There is a place for trapping and most of the trappers use quick kill (conibear) traps. If there were no trappers skunk/raccons/foxes would prey on all small game animals and waterfowl until there were none to be found! This a major reason why waterfowl populations have tumbled over the years.

It also provides an income for people who dont make a heck of alot of money! Theres a farmer down the road from the place I hunt, his sons have permission to trap the beaver on the property(major reason for alot of road damage). They make about $1500-2000 a year trapping beaver's, you may say this is not alot of money. But when a family of 14(yes I said 14) makes maybe 15-18,000 a year that amount of money probably feeds them for the entire year!