Trapping Supplies Review

What's Right About Trapping

2012-08-08T20:51:00.000-04:00

I have been a trapper for many years and along the way I have learned quite a bit about this sport. It is among the most challenging and rewarding of all outdoor sports, and an important tool of wildlife conservation. I'd like to outline some of the basic reasons why trapping is important and how it is often misunderstood.

First, trapping is often misunderstood and misrepresented. Animal rights activist have targeted this sport for its supposed cruelty, and many folks who have no experience with trapping seem to have false notions of it. People envision suffering animals caught in steel-toothed traps and dying a slow death. Really, this is a grave misconception. Animals caught in foothold traps (the proper term) rarely suffer any damage or pain and can be released unharmed if the trapper so desires. I know; I have done this many times. In fact I have arrived at a number of trap sets only to find an animal sleeping, clearly not in any pain. I'm embarrassed to say that I have caught my fingers many times in foothold traps. My pride was hurt, but my fingers were fine. The idea that trapping is cruel and painful to animals is the biggest misconception surrounding this sport.

The second misconception is that trapping is unnecessary. Furbearer populations need to be kept in check for many reasons, most of all to ensure a healthy population. Overpopulation of species like raccoons and foxes invariably leads to the spread of ravaging diseases like mange, distemper and rabies. I believe we have a responsibility as stewards of our environment to manage the population of furbearers in order to keep them healthy, maintain their population levels to suit the available habitat, and to avoid human-animal conflict as much as possible. This is basic, responsible conservation.

Fur is an important commodity in the clothing industry, especially in Eastern Europe, Russia and China, where winters are bitter cold and fur is still culturally acceptable. Furtakers in the U.S. typically sell their pelts to auction houses who in turn sell them to garment makers overseas. While fur garments are less popular in the U.S., other people groups consider them a necessity, and I don't believe that we should be judgmental toward the customs and clothing of other cultures. Still, consider how much we also depend on animal products for our garments and accessories in the U.S. I once talked to a woman who angrily told me how cruel and unnecessary it was to use animal products for clothing purposes while all the while she had a leather purse slung over her shoulder. I just smiled. In her mind, leather products just came from the department store, and she clearly gave no thought to the matter beyond that.

Trapping is a sport with a magnificent heritage. The West was explored and settled by the great "Mountain Men" of the early 19th century, and it was trapping that lead them to discover and cultivate those uncharted lands. Even today, trapping is one of the most challenging of all outdoor sports. A trapper must be an excellent woodsman, know how to scout for animal signs, read their habitats, and interpret patterns of animal movement and behavior, all to guide him to the precise location where the animal will step! Trapping is the greatest challenge for any sportsman, especially going after a wary species like the coyote.

That brings me to trappers themselves. It's a small but dedicated group, and I mean dedicated. You will rarely find a half-hearted trapper. Many of them enjoy the sport to the fullest. I have attended several state and national trappers conventions and I am impressed at how kind, friendly and down to earth trappers are. They are family-oriented, working class people who are always ready to help, love to chat, and keep friends for life. I'm proud to be part of this group, and I'm not ashamed of our sport or our way of life. Some folks may not like trapping for whatever reason, and some may not really understand it, but I'm thankful that this long-established sport still has a place in the American landscape.

A Salute to the Lowly Grinner

2011-11-21T13:38:00.000-05:00

Almost nobody tries to catch them, and nearly every trapper hates them, but somehow we end up with them in set after set. They are the ultimate "non-target" catch. Yeah, I hate when they ruin a good fox or 'coon set, but here's my take on the lowly grinner: they are the ultimate survivors of the woods.

Think about it: these ugly little critters turn up everywhere. The woods must be teeming with them, maybe because those higher on the food chain can't stand to eat them, just as many trappers can't stand to skin them. They remind me of Gonzo on the Muppets, except not quite as friendly, and that's another thing. For their size they sure are feisty, combative, and love to show those teeth. I'd hate to get bitten by one. They are butt-ugly too. Seems like the Lord showed a sense of humor when creating them. Killing something so ugly just seems to add insult to injury.

They must have an excellent sense of smell because they sure can sniff out my dirt hole sets better (or quicker) than the 'coons seem to be able to. When you let them go (if you let them go) they seem like they want to stay and fight rather than run away. Gotta give 'em credit for that. They ain't scared, or if they are, they don't let on.

I have a new respect for grinners. The last few I caught I just gave them a salute, let 'em go, and remade my set. I have decided to co-exist in peace with the lowly grinner, the ultimate survivor of the woods.

Duke DP Update

2011-11-17T21:31:00.001-05:00

Hi folks. I mentioned in a previous post that I've been fooling around with Duke dog proof traps for the first time this season. I've just sprinkled them in along my 'coon line here and there alongside my usual spread of foothold traps, just to see how they compare in terms of ease of use, catch rate, etc.

It takes literally no time at all to punch in a set with a DP trap compared to making a traditional dirt hole or trail set with a foothold. I'm amazed at how much easier it is. While a few of my dirt hole sets got washed out by heavy rain, the DP's stayed perfectly operational. Also, I experienced no pull-outs with the DP traps.

Just as a little experiment I made a few 'coon sets side-by-side: a dirt hole set with tuna as bait and a DP trap with marshmallows as bait. So far the DP trap / marshmallow bait combination has outperformed my dirt holes.

I see no downsides to the Duke DP traps so far, and if they keep performing this way I may just use them exclusively on my 'coon line next year.

Best wishes, and tight chains!

Attaching Trap Tags

2011-11-12T19:30:00.000-05:00

Here's a tip for attaching your trap identification tags so that they won't fall off or get torn off by an angry 'coon. A kindly old trapper taught me this little trick.

Curl up one of the ends of the copper trap tag using long-nosed pliers, like this:

Hook the curled end of the tag around a link of chain, like this:

Using your fingers, roll up the tag around the chain link:

Finally, once you've rolled it up as far as you can with your fingers, use your pliers to crimp down the end of the tag so it is rolled up tightly:

Then just boil your traps with the tags attached like this. They will turn dark and blend in with the chain.

Duke Dog Proof Traps

2011-11-05T21:25:00.001-04:00

The Duke dog proof traps came out over a year ago, and they seemed to cause quite a stir of conversation on trapping blogs and forums. Why? Because, like all Duke traps, they are more economical than most of the competitors. Dog proof traps ain't cheap, and to purchase a respectable number of them is a sizable investment. The new Duke DP's were initially looked upon with suspicion by most, precisely because they are quite a bit cheaper than similar offerings by other companies. However, after finally acquiring a few of my own for testing this year, so far I have found them to be of very good quality.

I have used foothold traps exclusively for years, but decided to expand my horizons a bit and add a dozen Duke dogproof traps into the mix this season. Besides the obvious advantage of cutting down on non-target catches, my main motivation for trying DP's is to keep my 'coon line running after the weather hits that freeze-thaw seesaw. Keeping footholds freeze-proof can be done, obviously, but I personally find it to be a pain in the butt. A self-contained, above ground trap offers many advantages when the weather goes bad. So, that's part of my plan for this season.

Here's a Duke dog proof trap out of the box:

Here's another view:

One thing I like is the sturdy stabilizing stake on the bottom of the trap. After anchoring the trap from the chain with a rebar or cable stake, the trap can simply be pushed into the ground and stabilized in the upright position. The springs are VERY strong on these traps right out of the box. The trigger inside the tube of the trap is activated by being pulled, so bait is placed on the trigger itself and/or below the trigger at the bottom of the trap tube. These pictures show the trigger within the tube and the trap in the set position:

The only modification I made was to shorten the chain and add a mid-chain swivel. I don't see the need for so much chain on the stock trap, and you can never have enough swivel action to keep the 'coons from twisting out of the trap or damaging a foot. Here's my slightly modified trap chain:

I'll post some results once I get these traps in action. I'm waiting until mid-November until our Pennsylvania raccoons are prime. If you have any tips or experiences to share regarding these traps, I'd love to hear from you!

Gettin' Ready (And a Shout Out for Minnesota Trapline Products)

2011-10-05T23:45:00.000-04:00

Hi folks. I know it has been quiet around here lately, but with the season just around the corner there will be a lot more activity here on TSR.

I love this time of year...cleaning out the fur shed, getting my gear ready and enjoying the cool weather. It's amazing how much there is to do to get ready for a new trapping season, but tinkering around in my fur shed is one of life's small pleasures.

I ordered a few supplies, including a few of the Duke dog-proof traps that I plan to experiment with this year. I'm not so concerned about non-target catches in the places I trap...I'm more interested in trap sets that will remain operational when the weather hits that freeze-thaw stage. Weatherproofing foothold sets can be a real headache, so I thought I'd seriously try some dog-proof traps this year. Being self-contained with the ability to set them above ground, it seems like dog-proof traps will be just the ticket in the colder months when footholds get tricky to use. I'll be experimenting, and I'll be sure to post some reviews of the Duke DP traps along the way. I've only used footholds for years, so it's time to try something new.

I also thought I'd mention the great service I got from the Caven family at Minnesota Trapline Products. I've made plenty of orders with them before, and they never disappoint. I placed an order on Monday, it shipped the same day and I received it on Wednesday (in Pittsburgh, PA). Besides quick shipping, they have a great selection of products (anything you could ever need, really) and competitive prices. I've ordered things from other places, and have generally had good experiences, but I can't think of any reason to use another online supply company besides Minnesota Trapline Products. They're top notch.

Well, I wish you all the best as you gear up for a new season. If you'd like to contribute anything to the site, like a review, a trapping tip, pictures or just a good story, please send me an email. Your contributions are always welcome!!!

Best wishes, and tight chains!
C.J.

Old School Muskrat Trapping

2011-05-23T22:30:00.001-04:00

My friend Jeremiah Wood over at Trapping Today posted a link to this book, which I found informative and entertaining, so I thought I'd pass it along. The Accomplished Muskrat Trapper was written in 1922 by A.E. Schmidt and is now freely available from Project Gutenberg because the copyright has expired. I love these old trapping books. They are still very informative and the writing style is intriguing. This one is like a snapshot of trapping history with the literary flare of another age.

For example, the introductory sentence:

In placing this booklet before the great fraternity of American trappers, the author does not propose to exercise any pedagogical influence upon the truly professional trapper, who, seasoned in the hard school of experience, knows the animals he is seeking, like a mother knows her child. It is his wish, however, to assist and guide the amateur to a greater success.

Enjoy this little slice of trapping history!

A Pocket Guide to Animal Tracks

2011-05-17T19:54:00.001-04:00

Identifying animal tracks is an important skill for the trapper, and a handy guide like this can be a big help if you are new to trapping. This particular guide comes from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Wildlife. You can print it out and stick it in your pack-basket for future reference.

A larger version can be found here.

Prime Time for Scouting

2011-03-13T21:15:00.001-04:00

The season is over, my fur shed is a mess, and I have a long list of things to get to that I neglected during trapping season. It'd be very easy to just wait until Fall to start thinking about trapping again, but for some reason I just can't. Well, you know the reason. Trapping may take place for only a few months a year, but being a trapper you're always a trapper. There's always something to do and some way to keep up the addiction.

I try to build into my schedule some dedicated scouting time each Spring. It's right on the heels of the season so potential trapping spots that I didn't get to this year are still fresh in my mind.

The biggest reason to get out and scout now is that everything hasn't bloomed yet. Once Spring comes in full force the woods will hide its secrets again, but now when the ground is barren it is so much easier to spot scat, tracks and trails. Sure, the animal patterns may well change quite a bit between now and Fall, but scouting now still yields a lot of information that will be useful when next season starts.

I'm mainly out looking for 'coon trails. With barren ground they are much more visible than they will be come Spring. Raccoon trails tend to stay active, and many trails I find in the Spring yield catches in the Fall.

Once I find a trail I just follow it as far as I can, and very often it leads to a den. Out comes my notebook, and I jot down the location. Many dens I know of remain active year after year, so once I find a good den I know the spot will be worth scouting again the next year. If I go into a new piece of woods I often start at the highest point or ridge-line, look for a trail, and follow it as far as it will take me. I'm always on the lookout for rocky overhangs and old piles of debris (concrete, railroad ties, etc) as these tend to be great den areas. When scouting for trails I often scan hillsides with thick grapevines, and look for high ridges with big hardwoods.

With the ground still barren 'coon sign is not hard to find. If it's there, you'll find it, but the best time is right now. When late April and May roll around the woods will hide its secrets again.

If you have any pics to share from last season I'd love to see 'em and post them here. Just click "contact me" in the sidebar and send me an email.

Happy trails!

Logging Roads, Lanes and Laminations

2011-03-02T20:18:00.003-05:00

The following video review is from James Holm. Thanks, James, for another good contribution to TSR.

I was recently given the chance to view a new coyote trapping video released by Blackdog productions along with some trap modification footage as well. The video was shot in northern Wisconsin on public
land by Troy Erickson of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The trap mod portion is shot in Jason Dufresne’s shop in Minnesota.

This video is really not just another coyote numbers, "look what I caught" video. Troy goes into detail on how the animals in this big timber area are funneling and traveling through these areas and why they are moving the way they are. He covers traps, tools, sets, remakes, lure and bait along with some ideas that made me stop and think that even a water trapper like me might be able to catch a coyote by following his methods. Not to say that there is any earth shattering change to the coyote trapping world as we know it. but it is well put together and the information in it is as solid as it gets if you want to catch coyotes in the big timber or anywhere else they may be roaming. Troy is definitely a driven trapper who has no mercy on the coyote populations of Wisconsin!

The trap modification portion of this video is shot on location in the shop of the premier trap modification man in the business, Jason Dufresne. It shows the basic mods needed for animal comfort as well as trap speed and strength, turning your everyday trap into “a lifetime tool”. The finished products that Jason has been turning out over the course of the 2 years I have been acquainted with him are second to none. His work speaks for itself. This portion of the video is worth the price alone.

For more information contact Troy at www.blackdogproduction.net

Info@blackdogproduction.net

http://www.customtrapmodification.com/index.html

Fox Trapping by A.R. Harding

2011-02-22T23:59:00.008-05:00

I always enjoy reading trapping books from "the good old days." It's fascinating to see how methods have evolved, and just as interesting to see what techniques remain the same. One of the things I like most is the style of writing from a century ago. There's always a turn of phrase or memorable quote from these old timers. I recently stumbled on this old fox trapping book by A.R. Harding from 1906. It is available free online at this link. Here's just one snippet from page 11 that I find very amusing (click "read the whole story" below).

Now let me first give you a few pointers on fox trapping. First,
forget everything you have bought from humbugs and use common sense;
second, study the habits of the fox and you will have better success.
Third, be sure and have your traps in proper shape so the fox can't
smell the iron; fourth, be careful in making a set, use the wooden
paddle or gloved hand in placing dirt over trap; fifth, be sure that
your bait is not scented with human scent, and use cat, skunk, or
muskrat scents.

I have bought scent for many years, but the best scent I can find is
skunk essence or oil of anise. Skunk essence and honey equal parts,
but never use skunk essence in early winter, as it will be a failure.
I have trapped fox for many years and I am very successful and lucky,
and every fall I believe I learn something.

Another thing, never get discouraged, for it is grit that counts.
When a fox turns the trap over reset it and place another trap in the
bed, and you are liable to catch him the first night, but if this
fails, turn trap bottom side up and he will get fooled, sometimes,
not always, for fox trapping is uncertain.

In the first place, when an animal gets into a trap he tears around
for a while, says G. F. Moon, of Dakota, and if the trap be lightly
clogged so he can move around, the trapper most generally finds his
game when he visits the traps. On the other hand, let the trap get
fastened solid and the animal sets his reasoning powers to work; he
finds out that he can chew from the under side of the jaws of the
trap, and that too without giving himself any pain, and finds that he
can easily slip the trap off from the stump of his leg.

Man has been known to do the same thing, when by accident he has been
caught by the leg by a tree or a large rock falling on him. Surely
the animal showed as much reason as the man. I once had a large fox
trap set in a hollow log. The log was about the size of a barrel. A
she fox got into the trap, and as the trap was a good bit out of the
way I did not visit it for several days. When I did visit the trap
the snow was all tramped down by foxes around the log and on the
inside of the log by the fox in the trap. There were the remains of
several rabbits and one whole rabbit fresh killed, one fresh killed
quail and feathers enough to have been on a couple more quail. Now
the question arises, "Did the other foxes let instinct guide them to
feed the unfortunate fox in the trap? Or did they use their power of
reason?" I leave that for others to answer.

NTA Action Alert on Grey Wolf Legislation

2011-02-22T09:25:00.000-05:00

Hi folks. Maybe you've received this email from the NTA, but in case you haven't I'm passing it along in the hope that many of you will contact your legislators.

Action Alert

The NTA needs your help!

Big Game Forever, a coalition of several organizations, including the NTA, is currently working with friends in Congress to remove the grey wolf from the endangered species list. We have the antis worried! They have called for their supporters to contact legislators to oppose these bills, S. 249 and H.R. 509. We need you to counter that effort with one of our own! Please contact your Congressman and Senators and show support for this precedent setting legislation. Help return wolf management to the states! Any letters, e-mails or phone calls to Washington will help. If you need addresses just go to congress.org for contact information for your individual representatives, or log on to biggameforever.org and add your name to their petition. Karen and I will be in Washington DC Feb 16th making visits but we need you to help! If you have received this e-mail, you are just a few mouse clicks away from showing your support as well.

Please help us fight the fight!

Dave Linkhart, Director of National and International Affairs, National Trappers Association

Some Good Press for Trappers

2011-02-14T21:05:00.000-05:00

The Canadian Times and Transcript newspaper recently ran an excellent article by reporter James Foster, who took a trapper's education course and reported on it. Trappers are Mostly Misunderstood is a very fair and informative editorial that looks at trapping as both an art and a science. Here's one quote from the article:

"If I took away nothing else from the course, it's that trapping requires a whole lot of knowledge, a ton of common sense and a sense of duty to our furbearing wildlife that goes far beyond that of the ordinary everyday citizen."

Foxes Hunt with Magnetic Alignment

2011-02-04T23:25:00.000-05:00

Photo Source Link

I'm always amazed at the obscure things people find to research. Some European scientists did a study on how red foxes hunt and discovered that they may use the earth's magnetic field as a sort of range finder.

It was discovered that foxes tend to prepare to jump at their prey in long vegetation or snow with their body aligned in a north-easterly direction (about 20° clockwise from magnetic north). Researchers say their findings suggest that foxes may be attacking their prey using magnetic alignment. Professor Hynek Burda (of Germany) hypothesizes that the fox can sense the magnetic northerly direction as a patch of dark or light. In the northern hemisphere the magnetic field tilts downwards below the horizontal at an angle of 60-70°, so the fox edges forward until the point at which the angle of the sound from the prey meets the slope of the magnetic field. At that point the intended target is a fixed jump distance away.

Other animals are known to be able to sense magnetic fields. Burda’s other research showed that herds of cows and deer tend to align in a north-south direction, except when grazing under high-voltage power lines, which produce strong magnetic fields.

If foxes do in fact have a "sixth sense" for magnetic fields, I wonder if they have any ability to detect a magnetic disturbance from a buried metal object, like a foothold trap? I swear I've had a few traps dug up that were so solidly bedded and concealed I was sure the guilty critter must have had ESP.

Read the full story here.

A Few Favorite Blogs

2011-01-28T21:28:00.001-05:00

Maybe I'm more of a reader than a writer; at least I feel that way when I visit other outdoorsy blogs and see how verbose and entertaining some of my fellow sportsmen are. I thought I'd put out a plug for a few guys who are just as good at writing as they are at the skills of outdoor life. I visit these blogs regularly and I think TSR readers will get a kick out of them.

Here's an eyefull of the dirty feet of Ian Nance. Ian is an avid hunter from Florida and tells his tales of outdoor adventure on his blog The Wild Life. Ian's blog is interesting and diverse, including all kinds of things from hunting stories and tips to game recipes and equipment reviews. He just cracks me up, too. He's got a great writing style and injects some good humor into the tales of his adventures. A true story teller, just what you expect from a true outdoorsman. I'm going to do a guest post for him soon on coyote hunting, so keep an eye out for that.

I'm also lovin' The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles by Albert Rasch. Albert has some excellent material on his blog, especially range reviews of different weapons and a lot of great writing on hunter's rights and the animal rights movement. Here's an "in-your-face" outdoorsman who is proud of our lifestyle. From his blog description: "Claim the privilege of hunting according to the dictates of your own conscience." Enough said!

Last but not least, I want to mention Jeremiah Wood over at Trapping Today. Jeremiah's blog is THE place to find trapping news, and he brings a truly professional perspective to the sport of trapping. Jeremiah has degrees in Wildlife Biology and Fisheries Biology, and is currently a state fisheries biologist for the state of Montana. Jeremiah is one of the first bloggers I met after starting TSR. He has been very encouraging to me, and I still visit his blog regularly. If you're a trapper you just have to bookmark his blog. You'll enjoy it!

Well, there ya go....a few blogs truly worth your time to visit. Tell 'em I sent ya!

Cold Weather Blues for This 'Coon Trapper

2011-01-24T21:57:00.000-05:00

I gotta admit I'm a little bit of a fair-weather trapper. I still get out and give it my best when the weather goes bad, but my favorite time to trap is late November. Running a coon line using footholds is what I love to do most and in late November the coons have just reached prime, the temperature is still up, and the ground is not frozen. This is when I trap my hardest. Come January when the ground is frozen solid and the coons won't budge from their dens I switch my attention to fox, but the tough conditions kind of make my efforts halfhearted. Here in Southwestern PA the temp has been consistently in the teens at night for about 4 weeks, which is fairly unusual for my neck of the woods. I've been fighting the freeze and found it to be lots of work trying to keep my sets operational. I use buckwheat hulls, peat moss, dry dirt, salt and propylene glycol. Some methods work better than others, but nothing is 100% foolproof. At the moment, my trapping has pretty much come to a grinding halt. I'm looking forward to a February thaw when the boar coons are out looking for love, and hoping the late season pelts are not too rubbed.

In the meantime, however, I've decided that I'm going to just see the weather as a challenge to try new things. I'm pretty new to using cable restraints, as they've only been legal for a few years now in PA. I've incorporated a few on my line at select locations since late December but haven't had much success with them yet. I'm still getting the hang of these things, and definitely need to do more scouting for good locations, but I've decided I'm going to run a short line exclusively with cables restraints this week. Hopefully I'll have a little success to report.

If anyone has some good tips, tricks or stories using cable restraints I'd love to hear from you!

My last 4-H trapping class is this week, and I'm going to demonstrate skinning and fleshing a raccoon. Should be fun!

Utah Rejects Extended Trap Check

2011-01-16T20:54:00.000-05:00

The Wildlife Board of Utah recently rejected a proposal to change the ordinance that requires coyote trappers to check traps every 2 days. The proposal, put forth by some hunters and landowners concerned about coyote populations, sought to extend the trap check to 7 days. Frankly, I'm glad the proposal failed. An entire week is way too long between trap checks when using footholds. I can't imagine why anyone would propose such a change, but the only result was negative publicity. This is a case of asking too much, and giving the anti-trapping crowd a chance to call into question our commitment to humane practices. No matter how wrong the antis are, we need to be committed to reasonable and humane trapping laws.

Read the story here: Utah Wildlife Board Rejects Proposal.

Hate Mail

2011-01-12T23:21:00.000-05:00

I don't get a whole lot of hate mail, but when I do I'm reminded about the kind of people we're dealing with in the animal rights crowd. The grammar and spelling are uniformly atrocious and the curse words would make a sailor blush. This particular specimen is unusually pathetic. I don't know whether to laugh or cry, but I thought my fellow trappers should see what kind of things are being said about us. This email is a crazed mixture of barely interpretable anti-Christian and anti-trapping profanity, so reader beware. Harsh language ahead....

Begin Quote:

Creationism is pure bull. The Earth is not 6,000 years old, dinosaurs did not exists 4,000 years ago and man did not co-exists with the dinosaurs. Plus there's no water dome around the Earth and water did NOT come from under the ground. So you shouldn't call the AR wackos. Look at yourself before you bash other people. You worship a cult, you follow a bible which was written by a loser who adore this horrid war causing belief. So just STFU for a minute and stop being soo hypocrite and bashing AR while you're no better. You are worshiping Adam and Eve those 2 inbred hick sister and brothers. No wonder why trappers are all hicks. You follow the book of lies called the bible written few thousands years ago by who know who. In the past people were IGNORANT they believe and worship god (a lie). I have no problem with religion accept if they are cults and used to financially exploit people, harming animals or human, pedophillia (catholic). There is no evidence for god and the bibl! e if a book of bs. If I write a book and in 2000 years later will people follow it????? NO because we have more conscious than 2000 years ago. If some loser from Rona says he was the son of god people will see him as a freak and a lunatic trying to form a cult. Jesus was just a stupid carpenter that formed a cult 2000 years ago because he self-declare messiah. People who self-declare as messiahs endup killing other HUMAN BEINGS. Look at all those people declare to be Messiah led to cult mass suicides like Marshall Applewhite, Jim Jones, David Koresh, Charles Manson and Shoko Asahara. All these soo called Self-declared Messiahs people were murders, suicidal and criminals. They were just like Jesus, they claim to be messiahs, seeing god and are Apocalypticist freaks. Jesus was probably the same. You put your fate on a dead person who got crucified almost 2000 years ago. Probably they nailed Jesus on a cross because he did something really wrong. What if today someone acts lik! e Jesus and declare themselves Messiahs??

They will see them as freaks, loners with no friends and losers. Probably throw them in asylums. You are wasting your life over a lie? If god is a lie it means you wasted your life and your cult belief Christianity is based on FEAR. Wanna see what kind of people trappers are and how they dispatch their catch? This will be the shocking results if PM wouldn't be use. I've got emails from trappers I have never interacted with and you'll see They are truly animal hater. No he didn't sent to me only. He posted on many AR forums that I am not a member nor heard of it. Before I show. I am not PETA, not HSUS, I do not collect from AR sites. I'm an individual and having a mind of my own. Something you lack in.!!
I collect evidence from TRAPPERS not PETA.

PS
Trappers are evil because they claim I'm a vegan and bash against vegan and vegetarian. They prejudice against black people or Arab people calling them the sand N word because of the Israel fur ban. They claim I am an Arab and say filthy racial things against people having nothing to do with me or the antis. They worship Ted Nugent which he is a racist, poacher and a scum of the Earth. Your live must suck if you lack in creativity? In conclusion trappers are very white supremancists and most of them are white people. Bible is evil and they allow slavery.

End Quote

First PA Fisher Season in 90 Years

2011-01-11T21:22:00.000-05:00

Ron Weller with a PA fisher

Jeremiah Wood over at Trapping Today posted a link to a good story on Pennsylvania's first fisher season in 90 years. I thought I'd pass it along here. The five day season was designed to limit any great impact on the small but growing fisher population in PA, but it's great to see new opportunities opening up. This is a hopeful sign for the future for PA trappers. I don't trap in the areas where the season was limited, so I didn't get a crack at fisher trapping this year. I'm hopeful that opportunities will expand and I'll have my chance soon enough. With the ongoing battle we need to fight to preserve the opportunities we have, it's a bit of good news to see those opportunities expand, even if it's just a little step.

When Dirt Holes Aren't Clicking

2011-01-09T21:54:00.001-05:00

This article comes from Tim Caven, expert trapper and owner of Minnesota Trapline Products. It's an excellent illustration of post and walk through sets. Thanks Tim!

For speed reasons I have a habit of putting in 80% or more dirtholes on an initial set up in a new area. I generally convert traps that make a catch to post, rub, flat, or walk through sets on the remake. In Texas a couple weeks ago it very quickly became apparent that the critters weren't up for the old dirt hole scene real well. The vast majority of our coyotes and bobcats were caught in post, rub, and walk through sets. Just wanted to share a few pictures with you in case you run into a similar situation on your line. Pics can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Post/Rub/walk through set

Coyotes were marking this bush....natural post....no lure needed:

Post/walk through set remake after coyote catch. Dobbins Purrrfect on side of post, Skunk Junk on top of the post:

Post/walk through set remake after bobcat catch. Lenons Bobcat Natures Call on Post:

Post Set that took a coyote the next day. Beaver Castor on post.

Post/Rub set that took a bobcat on the first check. Beaver castor and Lenons Coyote Natures Call on post.

Post/Walk through set took this cat. Violator 7 on post.

My Texas partner Dave Campbell just called and said that the coyotes are back to hitting dirtholes like crazy the past couple days. The pictured sets do have their place when the critters get fussy.

Trapping and Christian Ethics

2011-01-06T12:09:00.004-05:00

Dr. Stephen Vantassel

I recently had the pleasure of corresponding with Dr. Stephen Vantassel, who is dean of students and tutor of theology at King's Evangelical Divinity School. Dr. Vantassel has done extensive writing and research on human-wildlife relations from a Biblical perspective, and one of his articles will be of particular interest to trappers. "Should Wildlife Trapping Have a Place in a Christian Environmental Ethic" is a scholarly, Biblical critique of some of the main claims of the animal rights movement. It is an excellent article, and I highly recommend that you read it and share it with others who are interested in this subject.

Dr. Vantassel's website can be found here, which includes information on his book Dominion Over Wildlife? An Environmental-Theology of Human-Wildlife Relations.

We can be thankful that Dr. Vantassel is shedding the light of sound scholarship on the animal rights debate.

Simple Lure and Bait Holders

2011-01-02T22:42:00.000-05:00

Randy from Elk City, Idaho, put together this well illustrated article on useful additions to your pack basket. Randy is a professional hunting guide and trapper who spends a lot of time in the field. Thanks, Randy, for sharing your insights!

Packbasket or pail, these holders are affordable, convenient and usually nearby. All can be found by making a short trip to Lowes or Home Depot.

Lure Holder Tip #1). A light, two pocket nail apron can be purchased for less than a couple of bucks. First I cut off the two strings that tie around your waist. Then I cut the two pockets separately (if you desire more pouches than two, then do not cut these, but just purchase another apron). When these two pockets are separated, you will have to sew/stitch one side of each pouch. After doing so, make two 2" slices (smaller/larger depending on the web belt on your basket or pail), opposite each other on both pouches. Leave at least a half inch of apron above these cuts. A comparison would be that of a knife sheath for your belt loop. Before threading your belt through these slices, I like to turn the "Home Depot / Lowes" imprinted logo within the pouch rather then let it be seen. The photos show the belt threaded through the pouches. Keeping pouches opposite each other on the packbasket, distributes any weight proportionately. Simple, useful & effective.

Lure Holder Tip #2). The larger bucket tool apron is a true welcome. A bit more spendy than the waist apron, however the multiple pockets make it very attractive and practical. So simple, "Even A Cave Man Could" insert this apron into a bucket. Here is an option I adapted for using this apron on a bucket or basket. Obviously the inside diameter of a 20" packbasket or larger could accommodate a 5 gallon pail, making this apron somewhat very small. Similar to the prior waist lure holder example, I will remove the inside portion of the bucket apron totally. So as not to interfere with the handles of the original bucket, the manufacture provided two gaps in this apron. It is here I cut this apron in two. Again I make the same type of slices as with the two pouch nail apron. The only exception is that because these are larger pouches, weaving in and out of multiple slices (generally 6 cuts per lg. pouch is advised) prevent the pouch from sagging. One note: if I use this apron for which it is intended for (a 5 gal. bucket), I prefer to remove all pockets within the bucket from their stitching. This is to avoid any unnecessary hang ups with traps and/or equipment. Speaking as a trapper and a carpenter, one cannot have too many pockets.

Lure Holder Tip #3). Now if you are any kind of a carpenter, you are no doubt without a carpenter's tool belt when working. Here is the perfect lure/bait holder. Best thing is with this, it requires no modification. On the other hand, some can be expensive if you do not already own one. They come in all sizes, even those without belts. These have the slits in them for the purpose of a belt. In any case, I truly love this lure holder. Many times over I need a staple, nail, wire pliers, etc. to complete a set. Instead of bringing the entire packbasket to the location, I simply unbuckle the belt from the basket, put it around my waist and I am off creating a set with minimal effort & time. Everything is within hand's reach. Time is money on any trapline. No matter what gadget works for you, the important thing is that it makes trapping more enjoyable. The belt shown here has two metal holders for carpenter hammers. An added bonus to the trapper. I dislike digging through traps and equipment in search of a hammer or hatchet. With this belt, it is carried on the side of the basket, freeing me up with more space and easy access.

The end result of a good lure pouch:

The Sour Face of Animal Rights

2010-12-30T22:36:00.004-05:00

An incoming link to TSR led me to discover a fringe animal rights group called "Negotiation is Over." Nothing like advertising your lack of civility and reason! Most people would not be proud of such shortcomings but I guess some wear their bitterness as a badge. The website is a soupy mixture of communism, terrorism advocacy and "animal liberation."

Power to the cockroaches!

Just a sample of their manifesto:

We form this new group out of the need for a radical social approach to veganism and animal rights that transcends bourgeois liberalism; the need for a global Left that renounces speciesism and all other ancient and lingering prejudices and forms of oppression; the need for post-hierarchical worldviews and democratic and ecological societies; and the need for total liberation and revolutionary transformation.

Good Lord, it must be exhausting to be one of these non-negotiators. So many things to be against, and so much to transcend, liberate, transform, etc. It's a tough row to hoe, trying to erase human history and remake the planet by blogging.

I wonder if these people have any joy in life, with the world being such an oppressive place and all. Their website is dark and angry. I know a few liberals who have some sense of humor but I guess the further left you go the more dour and humorless you have to be.

I'm guessing that "Negotiation is Over" will never really blossom beyond the ivory tower into a popular movement. Unless you are trying to elicit blank stares, you need a rallying cry a bit more interpretable than "Join us in a radical social approach to veganism and animal rights that transcends bourgeois liberalism!" That's a bit much. "Hope and change" is more on the popular level (but just as meaningless).

Every trapper I know is a sensible person, willing to talk and debate, and able to appreciate what's good in the world. I never met a militant trapper who angrily tries to force his way of life on others or advocate terrorism. Evidently our biggest assets in the ongoing "animal rights" debate are the qualities of civility and reason. If the other side lacks even these, maybe it's all we need to win.

So, stay reasonable, friendly and open-minded. It's always the best bet.

Conibear Boxes for Coons

2010-12-22T22:26:00.000-05:00

Tim in PA shares some pictures of how he makes conibear boxes for his 'coon line. It's always helpful to see a few pictures and get ideas from what other trappers are doing. Thanks Tim!

I made these coon boxes for the 160 size conibear trap. I made a few "pans" with wood set on a bent trigger at 90 degrees. You really need to put a lot of pressure on these to trip the trap. I doubt a mink would trip this trigger. I will finish these boxes with some cammo paint and add chicken wire to cover the back opening. I also leave the bottom of the entrance open and have tie wires on the sides to stabilize the trap. The pictures can be enlarged.

Bobcat Set Locations

2010-12-17T22:50:00.000-05:00

Travis Chilson of New Mexico sent in a few tips on set locations along with some general pointers for bobcat trapping. Thanks Travis!

The first thing to do when Bobcat trapping is look for locations within locations. By that I mean find attractive terrain features and travel routes (locations) then look for cat sign (your location at your location). In cat country I like to look for certain landmarks such as salt cedars, deep washes, gulleys, etc. I've found most Bobcat toilets in these kind of places. The thing I have found most important is to set on sign and not just look for a place that would make an easy set. With cats there's no point making a set outside of its travel routes. Bobcats will follow the path of least resistance, so bear this in mind when looking for terrain features that dictate travel routes. I often make a set in a location of a toilet in rocky cliffs and bluffs and also set on the trails leading to it, as well as places where travel routes intersect.

Most of my sets are constructed sort of wide, giving the cat enough room to turn around. I heavily guide cats on both sides using rocks, twigs and sticks. I like to use a flat rock for a rubbing post where I smear a good amount of gland lure. Last year I used Dobbins Purrrfect and a lot of Wayne Derick's lures, Pecos Valley Cat Call and Tombstone. I wet my sets down with quite a bit of Bobcat urine.

When you want a cat to work a set you have two basic instincts to work with: hunger and curiosity. If the cat happens to not be hungry a good loud gland lure is necessary to raise his curiosity, because cats have the attention span of a two year old. I also fill a pill bottle full of urine and stick cotton balls in it with a little bit of catnip and leave it at the set.

For flagging I use Christmas thistle and the fuzzy ball decorations hanging from a branch near the set. I've also used sardine can lids and small utility flags. Tie a small peice of white ribbon to them to make them more eye catching.

As for traps, I use a modified #2 or #3 Bridger and #2 Montys most of the time. I like the dogless Montys especially. Last year I started using the KB 5.5 trap and loved them. I did not have one miss or a bad catch. These traps always caught high on the foot.

In most of the country I trap it is rocky so I use a wide drag made of heavy rebar with cotton pickers welded on each side. I also anchor traps to salt cedars and other small trees and think the cable I use to tie them off adds more of an attractant to cats. I bury the drags or hide them in brush. When I can use cable stakes it's Berkshires with 15 inches of cable.

Regarding weather patterns and time, I give a singe cat 3 days to work his territory and come back on his circuit. High pressure systems and cloud cover before a storm will get cats moving looking for food. I beleive these times are the best opportunities to wind up with a cat.

All things considered, it's not much more difficult than finding and setting on good sign. Trail intersections or single trails leading down into draws, washes or sandy bottoms are deadly locations. Find these features, look for sign, and you've found your location at your location.