1

King Trapper

The King Trapper events were inaugurated during the 1955 Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival. It was the 8th Festival and the organizers decided to incorporate more fomalized events focusing on trapping skills. To that point there had always been a Queen of the Festival - so why not a King?

The competition was based on skill and endurance, with winners of each event receiving points. The points were broken down as follows: three points for first place, two points for second place and one point for third place. Each competitor had to enter at least 19 of 21 events. The contestant with the most accumulated points won the title of King Trapper. The winner was announced at the Festival Highlights Show. The King Trapper received a wood carved trophy designed and made by Real Berard, a well-known Manitoba Parks Branch illustrator and longtime supporter of the Festival. In later years the winning competitors received significant cash prizes with the first place receiving airline tickets as well - usually for a flight to Winnipeg.

2

Snow Shoe Race
Circa 1980
The Pas, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Sam Waller Museum Collection
The Pas Historical Society

3

Log Sawing Competition
Circa 1980
The Pas, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Sam Waller Museum Competition
The Pas Historical Society

4

Tea Boiling Contest
Circa 1980
The Pas, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Sam Waller Museum Collection
The Pas Historical Society

5

Flour Packing

The flour packing contest has its roots in the early days when supplies were transported by birch bark canoe and packed over numerous portages. The record for flour packing as of 2002 was still held by Henry Sayese from the 1920's when he packed 1200 pounds! The women's record is held by Linda Buck who packed 600 pounds in 1976! In days gone by the winner was allowed to keep the flour and received a cash prize. Today the cash prize is considerably larger and the winner no longer keeps the flour.

"...but one of the strongest memories I have of the King Trapper contest is watching the flour packing contest and being amazed at the hundreds of pounds of flour being carried by the King Trappers on their backs. To see that flour piled up in hundred pound bags, and then fifty pound bags, 25 pound bags and to see a man carry a thousand pounds of flour is totally amazing." - Sue Lambert

6

Flour Packing Event
Circa 1980
The Pas, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Sam Waller Museum Collection
The Pas Historical Society

7

World Championship King Trapper 2003

Introducing - the Rookie Prize

In 2003 The Northern Manitoba Trappers' Festival Board decided to introduce a "Rookie" Prize to encourage men to enter in the King Trapper competition who had never before competed. The contestants were required to comply with all the rules in order to claim the Rookie Prize. They must place in point standings in any one of the skills events (Buckskin Parade not included). In the event of numerous Rookies placing, the winner will be decided by the most points.

Rookie Prize: Trophy plus $80, plus any prizes won in the competitions.

8

Flour Packing Event
Circa 1980
The Pas, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Sam Waller Museum Collection
The Pas Historical Society

9

The Logger Sports

The Logger Sports have also been part of the Festival for a number of years with King Trapper contestants being eligible to participate. In 2001 three new events were introduced: the vertical block axe chop, two-man crosscut sawing, and one-man swede sawing. The regular events have been the chainsaw speed cut, swede saw speed cutting, axe chopping, and chainsaw log sculpturing. All of the events had first, second, and third place standings with prize money at $100, $50, and $25 respectively. The Chainsaw Log Sculpturing event had higher prize money with first place winning a chainsaw, second place receiving $150 and third place receiving $100.

10

Canoe Carrying Race
Circa 1980
The Pas, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Sam Waller Museum Collection
The Pas Historical Society

11

The Wild Fur Contest (1991)

The Wild Fur Contest, held between the Thursday and Saturday of Trappers' Festival, was judged at Mary Duncan School. All trappers were required to have their fur entered between 4:40 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Thursday. Judging took place privately and the results made public by ribbons displayed on the furs. The furs remained on public display until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday. Prizes were awarded for first, second, and third in seven categories - beaver, fox, mink, coyote, fisher, otter and lynx. The top prize for best fur was $100.

12

Muskrat Skinning Competition
Circa 1978
The Pas, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Sam Waller Museum Collection
The Pas Historical Society

13

Moose/Goose Calling
Circa 1978
The Pas, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Sam Waller Museum Collection
The Pas Historical Society

14

Log Throwing Competition
Circa 1978
The Pas, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Sam Waller Museum Collection
The Pas Historical Society