National trappers coming to South Dakota for first time

Nation's leading outdoor trapping group visiting state with historic roots to the fur trade

People watch a trapping seminar in Escanaba, Michigan during the National Trappers Association convention in 2023. Sioux Falls hosts the convention this year. (Submitted).

South Dakota has historic roots in the trapping industry – once part of a lucrative and vast territory rich with beaver, bison and other valuable animal pelts.

Despite that history, the state has never hosted a National Trappers Association convention.

That changes this month when the group holds its annual gathering in Sioux Falls from July 24-27, with thousands of people expected to attend. The convention takes place at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, kicking off the evening of July 24 with a concert by cowboy comedian Kip Attaway at the fairgrounds Show Ring.

This is the group’s 65^th convention.

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