Relations Representative of the Nebraska Fur Harvesters Association
– Student Senate Secretary at Southeast Community College
– Leisure time with my children
– Scouting
– Hunting
– Fishing
– Trapping
– Binary Explosives
– “Do It Youself” projects
AND
– Shopping at Cabela’s
Anything else you want the Nebraska Fur Harvesters to know about you?
I am the first civilian female in the state of Nebraska to obtain a permit for the legal use of binary explosives.
You never know what you are capable of if you hesitate and make excuses. So, never hesitate to teach yourself, about anything in life. Be willing to learn something new everyday. And share your passion with the world!