BlackCoyote
08-21-2007, 11:20 AM
I've seen a lot of threads lately from people who want to start trapping, beginner trappers and some newbies that have a few seasons under there belt and are struggling. Just some advice on getting started.
1. Learn and know your animals that you want to trap. Learn everything you can about the animal, their habitat, breeding, movements, how they hunt or find food and so on. Books, the internet, videos, and your five senses are all available to you. Use them.
Also learn the State laws inside and out. It's your job to follow the rules, and make a good example out of yourself. As a trapper you're not only representing yourself when you trap your representing the 1000's of other trappers across the state and even nationwide.
Learn the the area you want to trap. Whether it's public or private, find out as much as you can. Ex: Will you be the only trapper? Do the landowners have dogs? Does the area get overrun with other hunters?
If it's public land remember your not going to be the only one using it. Respect others rights to it. Especially if another trapper is trapping in the area. Talk to them, if this is your first year, ask if they is anyplace their not trapping. You do have the right to put a trap right next to another trappers on public land but how will that make you look? Make an effort to get along it helps everyone. I've gotten alot of extra ground by being friendly. Ex. your rat trapping on public water, as your checking traps you walk up on a group of duck hunters. Introduce yourself at the right time, let them know where you're going and try to get in and out without disturbing their hunting. One might just tell you of a place he saw a ton of rats or let you know he has a pond that the rats need to be thinned out.
If your trapping private land, make sure you know the land owners rules. Don't drive where they don't want you too. Know what gates to keep closed and remember treat their land with the upmost respect. They granted you permission to use something of theirs, treat it the best you can.
2. So you've studied the animals you want to trap. Now get your butt out there and observe how the animals live in their environments. Nothing is better than scouting, walking and observing everything you can about your target species. Take pictures, draw sketches ask your self questions and find the answers.
Here's some advice, start small it's easier to trap raccoons, and muskrats then it is to just start on coyotes and bobcats. But if your determined to catch a coyote your first season, try but don't just target coyotes only. Set for raccons, fox, and coyotes. Yes you are going to catch grinners, (possums) but hey it's fur and good practice at skinning and fur prep.
3. Trap setting. Take the traps you have and get to know them. Practice setting them in every possible situation you might encounter, sand, mud, so on. Learn how they react in the different situations, and why they react. Ex. Did you bury it too deep that's why it slow to fire?
Learn to adjust the trap and how to tear them apart and replace/change stuff on them. Guess what after they are prepped for season, you should recheck them, they made need to be adjusted. Ex. bodygrips that have a hair trigger due to a buildup of dip or paint on them. Pans not level on coilsprings due to wax buildup.
*Also don't get in the closed mind set here with traps. I only want use 1.5's because Joe Fox trapper on MS says to and he catches 500 a year. While it may be true a different trap may fit your style of setting and plus you'll learn what traps work for you and why. Plus it's easier if your just starting out to get a fox paw in a #2 or #3 than a 1.5. Try as many as you can before you start stock piling a ton of traps. Also think ahead. If you use 1.75's for fox traps you can also use the ones you don't set or that need to be changed on your water line for coons and rats.
4. Lure and bait. There is no magic lure or bait. A set in the right location will out perform a good lure/bait in a bad location. As before try as many lures as you can, all lure makers will tell you there lure is the best. Try as many of them as you can. Make a dirt hole and lure it in the preseason without the trap and see if anything visits the site. Learn when to use call lures, gland lures, and food lures and why. Ex. I live in area with mint fields, you can smell mint from late summer through most of the winter. Think your going to get a coon in a bucket set with just a minty smelling lure? Not likely.
5. Trap sets. Learn to make all the sets you can. Dirt holes, posts, blind sets, bottom edge, flat sets, walk throughs and the various others (make sure you understand how the weather effects the set, will you need dry dirt, antifreeze so on). Study them and understand what your trying to get your target animal to do. Here's another tip, keep the blinders off. Joe fox trapper says put the set exactly 4" from the hole and at the 7 o'clock position. Experiment, if you don't catch something at a set try to figure out why? Well i've got tracks 6" from the hole at my dirt set. Guess what remake it and move the trap out alittle farther and see what happens.
Note: before you make any sets, are you prepared for the unexpected? Do you have all the tools (catchpole so on) you need. Say if you accidently catch a stray dog or cat? If your north in the lower peninsula, do you know how to release a bobcat from your trap unharmed?
6. Keep a journal or notebook with you, write down and sketch the location set you made and if it worked or not. These notes come in handy when you're struggling and want to find out why. Also they help you track catches, what lures work for you, and the set type. It's also will help you find every trap you put out at the end of the line or after the weather changes. Notice the animal too, did i use to big of a trap? Where did i catch it? Why did I catch that coon in my bucket set so far behind the neck? Figure out what adjustments you need to make.
Also this notebook may save your butt some day. Say you slip and break your leg during season. That notebook with a small map and the locations of your traps will let someone else find your sets.
7. Find help. In this day and age most trappers are more than willing to help another trapper get started. If there aren't many in your area, use the internet, or local trap shops and conventions to get resources. A day in Evart at the MTA convention watching demos, will help you a lot. Also a day on the line with a fellow trapper and you'll learn a ton too. If someone won't take you on there line. Ask if they'll just help you with sets in the off season. I've shown several people how to make different sets in my garden. Posting here and on other forums will help you gain knowledge to.
If you do a ride along with a trapper, be polite, obey they're rules and try to be helpful. Nothing will end a teaching lesson like smoking a cigarette while your mentor is making a dirthole set and telling him you think the set would be better some where else. Try to ask specific questions and don't over do it. Observe and you'll learn a lot.
Remember as your asking and getting help, you need to do your part too. Join trapper associations, as you get better each year give back to other trappers. Know all those traps you bought? Say your not really fond of a a few. Donate them to the kids either in the trapping associations or TRAP4KIDS a bottle or lure, a used book or a trap will make a young trappers day. If you get a decent fur check, make a donation to protect your right to trap. Also if you can't donate money, try donating your time. An hour help at a MTA event helps others a ton. Become involved, write your elected officials make your voice be heard, be an active member in the trapping association.
8. Fur put up. You made your catch, now the real work starts. Learn as much as you can in this area. Watch demos, videos, memorize the pic's on here. The more time you spend in this area the better rewarded you will get down the road. Let's say you caught 10 muskrats and you feel silly at the fur sale next to the guy that caught a 100. If you took you time and did the best you can do to put up your fur it will pay off. If you got $10 per rat, and the other guy only got $3 who will feel more pride as they get their check? Find a guy who has ever gotten a "top lot" certificate and they will be more proud of that accomplishment than catching 100 coyote.
9. Season's over. Now's the time to relax a little and start prepping for next year. Know that notebook you kept? Review it and see what you'll need for next year. Also if you've trapped private land send a thank you card, or drop off a small gift and maybe show the landowner the red fox that you caught on there land. You'll find permissions come easier the more effort you make.
Hope this little bit of info helps some of you on the journey to becoming a trapper.
Please feel free to add to this, I know i've left out a lot.
1. Learn and know your animals that you want to trap. Learn everything you can about the animal, their habitat, breeding, movements, how they hunt or find food and so on. Books, the internet, videos, and your five senses are all available to you. Use them.
Also learn the State laws inside and out. It's your job to follow the rules, and make a good example out of yourself. As a trapper you're not only representing yourself when you trap your representing the 1000's of other trappers across the state and even nationwide.
Learn the the area you want to trap. Whether it's public or private, find out as much as you can. Ex: Will you be the only trapper? Do the landowners have dogs? Does the area get overrun with other hunters?
If it's public land remember your not going to be the only one using it. Respect others rights to it. Especially if another trapper is trapping in the area. Talk to them, if this is your first year, ask if they is anyplace their not trapping. You do have the right to put a trap right next to another trappers on public land but how will that make you look? Make an effort to get along it helps everyone. I've gotten alot of extra ground by being friendly. Ex. your rat trapping on public water, as your checking traps you walk up on a group of duck hunters. Introduce yourself at the right time, let them know where you're going and try to get in and out without disturbing their hunting. One might just tell you of a place he saw a ton of rats or let you know he has a pond that the rats need to be thinned out.
If your trapping private land, make sure you know the land owners rules. Don't drive where they don't want you too. Know what gates to keep closed and remember treat their land with the upmost respect. They granted you permission to use something of theirs, treat it the best you can.
2. So you've studied the animals you want to trap. Now get your butt out there and observe how the animals live in their environments. Nothing is better than scouting, walking and observing everything you can about your target species. Take pictures, draw sketches ask your self questions and find the answers.
Here's some advice, start small it's easier to trap raccoons, and muskrats then it is to just start on coyotes and bobcats. But if your determined to catch a coyote your first season, try but don't just target coyotes only. Set for raccons, fox, and coyotes. Yes you are going to catch grinners, (possums) but hey it's fur and good practice at skinning and fur prep.
3. Trap setting. Take the traps you have and get to know them. Practice setting them in every possible situation you might encounter, sand, mud, so on. Learn how they react in the different situations, and why they react. Ex. Did you bury it too deep that's why it slow to fire?
Learn to adjust the trap and how to tear them apart and replace/change stuff on them. Guess what after they are prepped for season, you should recheck them, they made need to be adjusted. Ex. bodygrips that have a hair trigger due to a buildup of dip or paint on them. Pans not level on coilsprings due to wax buildup.
*Also don't get in the closed mind set here with traps. I only want use 1.5's because Joe Fox trapper on MS says to and he catches 500 a year. While it may be true a different trap may fit your style of setting and plus you'll learn what traps work for you and why. Plus it's easier if your just starting out to get a fox paw in a #2 or #3 than a 1.5. Try as many as you can before you start stock piling a ton of traps. Also think ahead. If you use 1.75's for fox traps you can also use the ones you don't set or that need to be changed on your water line for coons and rats.
4. Lure and bait. There is no magic lure or bait. A set in the right location will out perform a good lure/bait in a bad location. As before try as many lures as you can, all lure makers will tell you there lure is the best. Try as many of them as you can. Make a dirt hole and lure it in the preseason without the trap and see if anything visits the site. Learn when to use call lures, gland lures, and food lures and why. Ex. I live in area with mint fields, you can smell mint from late summer through most of the winter. Think your going to get a coon in a bucket set with just a minty smelling lure? Not likely.
5. Trap sets. Learn to make all the sets you can. Dirt holes, posts, blind sets, bottom edge, flat sets, walk throughs and the various others (make sure you understand how the weather effects the set, will you need dry dirt, antifreeze so on). Study them and understand what your trying to get your target animal to do. Here's another tip, keep the blinders off. Joe fox trapper says put the set exactly 4" from the hole and at the 7 o'clock position. Experiment, if you don't catch something at a set try to figure out why? Well i've got tracks 6" from the hole at my dirt set. Guess what remake it and move the trap out alittle farther and see what happens.
Note: before you make any sets, are you prepared for the unexpected? Do you have all the tools (catchpole so on) you need. Say if you accidently catch a stray dog or cat? If your north in the lower peninsula, do you know how to release a bobcat from your trap unharmed?
6. Keep a journal or notebook with you, write down and sketch the location set you made and if it worked or not. These notes come in handy when you're struggling and want to find out why. Also they help you track catches, what lures work for you, and the set type. It's also will help you find every trap you put out at the end of the line or after the weather changes. Notice the animal too, did i use to big of a trap? Where did i catch it? Why did I catch that coon in my bucket set so far behind the neck? Figure out what adjustments you need to make.
Also this notebook may save your butt some day. Say you slip and break your leg during season. That notebook with a small map and the locations of your traps will let someone else find your sets.
7. Find help. In this day and age most trappers are more than willing to help another trapper get started. If there aren't many in your area, use the internet, or local trap shops and conventions to get resources. A day in Evart at the MTA convention watching demos, will help you a lot. Also a day on the line with a fellow trapper and you'll learn a ton too. If someone won't take you on there line. Ask if they'll just help you with sets in the off season. I've shown several people how to make different sets in my garden. Posting here and on other forums will help you gain knowledge to.
If you do a ride along with a trapper, be polite, obey they're rules and try to be helpful. Nothing will end a teaching lesson like smoking a cigarette while your mentor is making a dirthole set and telling him you think the set would be better some where else. Try to ask specific questions and don't over do it. Observe and you'll learn a lot.
Remember as your asking and getting help, you need to do your part too. Join trapper associations, as you get better each year give back to other trappers. Know all those traps you bought? Say your not really fond of a a few. Donate them to the kids either in the trapping associations or TRAP4KIDS a bottle or lure, a used book or a trap will make a young trappers day. If you get a decent fur check, make a donation to protect your right to trap. Also if you can't donate money, try donating your time. An hour help at a MTA event helps others a ton. Become involved, write your elected officials make your voice be heard, be an active member in the trapping association.
8. Fur put up. You made your catch, now the real work starts. Learn as much as you can in this area. Watch demos, videos, memorize the pic's on here. The more time you spend in this area the better rewarded you will get down the road. Let's say you caught 10 muskrats and you feel silly at the fur sale next to the guy that caught a 100. If you took you time and did the best you can do to put up your fur it will pay off. If you got $10 per rat, and the other guy only got $3 who will feel more pride as they get their check? Find a guy who has ever gotten a "top lot" certificate and they will be more proud of that accomplishment than catching 100 coyote.
9. Season's over. Now's the time to relax a little and start prepping for next year. Know that notebook you kept? Review it and see what you'll need for next year. Also if you've trapped private land send a thank you card, or drop off a small gift and maybe show the landowner the red fox that you caught on there land. You'll find permissions come easier the more effort you make.
Hope this little bit of info helps some of you on the journey to becoming a trapper.
Please feel free to add to this, I know i've left out a lot.