Trapping

[jbkebert]

Nope. Not a owl it was a hawk. The cell phone picture is horrible but no doubt at all. I don't know if he flew into something and was hurt which was my initial thought. I saw it again in the light of day a little bit later. When I returned with a real camera I could not find it again.

The next night I hunted a stand in the same area in the wods. I saw a hawk that was flying but not strong like I woudl normally see. I assume something spooked it and it crashed into something early that morning. I did have a owl land in the same tree as my stand that night. Landed approx 8' from me along the large branch my bow holder is attached to. I must be doing something right in a stand if a owl doesn't pick me off and sits within spitting range for several minutes.

 

[RinkRat]

Zombiphobia

Haven't trapped in years, the furries just weren't buying like they used too, since faux became more politically correct and you can only mount so many. But I still got several conibears, coil, and some ancient victors stuffed in a box in a corner of my shed. Used to get muskrat, coon, rabbits, possums, even got some squirrels. I was always amazed at how tasty you could make a muskrat if you soaked it right. Always wanted to try for some beavers but we never did. We saw a large hole once and setup two traps. Came back the next day and we had one pissed off badger on our hands!! It got caught up in both traps and tangled itself up in one of the stakes. It chewed off one leg and was working on the other when we got to it. One of my buds was about to shoot it but we didn't want to ruin the pelt so the three of us flipped to see who was going to curb-it! Glad it wasn't me, I'll never forget the sounds that beast spitted out!!!

I'll trade you some trap-bait info for your secret deer-bait sauce

 

[DM~]

I've caught a few foxes in live traps,



My dad has caught serveral more...

I get gobs of coons, oposuums and have caught mink, squirrels, wood chucks, rabbits, birds, cats and dogs also...

All depends on what i'm targeting... Never got a coyote, wish i could!

DM

 

[jimmyraythomason]

An Archer has to get within 10-40 yards of there prey.
A small game hunter has to be within shot gun range (generaly 10-50 Yards)
A rifle hunter has to be within 500 yards.

A trapper has to be within a 2"

Quote borrowed from Skipper on minktrapper.com

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Today's catch

Today's catch. Mink and coon were both taken in pocket sets baited with fish oil on a foam rubber pad. The beaver was taken in a channel set.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Otter #3

This fair sized male thought he was going to check out an underwater beaver bank den! Surprise!

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Beaver in an otter set.

I caught this medium beaver in an otter set(collapsed beaver bank den baited with rabbit). Trap was a #330 Duke body grip. This thread would be a whole lot more fun if others would post pics of their catches!

 

[CmpsdNoMore]

My father-in-law has trapped for a number of years. As part of my new years resolution to learn more bushcraft type skills, I'm going to take a trappers education class and hopefully help him run a couple of lines in the fall.

 

[exbiologist]

Dang shame we can't hardly trap here in Colorado. Great stuff jimmyraythompson, I've enjoyed keeping an eye on this thread.

 

[Zombiphobia]

This thread would be a whole lot more fun if others would post pics of their catches!

you want some opossum and housecat pictures? I can start posting those for ya.

Can't get rid of 'em.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Otter #4

Taken this morning in a beaver bank den. Trap was a Duke #330 body grip.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Otter #5

Taken in a channel run. #330 body grip trap.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

White footed coon

The season here is about over,only 5 more days,and I have all but quit for the year. I did take a large beaver and this white footed,pink nosed coon. This was a first for me. The coon isn't blonde and it isn't an albino. I have a half dozen or so blind sets for mink and an equal number for otter. I hope to pick up a couple more before season's end. Beaver in pic weighed 33 lbs.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Getting close

Caught this rascal in the same set as the 33 pounder but this one went 48 pounds. Just missed a mink at a pocket set under some tree roots. The #110 body grip trap had been fired but the jaws caught on some sticks and didn't close. Mink tracks were every where around it.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Our season ends on Monday the 20th but we are expecting torrential rains tonight and tomorrow morning so I pulled the remainder of my line today. This little otter rounded out my season. Small but I'm happy to get him.

 

[mcdonl]

Here was my biggest beaver..... Stretched out it was big!





Nice male fisher.....



And a beautiful stinker!



I caught a few more but the pictures are not that great.....

It was my first season and I am in love!! No hotels, but as with hunting them trapping them is tough!

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Great job,mcdonl! That's a great start! What did the biggest beaver measure? 65+inches squared is classed as "blanket" and commands the higher prices. NAFA reports blanket beaver (depending on section) are $40 and up. Many trappers set for years and never catch a fisher, congrats! ETA,I just checked NAFA and that fisher should go for about $100.

 

[mcdonl]

Problem I am having jummy is I am personally attached to them all now... lol...

Not sure what I am going to do, but I am following the "tanning step by step" thread over on trapperman though....

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I know what you mean. I'm saving out a couple of small coon and beaver for tanning too.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Headed to the fur buyer tomorrow.

Season is wrapped up here. I have an appointment with the fur buyer tomorrow. It's 3 hour drive round trip but he is the closest one. Final talley 19 coon(16 shown),8 beaver(6 shown),6 otter,4 bobs,2 reds and one mink. Looking forward to next season already!

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Forgot picture!!!!

Forgot to load pictures....senior moment.