The year I turned 16 was the first year Nebraska changed the permit dates to calendar year, rather than end of beaver and muskrat season. Season ended Mar 24th but under new change, my permit ended Jan 1.

I was trapping muskrats on a lake for a guy who owned a bunch of lots there. Another person on the lake thought I was trespassing so they called the sheriff. Sheriff checked it out and said I was fine but the warden was on his way also so he wanted me to hang around. I had a high school buddy with me who didn’t have a license. The warden was giving him the business, then he realized my license was expired by a little over a month due to the new dates. I was unaware. He told my buddy to buy a license at the local sporting goods store and that he would check later.

I wasn’t so lucky, before I knew what was happening two more wardens showed up. They made me pull traps while they watched with binoculars. I turned my back to them and stuffed any more caught rats up under the bank, 3 or 4 if I remember right. They followed me to my house, about 20 miles away and took all my skinned and dried rats. I got charged with liquidated damages on all the rats and trapping without a license. $680 some dollars. Coincidentally, it was county government day so a bunch of classmates and a teacher from my school were in the courtroom watching.

I almost got a contempt of court charge when the judge, actually a tree hugging neighbor of ours, said “and let that be a lesson to the rest of you kids that think spotlighting raccoons at night is ok! It won’t be tolerated!!”. I stood up and said “hay! I ain’t no spotlighter!!!” She whacked the hammer down and said one more word and you'll be held in contempt!! I caught my teachers eye and he put his finger to his lips in the shush motion.

To add insult to injury, that was also the same year Nebraska didn’t require kids under 16 to have a trapping license. Before that kids under 16 could hunt and fish without a license, but not trap. I had purchased a trapping license every year since I was 11. Or rather my mom purchased the first few for me.

What a kick in the nads that was.

OP, every State can be a little different. In Washington you may find a recorded survey at the County, if the piece in question was part of a segregation/subdivision.
However, the best place to start in WA is with the State Survey Office. Pretty much everything gets recorded there.

Are you using dirthole or flat sets? Would love to see some of your sets before the catch.

Mudcat

Ttt

Been a long time since I drove a steering column shift standard. Never happened to me though.

My nephew was excited that one of the 2 sets I put in suitcased a 30 pounder yesterday. I am going to put in a couple more today to see if there are any more. He wants a bigger one.

And there are more coming to Alaska as I type.

Prayers for your son and all.

There have always been eagles here on the Mississippi during my lifetime. Yesterday there were probably couple hundred sitting on the ice by open water. That we did not see in 1960s when I was kid out messing around. Eagles and other birds made their comeback after the wide spread use of DDT was banned. At least that is what I came to understand and it wasn't just eagles rebounded. As for the lead poisoning that does happen. My sister has always had a love for birds of prey. She was involved in rescue for short time and assured me that lead poisoning indeed happens. I believe it is very debatable what the actual source is and bullets are a small part of that. Lead has been the boggieman for sometime for certain groups. Eagle enthusiasts probably top that list right now.

Mac

nothing, you just go to the US fish and wildlife website and sign up for the hunts they offer. they also have whitetail hunts and you can shoot Nilgai then. it is walk in only. they will bring in a tracked buggy of some sort with an A frame for getting out the Nilgai.

6

Thanks for the insight.
I am just a hobby trapper that enjoys predator trapping in my area. I like to see what is working and what I am doing wrong. I take pictures of the set and usually with the lure/bait but sometimes I just know what I use. Now, I am only running a couple dozen sets which makes it easy to keep track.
I do switch up bait/lure each season. I also keep it close what lure/bait I use and I do not buy what is on the shelf at the local shop. I have learned that coyotes know what Hiawatha Valley does, it sticks them to the ground, and it is used by many here, I have not had much luck with it once they started stocking the shelves with it.

Mix it with windshield washer fluid.