BETHEL — Two thousand trapping enthusiasts and visitors from around the country and Canada are expected to attend Neil Olson‘s annual trappers gathering this weekend.

As usual, the 36th annual New England Trappers Weekend will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 23-25, on fur trader Olson’s front lawn at 760 East Bethel Road.

Seminars are held on Friday and Saturday. Sunday starts with a church service with trapper The Rev. Lloyd Waterhouse and ends at 10:30 a.m.

Dealers start arriving Thursday, Aug. 23, Olson said Tuesday morning. This year features new dealers from Iowa and Pennsylvania, he said.

New this year is the price being fetched for marten furs, which are used for hats, trims and jackets.

“The price has doubled, but don’t ask me why,” Olson said.

And despite the continued recession, he said the fur market overall has “gone up a little bit.”

Also new this year is a Beard Contest, featuring categories for Cleanest, Longest and Most Unique.

There will also be four Campsite Contest categories: Most Primitive, Cleanest, Most American and Most Original. Last year’s winners were Pete Cote of Arizona, Ruben Parker of New Hampshire, Swamper Swarts of Pennsylvania and Sue Kennedy of Maine.

Friday’s seminars include Rick Schoonover on “Vermont Fisher Trapping” at 8 a.m.; Brian Palmer on “Targeting Bobcat” at 9 a.m.; Newt Sterling at 10 a.m. on “The Snare Man;” Jim Geffert at 11 a.m. on “Night owl lures and lure making shows;” Al Pinkham at noon on “Fisher, Maine Style;” Jerry Collier at 1 p.m. on “Nusiance Beaver Trapping;” Jerry Braley at 2 p.m. on “Snaring Beaver Under Ice;” Trapper Don at 3 p.m. on CT Gland Removal;” and Brent Kelly at 4 p.m. on “New Jersey Style Fox.”

Guitarist and vocalist Joe Osgood performs from 5 to 6 p.m., after which  mini auction will be held starting at 6 p.m. Then, starting at 7:30 p.m., Bob Noonan will tell stories.

At 8 a.m. Saturday, Pete Gerard will hold the first session of a trappers’ course; call 582-6303.

Children’s events will be held on starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. There will be a scavenger hunt, coin scramble, and a coyote calling contest for children ages 6 and younger. The eel race follows at 10 a.m.

Saturday’s seminars include Randy Cross on “Bear Trapping” at 7 a.m.; Braley on “Fisher and Marten” at 8 a.m.; Jeff French of New York on “Mink and Rats” at 9 a.m.; J. P. Wilson on  “Water Trapping” at 10 a.m.; and Kirt Boulregard on “Inventions and Ideas: The Einstein of the Trapping World” at 11 a.m.

Following a break and Kid’s Auction at noon, additional presentations include Olson, who harvested his 10,000th beaver last year, on “Beaver Skinning and Ideas” at 1 p.m.; Bob Noonan on “Cage Traps, Skunk Euthanizing, and more” at 2 p.m.; and Jack Byers of Michigan on “Canines” at 2:45 p.m.

Noting the caliber of some of the seminar presenters, Olson compared them to “Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle of the sports world.”

At 3:30 p.m., the cannon will be fired and the kid’s fishing contest begins. Winning categories are First Fish, Most Fish, Last Fish, and Longest Pole that Catches a Fish.

Coon Dog Trials with trophies follows at 4 p.m., and then another break at 5 p.m. for supper. There will be a group picture of all demo guests — past and present — at 5 p.m., followed at 6 p.m. by an auction and dancing starting at 9:30 p.m. to the Ball Brothers band.

Admission is $5 per adult and $5 per night camping. For more information, call Olson at 875-5765.

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