A wolf pelt hangs outside a house in Inuvik. It's a good catch for a trapper -- a large pelt like this can be used to make several pairs of boots, mittens, or fur trim on coats. A wolf pelt hangs outside a house in Inuvik. It's a good catch for a trapper -- a large pelt like this can be used to make several pairs of boots, mittens, or fur trim on coats. (Philippe Morin/CBC)

The Northwest Territories government is recognizing the region's best trappers — and, for the first time, a young woman has secured the top prize in the youth category.

Marilyn Maring of Inuvik received the Youth Trapper N.W.T. Award for being the most productive trapper under the age of 30. That is an unprecedented achievement, according to government spokesperson Alayna Ward.

Maring was at her family’s camp in the bush — 70 kilometres outside of Inuvik — and could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Maring's sister told government staff that the 19-year-old trapped 300 muskrats, 22 lynxes and a few foxes, wolves, wolverines, martens, and minks in 2011.

Another winner, Fred Mandeville of Hay River, has been trapping since he was eight years old. Mandeville has been named the territory's senior trapper of the year.

The 77-year-old's willingness to go the extra mile in pursuit of muskrat helped him stand out among other trappers in his age group.

"It's about an hour and a half drive down from the Smith Highway, then we go down the Boundary Line, another four hours of Ski-Doo, from there we go west, east, north … all those lines, eh?" Mandeville said of his travel route.

"N.W.T. trappers work hard at their craft, and these awards recognize the invaluable contribution they make to our economy," said Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay.

"I want to offer my congratulations to all of them for their well-deserved awards."

Winners are given a certificate signed by the minister and a jacket bearing the logo of the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program to recognize their contributions to the territory’s traditional fur economy.

The Trapper Recognition Program operates in five regions — South Slave, North Slave, Sahtu, Dehcho, and Inuvik.

In addition to senior and junior trapper awards, the program also recognizes the trapper with the most pelts, as well as the most market sales.