And Minn.

looking forward to this post, hopefully you have good weather,

Good morning mole.

21 with clouds, getting chilly tonight.

WS

Coon density is a big factor. There are many places in Iowa where guys rack up huge numbers by putting out hundreds of traps and check them daily. Deaver and NextGen and O’Hearn are just a few. They don’t use caps and do just fine. I get that.

From our experience, the areas we trap don’t have the population of coon for a good comparison. Having lots of traps in road ditches isn’t in the cards because of the population of dog walkers along country roads. In my part of the state, the road ditches are mowed, too. So we’re often inside the fences. Caps have made a big difference for us.

Not to make excuses, but neither of us has the time nor the energy to put out hundreds of traps. Trapping is and always will be a hobby. To that end, simplifying the process is what we work for. DP caps keep the mice and weather out. From our experience, It appears that the curiosity factor is more important than the smell coming from beneath the cap.

Guided isn't exactly checking someone else's traps. They would be your traps, you would just be guided in where to put them. Almost certainly, a guided trip would greatly increase your chances of success.
If you were to come up here to catch a few marten, or a lynx, maybe a couple fox, go up north and catch an Arctic fox, those could all be doable without help. The wolverine is a different story.

Cool are those sight covers?

I know about leaving the water dripping… but it still froze on me doing that once when it stayed below freezing for a couple days

… and where do yall put your pressure tanks ? … I would think they would freeze in your climate

.. sorry to bother you with the questions… I just find it interesting to see a house up off the ground where you live as that’s how we build them down here

Thanks for the info. I used a field knife out of a kit I got for Christmas. It seemed to dull up quickly. I have a weibe coming and I feel like that will take 90% of the frustration away. I can't wait for public to open up to trapping in January so I can really get out with the boys and put some miles in. There is so much to show and teach them about animals and how they live and travel.

Corn Grows not NASCAR fast or NHRA fast, Maybe Turtle or Snail fast.

Leotards are much preferred to the version without anything.

Heard it started with COVID money misuse and goes deeper.They blew a 19 billion dollar surplus on wish list spending.

… he was gazing I’d imagine

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to try the Blackwater chaps.