I've saved many otter glands over the years and noticed that there is an odor difference from otter to otter....same as castor. There is also a color variance in otter musk.

My neighbor just got one too. Yard looks great, quite, no gas, no oil starts without killing himself. I think it would be the way to go if I need a mow down the road.

That little turd was getting back at you for never taking him hunting. You got what you deserved.

Let's take a look at some references concerning the rifles carried by the trappers and hunters out West. They were rarely more than arm's reach from their rifles.

From W.A. Ferris:
They found a rifle, as well as ourselves, which was
likewise robbed of the lock and mountings. It belonged to one of two men, who disappeared a
day or two previous to the battle, in August last. Both of these rifles were unusually heavy, and
were doubtless left by the Indians for that reason.

The natives far preferred lighter weight fowling pieces. It was much more common for a native to carry a fowling piece than a rifle.
Americans far preferred rifles.

From Gen. Thomas James:
We Americans were all private adventurers,
each on his own hook, and were led into the enterprise by the promises of the company, who
agreed to subsist us to the trapping grounds, we helping to navigate the boats, and on our arrival
there they were to furnish us each with a rifle and sufficient ammunition, six good beaver traps
and also four men of their hired French, to be under our individual commands for a period of
three years.

From Charles Larpenteur:
On hearing of his discharge, and being requested to report in person at St. Louis — which was simply
to get him out of the country — he remarked, “I will not let Mr. Chouteau wait long on me. I shall
start in the morning; all I want for my journey is my rifle, and my dog to carry bedding.”

From Peter Skene Ogden:
On reaching the river he [Portneuf] broke the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) [hammer] of his rifle.

From James O. Pattie:
To a man born and reared under
the circumstances [xi] of his early life — one to whom forests, and long rivers, adventures, and
distant mountains, presented pictures of familiar and birth day scenes — one, who confided in
his rifle, as a sure friend, and who withal, connected dejection and bereavement with his present
desolate residence; little was necessary to tempt him to such an enterprise.

From Osborne Russell:
After trading some Beaver and Sheep Skins from them talking
smoking etc about an hour I mounted my Mule with 6 traps and my rifle and one of my comrades
did the same and we started to hunt Beaver.

Lost Greenhorn, by Alfred Jacob Miller

Ours are about done here I think.

In Fall I keep my duck boat across the road from my house in a little slough that is part of Lake Onalaska. The Bald Eagles congregate here big time, picking off wounded and other waterfowl. There are times there are bird parts laying on the ground along the shore. One day I was walking to my boat and noticed a lot of feathers, etc. in one area. As I watched there were more parts falling from the trees, and when I looked up there was a Bald Eagle tearing up a Coot.

In late season there are Eagles on a lot of the Muskrat huts waiting for a meal.

Moosetrot

Had lots of beagles. Loved the breed. Never had to pay $$ for one.

Sampson was fifty dollars back in 2007. Here he is at his first vet appt. My mom calls this picture “Sampy with his MaryJanes on”
He never hunted but I bet he would have if he could. Set that nose on the ground and started baying
I miss that little turd, he was rotten till the end

I had a similar experience over the years here in Wisconsin. I remember my Mom pulling over to the side of the highway in amazement to look at one eating on roadkill when I was a kid. Now I see nests in cattle pastures. Heck of a come back.

Neat.

Remember singing that song more than once as an elementary student on field trips. Teacher and bus driver included and we didn't substitute for the word beer.

The graders are people too, each having a slightly different eye. But there’s not 30 different graders sifting through the marten or beaver. Keep in mind, during the first auction of the year, the people got full time jobs, a trapline to run and an international auction to sort out. If drop off deadline is early January, that’s when things start really happening.
Depending on what the big buyers are looking for, some might be slid into another lot, but the grade of that fur didn’t change. Have your fur info in front of you and watch the auction.
I believe this was mentioned above.

One thing about buying a puppy. Never ever take your wife with you !!!!! We went to look at some lab pups and the lady came walking up to the truck holding a puppy, we got out and the lady handed the pup to my wife and just said here, you can just hold this one for awhile. I looked at my wife and I got my check book out. NO way was she turning loose of that pup. Turned out to be a darn good dog. Just like a lot of others on this forum. I can tell you true stories about what that dog could and would do.