I've read snippets about his career as a government trapper on various sites but haven't been able to find any real info on his work online anywhere; is there anything out there that I can read about this man and his career? or do stories about him get told more orally as opposed to in writing.

I hear that he was and still is an extremely successful wolf trapper and I'm just interested in learning more.

Thanks

Jack taught or wolf class here in Mt. I know he spent 27 yrs in Ak.doing wolf control. He is the real deal.

Jack is my neighbor and good friend. He just published a fiction book called The Last Hunt. It is a very good read. He is going to Mongolia this spring to collar some of their wolves.

He is originally from McCall, Idaho. I knew him when he went to school at the University of Idaho. I don't remember the years but it was quite some time ago!!

White17 probably has some great stories about him.

MTP carries the Jack Whitman setup on their 750 AK .
Here's a pic of Jack when he did a certification course in Helena .
He noted classes aren't a how to course as much as they are about ethics , rules and responsibilitiy.

Jack is without a doubt the most inquisitive mind I have ever met. He is interested in everything in the natural world.

A superb biologist. Meticulous and knowledgeable but open minded about all other ideas and points of view. A heck of a trapper....not just wolves...and writer. He has written poetry, a short novel mentioned above..and reams of scholarly literature.

He spent a year trapping tigers in the Russian far east with foot snares. Then he devised a method to anesthetize them with a blow gun from 30 feet because the standard 'gun' used to deliver the dart did too much muscle damage to the animal.

He has worked on raptors, sheep, wolves, bears, swans and wrote the main chapter on mink in Wild Furbearer Management in North America.

I have been privileged to work with him, share more than one hangover with him, and make home made music with him on several occasions. He is a talented and humble man. He has always been a great friend and teacher.

interesting, glad I saw this post

In addition to being a top notch trapper, his skill with a needle and thread is amazing.

Tell us a story Nancy !!

I will some time, maybe later on today. Much too nice outside to be on Tman.

Okay, trappers (the finest group of bipeds in the world). I've been extremely quiet for a couple of years. Been busy. Good buddy of mine (Randy Shuff) calls this morning, and tells me I'd better open up the forum and take notice. Apparently someone is looking for me (I'm hoping it has nothing to do with any of my ex-wives). So, I get out of my long-standing rut and try to log in to Trapperman. Well, not too many moons ago, I was diagnosed with Stage-3 CRS, so I need to get ahold of White 17 and get a new password. Despite a reasonably-long power outage at my homestead (pretty common), I get in touch, and he zips me another password. Thus, here I am.

My trapline produced very little this year, but I opened (this morning) my fur check from the FHA sale in Helsinki. Holy-Moly! I've apparently got enough to bribe White 17, WissMiss, and Randy Shuff to say good things about me on the thread. I did so, and my $2.42 average on muskrats is now kaput. Maybe I'll have to sell both coyotes I caught this year to cover the bribes.

Anyway, 17Hornet, hit me with a PM and I'll try to help. Contrary to popular opinion (or optimism), I'm still on the upside of the dirt, and I'd be honored to assist in any way I can (unless you do, in fact, work for one of my ex'es). Again, contrary to the hype you see on this thread, I am certainly not a master wolfer. Yeah, I been at it for several decades and I luck into a wolf now and then, but compared with the real wolfers in Alaska, I'm an admitted sophomore. However, I'll be glad to help where I can.

Hit me man! And Shuffy, White 17, and WissMiss, a heartfelt thanks for the vote of (perhaps misplaced) confidence.

As I said...............humble !

White don't forget about the house building project. Humble? should have been at the 1st wolf class here in Idaho, poor Toby couldn't get a word in edge wise

LOL !!! Toby isn't real verbose anyway !! He ( Toby) is also a heck of a biologist !!!


He and I will be murdering turkeys in Idaho in a couple of weeks !!

It's been awhile since I have stopped in for a visit with Jack. His adventures and stories of Russia, Alaska and Idaho are truly awesome. It's always interesting to see which direction our visits take us. From trapping and hunting, to gardening and chickens and usually White17 enters the conversation. I am very glad our paths crossed and that I can call him a friend.

Jack it would be nice to have you feild some questions on wolf trapping .

Rivers: ask the questions. I am sure Jack will give you his experience and probably ask questions that make you think. He isn't into keeping secrets.

Jack here in Wisconsin we were limited to a 7" outside jaw spread which keep most of the true wolf traps out of reach here.
What would you be using in that situation ?

Also when we had a season it started in the middle of October, what would be your setup at this time of year ?

Thanks Riversnorth13

Rivers!
I've never trapped in a jurisdiction that disallowed the larger traps, so have never really had to contend with that situation. In my opinion, there are a variety of suitable wolf traps on the market, but for conditions under which I trap wolves down here in the lowest-48, I prefer the MB-750AK (and I get no kickbacks from MTP). Certainly, the conditions change as you move north, and in many situations, something other than the 750 is certainly warranted.

But back to your question. Because of the way the 750 is built, along with the way they've treated me in years past (excellent service; above-and-beyond), I'd certainly look real close at the MB650. Too, I'd prefer the off-set, laminated jaws. In addition, where conditions permit, I'd strongly prefer to set up for wolves with a drag rather than hard-wiring. I've noted many times that most wolves, when earth-anchored to a particular spot, really fight the trap. If they're set up with a drag and can get themselves into a concealed location, they seem to fight the trap a lot less, with less chance of a pull-out and less damage to the foot or the pelt.

That help with your question?

Tater!
I'm really missing our mornin' cup of coffee and meandering discussions. When you heading over here to the dark side? Always welcome...