This going to be a thread that I hopefully will keep up with. But it is basically going to be a list of things I learned my first years trapping.
Feel free to add your own lessons if you want.

BTW- I snare, and I live in NJ, so majority of my post will be about snaring and winter conditions snow and ice. Hope this will still help you steel setters.

1. Set on frozen streams, as fox run them.
2. Don't bother with store bought meats for making sent trails.
3. Don't set conibears under ice without a good way to get them out.
4. It is hard to snare coon in areas with no known trails. (they like to wander)
5. Catch it, hang it to dry, skin, and freeze until ready to flesh.
6. The best way to make your own stuff such as wooden boards and snares is to buy a couple pro ones and copy it.
7. Alum tanning is the cheapest easy way to tan. If garment tanning, vegetable tan after alum tanning.
8. Remove ALL the meat from the hide while tanning.
9. If someone pays you to get rid of an animal, you get payed by the animal removed. Not by how many times you went out.
10. Know your area so you know what traps to buy.
11. Don't buy a fleshing knife for less than $30, unless you really are that broke. Even a lawn mower blade is better then a $10 knife.
12. Short fillet knifes are good skinning knives.
13. Trap before school.

To be continued...