If I have enough property or will be trapping out of state, I close the doors. Since we're so specialized with our services, I just don't get that many calls during the middle to late trapping season due to the weather unless it is our predator control programs.
If it is early trapping season, I try and incorporate it into my daily rounds acting like each location was a paying customer. I've found it's helpful during this time to set smaller lines but run them over a longer period. For example, I trap a 400 acre area for coons but instead of putting out 4 doz traps and being done in a week, I only run 8 - 12 traps for three weeks. This helps allocate time for me to catch the fur as well as process it and keeps some money coming in to cover expenses from the regular late fall/early winter jobs.
Another thing I do is make quick sets I can access and tend quickly. I don't want to be walking for 5 - 10 minutes to reach my first set then walking another 20 - 60 minutes checking to then walk out and head to the next job site. If I can't get to the trap in less than 2 minutes it doesn't get set. In terms of sets, I don't do any water traps and limit foot holds to days I don't have any calls to make. For coon, I like the little griz as I can have them pre set so all I have to do is wrap a chain or cable around a tree for an anchor, push it into the ground then add my bait/lure. If I don't want to deal with a live animal, I'll forgo the little griz in favor of 155's in wire cubbies (you can see how I do this on Sterling Fur's Raccoon video, my segment is after the credits). Both take about the same time to place provided you've done some prep work ahead of time. This year I'm looking forward to being able to use the collarum on nuisance coyote jobs during fur season as it is much faster to put in then dirt holes.
Can't say for sure that I'm not losing fur to other trappers in the area using these methods, but I'd rather catch 5 coon than 0 coon.
Last edited by WCT; 08/26/13 01:00 PM. Reason: add info