Post by trapperpaul on Dec 19, 2008 23:57:38 GMT -5
Stick with me, kind of long, hope that it is entertaining and maybe a little helpful.
MY SEASON REPORT.
I am a state certified instructor and member FTA, NTA and MTA.
I am having a great time, OUTDOORS!!! and in the woods with a friend and family. Even got the neighbor boys pulling skins and helping with the skinning. I have a 3 year old that will help me unload the critters at the end of the day, help skin and pull beaver off of boards.
Land trapping season starts for us on 25 October. Water trapping one week later.
We set a lot of snares and boxes (220 and 160) for coon and skunks (71 this season) mostly farms with corn fields and water nearby.
Tried 120s for skunks, not willing to put head in a box. Couple did, not good dispatch. (Lesson: 160 and 220 for skunks.)
Snares and blind 220s worked well. Got my blind 220s down pretty good, caught a grey fox in one. Two stakes to stabilize and bend the springs down for height. Did you know that a jumbo coon can get half way through a blind 220 with a pan before it fires, amazing. Now I understand waist caught in a snare.
My first year snaring. Did my research and built my own. Made my own double stake set up and snare supports. They worked well. Caught my first coyote, some coon and actually hung a couple of skunks. My partner never loaded his snares, I made him a believer, more neck caught coon. Still some waist caught, suggestions are welcome. Didn't set a lot of them, but did well with them. I like my body grips. They allow me a 3 day check.
Only the small coon were blue, rest looked good. Caught a couple of reds and Grey's, they were blue. We ran everyday, paid for gas and then some everyday.
Pulled the snares and switched to making water sets. (24 hour checks on snares.) Our river runs did not work out this year. Partner's boat motor gave out. More miles on the truck. Thank god gas was down.
Got a few rats, beaver and otter. (getting pretty good blinding otter on dry land with 220s) Bought a couple of MB-1216-JC and they put the smack on a beaver or two. They work really well in those wider gaps.
It froze a little early this year. Pulled water sets and ran boxes as long as we could. Believe it or not, caught two reds in boxes, 120 and a 160. Got cold and the coon and skunk disappeared.
Fisher, marten and bobcat started Saturday after Thanksgiving. We ran seriously for the first nine days (fisher and marten season) Set for all three. Managed to get eight fisher, no marten. Caught first cat in my life in a 220 bucket with beaver meat, a little castor, home made skunk paste and duck wing. Home made 220 collapsible cage and a BMI 220. Perfect neck catch. Dispatched quick. Big Tom, I was so happy that I could have run through the swamp naked. Hugged my partner, I think that worried him a little. ;D But it was a great day.
Got 2 cats so far. Other in a snare that must of literally got caught minutes before we got there. Still alive, that was interesting. Came at my face, full charge, from the far side of the catch circle, but the snare brought him up short. Got him in a homemade catch pole and he expired in seconds. Did not think that they dispatched so easy. 5 days for the first cat and 9 for the second. Guess patience is the key for cats. We did trap the area cold. Lots of tracks the first couple of days. Since the snow has gotten deeper, no tracks. We back tracked the snared cat and it came out of the thickest cattail/brush/grass swampy crap. The only thing that showed his passing was some snow knocked off of the cattail blades. So, it seems that we are making our sets right, need to work on location. Got word that some 50 cats taken in that county so far. I would like a bigger share of that. Live and learn. (location suggestions for deep snow cats???)
Muskrats - - pretty easy, 1.5s LS on rat huts a little mint/glycerin for lure. Made a double 110 float with an apple slice and lure worked well. need to modify the float to be more stable after one trap drops off.
Beaver - - pretty easy, location easy, Made a dozen 330 floats, mostly for spring. The floats worked well. We have plenty of castor and oil for lure. Will be making more floats. Will be great for spring fluctuating and moving water. I do use MB-750s too and drowning rods.
Mink - - tough, baited pockets not working. Baited with no lure kind of worked. Probably 4 or 5 mink this year. 1.5 LS blind worked well in the right spot. 110s blind did not work at all. I set 5 on a hot spot, beaten trails. 3 weeks, nothing. Going to work the long springs harder next year. Hit one spot on a tiny creek, got two out of that set. (location lesson)
raccoon - - pretty easy, got my own lure/bait combo that works well. 220 and 160 in a homemade collapsible cage worked for possum, skunk and coon.
Skunk - - easy, incidental catches. Actually figured out how to snare them dead. The live ones were really aggressive this year. I have a 5 foot syringe pole and had a heck of a time getting close enough. Last year not too much trouble Got hit once. (naked man standing in the middle of gravel road, thank you mister Rickert) I have skinned over 100 the last two seasons. Hit the sacs 2 times, not bad.;D Saving the juice for selling and the fat and sacs for grinding my own loud lure. A funny thing you ever want to see is my partner trying to dispatch a skunk with a syringe pole. I think the pole is just six inches long. I am not sure what kind of a dance that is, but I bet he could win a contest. He gave up the pole and went to 22 shorts. I keep telling him that you have to talk nice.
possum - - not a target, but I put them up.
K-9 - - snares, just sounds like too much work - waxing, odor control and making the set. Haven't caught a fox yet in a snare, but this snow should show some trails. Then I will hit the snares again. Maybe some time will put the work into it.
Fisher/marten - - Easy, no marten this year, we got eight fisher. 220 and 160 cages (collapsible and home made) Beaver, castor, and home made skunk paste. Caught a marten last year, Location? work on it.
Bobcat - - tough (location?) Beaver, castor, skunk paste, bird wing. 220s and snares. video tape, foil or pie plate cut into eight pieces. Maybe wooden pans will work better. Had one refusal.
Otter - - Blind, blind, blind, and toilets, got to wait them out. I got to get one more for a limit and I have a 220 over an ice hole next to a toilet. Crossing my fingers.
Badger - - Don't know, not many here. Got one last year, got $36.00 for it. Fur Harvester's Auctions said we got good ones here. Anybody try 220 boxes? I have heard that dirt holes work. Would like to catch a few.
Weasel - - Easy, built boxes with rat traps. Beaver scrapings, a couple of drops of anise/glycerin and a goose wing feather with some Lenon's Marten All Call. Caught our first Long tail this year in a 220 cat set. Caught one in a 1.5 LS in an inch of water set for a rat. Go figure. Boxes are doing well. Got a line on some wanted for taxidermy, $5.00 frozen whole.
Already thinking about next year....
1. Make more cages
2. Work on snaring, snares longer by six inches, snare some mink
3. Make my own double stake set up, swivels, snare swivels, In line swivels, Those heavy duty fishing swivels work great for in line. #11 wire worked great for stake swivels. Coyote bends them up but held fine.
4. shorter #9 wire supports. #16 wire works great to attach snare to the support. Cheap. I bend a "staple" in the end of the support. Just step into the ground next to the trail.
5. Double jaw my body grips. Magnum closing. hold those reachers. Welder for Christmas.
6. Sell weaker body grips and upgrade.
7. Make drowner rods.
8. More 330 floats for spring beaver.
In case you haven't noticed I like to build and make my own equipment. Some people buy all. I buy material and build.
My cages are great, 120, 160 and 220 sizes. 2-3 dozen fit in a milk crate. They are sturdy and stable with a rock or a log. Weather proof with leaves and grass over the top. I can wire them anywhere. I don't have problems with dogs. Have never caught one, ever.
The funniest thing that I have ever seen was my partner trying to catch a wounded goose. First he started walking and half hearted attempt. Then I told him it had a band. He ran like a fool. Geese can run really fast. In and around the trees. Took him a couple of minutes. By that time I was sitting on the ground laughing my butt off. The bird did not have a band, I lied.
Probably a boring read, not a very eloquent writer. But thanks for your time.
THANKS!!!!! To all that share their ideas on this and other forums. It has made me a very successful and happy trapper.
Thanks to my partner for taking me and teaching me.
I am 50 and have 3 fall seasons and one spring season (300 beaver) with about 120 sets in 3 weeks. Guess I am doing something right.
They are going to have to pry the traps out of my cold dead fingers.
Thats my story and I am sticking to it!!!!!
Hope that all of you had a great time outdoors doing what you love with who you love. Happy Holidays.
Thanks again,
Paul
P.S. Hope to see all at the winter and the summer meetings. Maybe I can swing the national meetings. Look me up.
MY SEASON REPORT.
I am a state certified instructor and member FTA, NTA and MTA.
I am having a great time, OUTDOORS!!! and in the woods with a friend and family. Even got the neighbor boys pulling skins and helping with the skinning. I have a 3 year old that will help me unload the critters at the end of the day, help skin and pull beaver off of boards.
Land trapping season starts for us on 25 October. Water trapping one week later.
We set a lot of snares and boxes (220 and 160) for coon and skunks (71 this season) mostly farms with corn fields and water nearby.
Tried 120s for skunks, not willing to put head in a box. Couple did, not good dispatch. (Lesson: 160 and 220 for skunks.)
Snares and blind 220s worked well. Got my blind 220s down pretty good, caught a grey fox in one. Two stakes to stabilize and bend the springs down for height. Did you know that a jumbo coon can get half way through a blind 220 with a pan before it fires, amazing. Now I understand waist caught in a snare.
My first year snaring. Did my research and built my own. Made my own double stake set up and snare supports. They worked well. Caught my first coyote, some coon and actually hung a couple of skunks. My partner never loaded his snares, I made him a believer, more neck caught coon. Still some waist caught, suggestions are welcome. Didn't set a lot of them, but did well with them. I like my body grips. They allow me a 3 day check.
Only the small coon were blue, rest looked good. Caught a couple of reds and Grey's, they were blue. We ran everyday, paid for gas and then some everyday.
Pulled the snares and switched to making water sets. (24 hour checks on snares.) Our river runs did not work out this year. Partner's boat motor gave out. More miles on the truck. Thank god gas was down.
Got a few rats, beaver and otter. (getting pretty good blinding otter on dry land with 220s) Bought a couple of MB-1216-JC and they put the smack on a beaver or two. They work really well in those wider gaps.
It froze a little early this year. Pulled water sets and ran boxes as long as we could. Believe it or not, caught two reds in boxes, 120 and a 160. Got cold and the coon and skunk disappeared.
Fisher, marten and bobcat started Saturday after Thanksgiving. We ran seriously for the first nine days (fisher and marten season) Set for all three. Managed to get eight fisher, no marten. Caught first cat in my life in a 220 bucket with beaver meat, a little castor, home made skunk paste and duck wing. Home made 220 collapsible cage and a BMI 220. Perfect neck catch. Dispatched quick. Big Tom, I was so happy that I could have run through the swamp naked. Hugged my partner, I think that worried him a little. ;D But it was a great day.
Got 2 cats so far. Other in a snare that must of literally got caught minutes before we got there. Still alive, that was interesting. Came at my face, full charge, from the far side of the catch circle, but the snare brought him up short. Got him in a homemade catch pole and he expired in seconds. Did not think that they dispatched so easy. 5 days for the first cat and 9 for the second. Guess patience is the key for cats. We did trap the area cold. Lots of tracks the first couple of days. Since the snow has gotten deeper, no tracks. We back tracked the snared cat and it came out of the thickest cattail/brush/grass swampy crap. The only thing that showed his passing was some snow knocked off of the cattail blades. So, it seems that we are making our sets right, need to work on location. Got word that some 50 cats taken in that county so far. I would like a bigger share of that. Live and learn. (location suggestions for deep snow cats???)
Muskrats - - pretty easy, 1.5s LS on rat huts a little mint/glycerin for lure. Made a double 110 float with an apple slice and lure worked well. need to modify the float to be more stable after one trap drops off.
Beaver - - pretty easy, location easy, Made a dozen 330 floats, mostly for spring. The floats worked well. We have plenty of castor and oil for lure. Will be making more floats. Will be great for spring fluctuating and moving water. I do use MB-750s too and drowning rods.
Mink - - tough, baited pockets not working. Baited with no lure kind of worked. Probably 4 or 5 mink this year. 1.5 LS blind worked well in the right spot. 110s blind did not work at all. I set 5 on a hot spot, beaten trails. 3 weeks, nothing. Going to work the long springs harder next year. Hit one spot on a tiny creek, got two out of that set. (location lesson)
raccoon - - pretty easy, got my own lure/bait combo that works well. 220 and 160 in a homemade collapsible cage worked for possum, skunk and coon.
Skunk - - easy, incidental catches. Actually figured out how to snare them dead. The live ones were really aggressive this year. I have a 5 foot syringe pole and had a heck of a time getting close enough. Last year not too much trouble Got hit once. (naked man standing in the middle of gravel road, thank you mister Rickert) I have skinned over 100 the last two seasons. Hit the sacs 2 times, not bad.;D Saving the juice for selling and the fat and sacs for grinding my own loud lure. A funny thing you ever want to see is my partner trying to dispatch a skunk with a syringe pole. I think the pole is just six inches long. I am not sure what kind of a dance that is, but I bet he could win a contest. He gave up the pole and went to 22 shorts. I keep telling him that you have to talk nice.
possum - - not a target, but I put them up.
K-9 - - snares, just sounds like too much work - waxing, odor control and making the set. Haven't caught a fox yet in a snare, but this snow should show some trails. Then I will hit the snares again. Maybe some time will put the work into it.
Fisher/marten - - Easy, no marten this year, we got eight fisher. 220 and 160 cages (collapsible and home made) Beaver, castor, and home made skunk paste. Caught a marten last year, Location? work on it.
Bobcat - - tough (location?) Beaver, castor, skunk paste, bird wing. 220s and snares. video tape, foil or pie plate cut into eight pieces. Maybe wooden pans will work better. Had one refusal.
Otter - - Blind, blind, blind, and toilets, got to wait them out. I got to get one more for a limit and I have a 220 over an ice hole next to a toilet. Crossing my fingers.
Badger - - Don't know, not many here. Got one last year, got $36.00 for it. Fur Harvester's Auctions said we got good ones here. Anybody try 220 boxes? I have heard that dirt holes work. Would like to catch a few.
Weasel - - Easy, built boxes with rat traps. Beaver scrapings, a couple of drops of anise/glycerin and a goose wing feather with some Lenon's Marten All Call. Caught our first Long tail this year in a 220 cat set. Caught one in a 1.5 LS in an inch of water set for a rat. Go figure. Boxes are doing well. Got a line on some wanted for taxidermy, $5.00 frozen whole.
Already thinking about next year....
1. Make more cages
2. Work on snaring, snares longer by six inches, snare some mink
3. Make my own double stake set up, swivels, snare swivels, In line swivels, Those heavy duty fishing swivels work great for in line. #11 wire worked great for stake swivels. Coyote bends them up but held fine.
4. shorter #9 wire supports. #16 wire works great to attach snare to the support. Cheap. I bend a "staple" in the end of the support. Just step into the ground next to the trail.
5. Double jaw my body grips. Magnum closing. hold those reachers. Welder for Christmas.
6. Sell weaker body grips and upgrade.
7. Make drowner rods.
8. More 330 floats for spring beaver.
In case you haven't noticed I like to build and make my own equipment. Some people buy all. I buy material and build.
My cages are great, 120, 160 and 220 sizes. 2-3 dozen fit in a milk crate. They are sturdy and stable with a rock or a log. Weather proof with leaves and grass over the top. I can wire them anywhere. I don't have problems with dogs. Have never caught one, ever.
The funniest thing that I have ever seen was my partner trying to catch a wounded goose. First he started walking and half hearted attempt. Then I told him it had a band. He ran like a fool. Geese can run really fast. In and around the trees. Took him a couple of minutes. By that time I was sitting on the ground laughing my butt off. The bird did not have a band, I lied.
Probably a boring read, not a very eloquent writer. But thanks for your time.
THANKS!!!!! To all that share their ideas on this and other forums. It has made me a very successful and happy trapper.
Thanks to my partner for taking me and teaching me.
I am 50 and have 3 fall seasons and one spring season (300 beaver) with about 120 sets in 3 weeks. Guess I am doing something right.
They are going to have to pry the traps out of my cold dead fingers.
Thats my story and I am sticking to it!!!!!
Hope that all of you had a great time outdoors doing what you love with who you love. Happy Holidays.
Thanks again,
Paul
P.S. Hope to see all at the winter and the summer meetings. Maybe I can swing the national meetings. Look me up.