April 15, 2012:Nearing the End:

Pulled all of my muskrat sets yesterday as i've been getting nothing for the last couple trips out there. Seen a cow moose while I was on my way out there which isn't something we normally see around this area. Beautiful animal, couldn't care less that I was there.

Hope she smartens up before the poachers start heading out there again.

I trap beaver all summer long for the RM (Rural Municipality - Same thing as a County) and keep busy with that when i'm not after pelts. And for now, If I see the odd rat or beaver in the ditch I guess i'll lay a trap for him.


Anyhow, thank's for reading my journal this season. And I hope you continue to read through the "off season" and right into the 2012- 2013 trapping season.

Well I didn't have such a bad season. Better then last winter anyway, didn't do so well on the rats because of cold weather early in the winter which froze many houses out. But here's what I can remember of this seasons totals:

Beaver: 13
Muskrat: 43 in Spring Season and 12 from the Fall 55 total
Raccoon: 3
Skunk: 4
Squirrel: 8
Weasel: 8
Coyote: 4
Fisher: 1
Marten: 1
Mink: 2 (One given & one found dead)
Total: Roughly 96 Animals Were Harvested
Special thank you's to all of those that shot me some tips and tricks, to those who supported me when my friend passed, to those who told me it was definatly a wolverine that walked through my trap line. And to those who will continue to watch my posts.


I'll be heading down to the National Trapper's Convention in Owatonna, Mn this August, hope to pick up a bunch of good traps that won't be as expensive as they are up here so I can expand my line better this winter.

Thank you all.

man you did good I cant wait to see your journal pop up next winter looks like you should have a good season next winter
now lets pray that manitoba gets snow this winter

Yes, i'm wanting to pick up 4 or so dozen more traps to expand my line next winter.
You didn't have a bad season yourself.

Had 1 more muskrat today in a couple sets by my house. So I guess 55 Total..

April 23, 2012:

Went out and set a half dozen beaver sets today at the dam in the bush with that big lodge and dam featured here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWSjgIgehmo

But on the way out there, I was pulling a couple sets and caught one of my trap shy beaver. It's clear that they are fighting now and unfortunately this beaver pelt will not go for sale. How ever, i'll still take castors and tail. Aswell as cut the pelt up into strips for marten,fisher and weasel this winter.
The meat will go for bait. I like to waste as little as possible.




and this was basically what all the sets looked like, some under a bit more water then others, some on a steeper cross over, etc.:


All are lured with Beaver Barnes. It works like a charm.

April 25, 2012:
2 Beavers today, one big female and one smaller male.
Fur is starting to slip on them, so fur trapping is officially over for the year. Going in tomorrow to hopefully get signed up for the beaver removal program.
Easy money really.



Once again, thanks to everyone who followed this season. And I will post pictures of animal removal pictures over the summer.

April 27, 2012:

Caught 2 beaver yesterday and had internet problems couldn't post.

April 27, 2012:

2 More beavers in 330s today. Haven't yet taken one small beaver out of that pond. Makes you wonder how long that colony has been there.



I took a side shot of the beavers to give you an idea of the average size i'm pulling out of this lodge:

nice journal you have put together, and good season, congrats!

that could be an old lime kiln if it's near fields.

My first thought on it was that it was a kiln, but it wasn't very tall and had no roof as you can see? And yes it was on the edge of a field, it's swampy now but 60 years ago it wouldn't have been wet.

The farmer I work with made hay on that lake I trap muskrats on 35 years ago.

February 28, 2012:

2 Beavers Today, ended up tearing a fuel line on the bike and had quite the fun time to get it home. The full story I will not share.




And here's a family photo from the last few days. (not including today's beavers)



In other news

Some moron decided to go and light some grass on fire, and it has escalated so bad that the water bombers as well as a special fire team of some kind from up north has been called in. As well as Fire Trucks from 2 townships and possibly 3.
Not positive but someone told us that they had D6 caterpillars building up a dirt to try and fence the fire in. As far as I know this is the biggest fire in the area since the province was on fire in 1989.
As of now, the fire is burning 3 miles from town and has burned to the point where it is with in a 10 mile radius of my home, and if it's not out soon it will be burning on my trapping territory. The town is with out question more important, but I would just love to get my hands on the person that lit this fire.


Water bomber heading for landing at CFB Shiloh


Helicopter

More of the Bombers:




Here's my little piece of video. I'm going to take the quad in today and see how close it's really gotten (if all goes well)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp4KCMi2qZg&feature=share

Hopefully the fire doesn't spread much farther. Hope it does't affect your trapping this coming season as well, really enjoy the stories and pictures.

No, i'm hoping it doesn't either.
But i'm much more concerned about my property and my neighbors property then I am about that section of trapline.
I don't think it will burn much more then the edge of it now that I think about it.

But fire crews were fighting at 6:30 this morning.

Also... I enjoy posting these trips to the trapline no matter what happens on them. Thanks for reading them and giving me feed back.
I saw a nice little black bear yesterday as well, couldn't get a picture fast enough.

Quite often the spring fires are mostly confined to ground fires with the odd flare up into the trees (canadling). These fires can move quite briskly as it the grass and understory is quite dry, has not yet had time to "green up" Those early fires quite often do more good than harm. Observing your pictures it appears to me that it is mostly a ground fire.

They are good practice for the air tankers for when it really gets hot and the hazard gets way up there.

April 29, 2012:

Today was most definatly a good day. Started the day by pulling 2 more beavers from the water and then heading for a nice long and rough ride over the country side towards the fire. When we got there, all we saw was some burnt off grass and a couple toppled tree's. This was the very edge of the fire.





On the way home we seen a sow and 2 cubs in a small clearing.



From there myself and my trapping partner went into this little clearing and started one of two bait piles for this winter. Here's the clearing:


and here's the start of the bait pile:
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THESE BEAVER ARE NOT SKINNED BECAUSE THERE UNDERFUR IS FALLING OUT, I DO NOT WASTE PELTS. MANY WILL BE CUT TO STRIPS FOR BAITING BOXES THIS WINTER.

Do you have a bounty on beavers there? Why not skin em out?

Yes we have bounty on beaver here, that's why I'm harvesting them.
And the pelts lost there prime early, the under fur is either falling or fallen out.

very interesting

Interesting enough anyways!

I would think the bears would have that cleaned up pretty quick!

Not bears right in that area and if they do. I start hunting bears there!