Trapping?

[wisconsinteacher]

I know this is the hunting page so if it needs to be moved I understand.

I'm wondering if anyone here traps? I started up again this year after taking a few years off. The first year was with footholds and trying to catch coon, fox and coyotes. This year is different. I am using cable restraints hoping to catch coyotes and fox. So far in 3 weeks, I have a fox and 2 coyotes. I run my line 5 miles from the house every morning. I am learning a lot and having fun. I have been up every morning before the alarm goes off which is set for 4:30 because I am excited to see if I caught anything.

I'm also using weasel boxes and have caught one weasel so far.

Season goes until Feb 15 so hopefully I will snag a few more yotes!!!

 

[Guy Miner]

I don't. It's something I really know very little about, but am very interested. Perhaps I should learn more! I love being out in the hills...

Trapping isn't viewed favorably in Washington.

Guy

 

[Yoda]

I do, used to do only beaver and otter, switched over to coyotes 3 years ago to coyotes and a few fox. I don't snare for the simple fact you can't legally set a killing type snares in Michigan, they must be relaxing. And those can be a nightmare.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I paid for my first vehicle with fur money... Muskrat, mink, coon, possum, and fox mostly.

I haven't trapped any since about 1996, but I do still have 37 traps... Just in case.....thought they might put food in my belly again someday, so I keep them.

 

[Thebear_78]

I wish I had the time to trap anymore. I trapped for years back in Michigan. Coons, fox, coyotes, Bobcats and fisher. I never got into the water trapping. There is no better way to learn about nature than trapping.


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[salmonchaser]

I trapped some as a kid for duck hunting rights, mainly nutria.
Started again last year for beaver. The ranch I guide bird hunters has a real problem with beaver killing the trees along the river, then the river washes away productive crop land. Can't leave the traps out while we're hunting for fear the dogs will get caught. Surprisingly good and very challenging hunting in the cottonwoods and alder along the river. The experienced birds have learned it's good escape cover and the shooting is as challenging as any grouse cover. I haven't started trapping this year, caught 10 last year.
My first beaver, don't think he'll make the book.


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[Anonymous]

I trap periodically and typically help some other folks on their lines from time to time. I'd love to do more of it but between professional and academic demands...just not a lot of time.

I probably enjoy trapping beaver the most- mostly cause it's warmer when the season is open but I also like trapping lynx and marten when I can. Trapping is a big deal up here and several acquaintances have lines over 100 mi long.

Most years, my son and I will put together a "squirrel line" around our property and the adjoining woodlots to reduce the hordes of red squirrels that live here.

 

[Anonymous]

There is no better way to learn about nature than trapping.

I will say that the most knowledgable and well rounded outdoorsmen (and women) I've met were all trappers at some point on a fairly serious basis.

None of them were specialists in any species...but their general knowledge of all the flora and fauna was much deeper than the typical big game hunter. For that matter- these days the typical big game hunter can't identify 5 types of tree in his area.

 

[Europe]

salmonchaser. I just read on another thread that cheyenne is at work and will not be able to post for a week or so, but I wanted to let you know that she traps, big time. I also thing Gil does or did. We played with it a bit but never did any serious trapping.

Hodgeman, that is interesting. do you still have people who "trap" for a living up there and do nothing else ? Do they sell the fur/pelts to individual's who make products or to a fur dealer/ co-op ?

 

[Anonymous]

Hodgeman, that is interesting. do you still have people who "trap" for a living up there and do nothing else ? Do they sell the fur/pelts to individual's who make products or to a fur dealer/ co-op ?

I know a number of vocational trappers...with fur prices the way they are, it's a poor way to make a living.
They all also have another summer seasonal occupation like commercial fishing, carpentry or wild land fire fighting to make ends meet since trapping is a winter occupation. Furs are typically sold to a buyer or auction house in bulk.

A good friend of mine homesteaded the Kandik R. and managed to make an OK living on trapping income alone for about 10 years back in the 80s when the prices were higher.

I know quite a few "hobby trappers" who only catch a few furs (maybe a dozen or so) each year, most of those guys turn their fur into handmade items or sell them to friends and acquaintances for decor. Some just keep them.

 

[salmonchaser]

If you go, remember where you set them and remember to pick them up. We have found quite a few traps near our lodge over the years containing the remains of fox, beaver, wolf lynx

 

[Elkman]

If I had to rely on my trapping skills, I would starve to death. I have had three traps set around my property for a couple of months now. Check them every day and if I am going to be gone for a few days I spring them and then reset. They are primarily for coyotes but have yet to catch one. Last week I had one trap with a great deal of activity around it, but the trap was frozen into the ground because of the weather and cold. I am glad I don't have more.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

-5 this morning running my sets. Caught a mouse in a weasel box!!! I also saw 2 sets of coyote tracks in a crp field.

My goal is to catch one of every furbearing animal in WI and get it tanned. I have a ways to go but I will get there with time.

I think trapping teaches patients more then anything. Working in the snow help and it doesn't lie. I went 2 weeks without seeing a track then the coyotes returned. I really like checking out all the different tracks in the snow.

 

[truck driver]

My Father trapped way back in the day and I dabbled in it some but never had the time to get serious about it.
One season back in the 1980s I helped run a muskrat line on the eastern shore of MD to help maintain the marsh so the rats and nutria didn't destroy the habitat. Learning to walk in a marsh and identifying solid ground to step on is a challenge But learned how quickly. Nothing like getting a boot full of ice water and mud. The hides were worthless but we would sell the meat at a local market. Bot that seems like a long time ago.

The biggest thing with trapping is to hide your scent which is easier now than back in the day when most covers were hand made using glands from the trapped animals.

 

[Thankful Otter]

wisconsinteacher

someone, actually two members alerted me too your thread. Unfortunately I am now at work and dont have computer time, but will tell you that yes we do a lot of trapping. We are in the middle of the season, we can trap 14 different animals. We can trap as a first nation tribe fur ( and meat to eat ) for our own consumption without a commercial license. We do use much of the product ourself but we also buy a commercial license each year, so that if we have a good year we are in a position to sell some of what we trap. At the last meeting I attended there are approx 350 traplines in operation in the yukon, with 1/2 of them being run by first nation individuals . I also work with other tribes in Northwest Territories and Nunavut .

I hope you have a good season and enjoy the art of "trapping" sir

 

[wisconsinteacher]

14 different animals!!!

beaver, otter, mink, muskrat, weasel, lynx, red fox, wolf, wolverine, martin, fisher-that's 11, what am I missing??

 

[Teknys]

I used to trap when I was in school back in the 70s - 80s. Started out in Northern Minnesota and kept at it in highschool in Wisconsin. Trapped mostly muskrat when in Brown county but up north at Boulder Junction we trapped all fur available. Prices were pretty good back then. I ran across some of my traps this last summer.

I know what you mean about getting up early and checking the line before work/school. It can really make your day.

 

[Thankful Otter]

14 different animals!!!

beaver, otter, mink, muskrat, weasel, lynx, red fox, wolf, wolverine, martin, fisher-that's 11, what am I missing??

Arctic Fox, Coyote, Red Squirrel

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Interesting that red squirrel is on the list. Here, we would never thinking about trapping them for fur/meat. Just as a pest in the attic.

 

[adm1977]

I used to trap a lot when I was a kid. It was something me and my Dad did together. My son wanted to try it out 3 years ago so I dug out all the old traps and purchased 12 dog proof coon traps. We set a creek small line over his Christmas vacation. We really didn't catch much, 1 coon and a cat in a dog proof. We also had one pull out. I decided to invest in new traps after that, because I thought the springs where too weak from traps that were bought in the 60's. We didn't set any last winter, just too busy trying to fill left over deer tags. We did set a few this year. Got one very small coon and lots of bait stolen from the sets. We even had some fox "marking their territory" next to our sets, just couldn't seal the deal. I am hoping we will set again next December. It bring back a lot of childhood memories and hopefully teaches my son something that seems to have become almost a lost art.