Does anyone else out there get as much enjoyment out of teaching someone as trapping itself?

I used to take teaching for granted. I've been an instructor for so many things over the years: Combat instructor of water survival, Drill instructor, unarmed self defense, armed controlled tactics, detainee interrogations, weapons, primary marksmanship, the list could go on...

I always looked at it as a job because, well....it was part of my job. Trapping was never my primary job. I always enjoyed teaching it. As we probably all have experienced, someone shows interest, you take them out, teach them basics, and they lose interest. The ones who keep me smiling are the ones who never stop coming back for more info. There are some Marines who I taught many years ago now who still keep in contact just for the trapping talk.

For those of you who haven't done so, I recommend taking someone out. An especially good target is another dad and young teenage kid. Priceless.

Most recently, I've been teaching and mentoring about 5 prisoners from the prison on base. Now, because of restrictions in this awesome state, we aren't actually catching critters but it sure is good to be teaching. Don't ever take teaching for granted.

Learning. I probably should have added that I've never quit learning also. It's hard to find good teachers but when you do.....yo immediately know who they are. Lots of good people on here.

Helping other's is what it's all about,glad people took the time to answer all of my trapping questions 38 years ago.Had a few ride alongs,never pass on those.Love teaching......golf,fly fishing,fishing,all type of hunting,all trapping,mushroom hunting etc.

Teachers need good honest students that are willing to learn from others and the animals. I truly enjoy giving advice but I'm really careful who especially local.
Guy from west of here came for instructions, the next fall he's trying to get permission on my line. The farmers called me and asked if I quite trapping.. They all turned him down...

It's called integrity..

My 16 year old son and I just became interested in trapping a little over a month ago. There have been a few people who have offered and lender their assistance in this endeavor. And I say thank you to them.

We just submitted our registration paperwork to attend our local district trapping associations trapping school in September. It's a 2 day class that should be a lot of fun.

I had that same issue with a guy I tried to help out. He never did pay much attention from what I can tell to what I'd done that had been successful. He went behind me on one of my best locations and offered the landowner cash to trap. The next season the landowner asked how much I was paying him to trap, I told him to enjoy his ground.

I can laugh now. Two years later this kid that paid to trap all this ground never did catch a coyote or a bobcat. The ground is loaded with both. Landowners have come full circle and recently he was asked to leave the properties, and I was asked back on. I'm now trapping what I had, plus I'll be getting a lot more river ground for seasons to come. For once I got to watch karma come full circle.

I really like to take people with me on my line, and it's kind of enjoyable especially if they have limited knowledge of trapping. I'm pretty selective now though who comes, and I prefer they are from neighboring towns I don't trap around if they contact me. There's a couple locals that ride with me, the list gets shorter every year. The thing that always amazes me is the guys that ask for advice, and struggle. You tell them exactly what you've had success with, but for some reason they just keep pounding their heads against the wall not catching anything or in very small numbers. Some people just make trapping harder than it should be.

I’m very thankful for my teacher. I still bug him all the time

I've mentored an usual amount of people because I move every three years. Even if I move back to the same base/duty station, I rarely live at the same place. This way, I have new properties so often. I have mentored people in many states and many of the mentees are/were Marines. They also move every 3 Yeats or so so my competition is never permanent. Reckon that's gonna change when I retire. I always assume have a student. Maybe that'll change. I hope not.

My grandson has flat butchered 4 beaver trying to skin and flesh them. Wouldn't trade the time we've spent together and see the light come on when he does something right for anything...
Hey - it's just beavers that I MIGHT get 8 bucks apiece if I sold them.

So when are you taking me . . . ????

Yea, what Tracy said. When you coming to Kansas to teach me to be a coyote whisperer. LOL. Don’t hurt me biggun.

I like to teach too, its hard to find a young one that stays hooked. Get them early and then the girls get in the way. LOL

You're right....I could use some instruction from a cat trapper like you in that Rocky country.

Jeff, don't you worry, I'm coming out. Don't know when but I'm coming out. Be great if we could turn Evan into a mad trapper.

I think I taught my boy more of what NOT to do this season...

Teacher, Mentor, Horrible warning to others... All the same, right?

Mike

Mike, I'm my own worst example. Lol.

Proof that I did teach the kid how to do something right...



Mike

Jeff, don't you worry, I'm coming out. Don't know when but I'm coming out. Be great if we could turn Evan into a mad trapper.[/quote] you come to Kansas you can show me how it is done too!!

...

I enjoy teaching myself, especially when kids really never seen those animals in real life, they think they know what they look like because they seen them on T.V., but not like when there bouncing on the end of a chain,

Just the other day I was talking to my buddy's 5 year old and had a hard time explaining that foxes, bobcats and coyotes really do roam the woods around his house, I guess we'll see when we set in a few days, and I hope I catch something fast for him,

also one thought on teaching is.....I honestly believe that teaching re-sharpens your skills as well, because you are not trying to teach bad habits but good sound principles, helps you remember some of the things you may have forgotten

I almost hate to even Post as I’m not the Trapper that you guys we !
I have thanked Mr Marine, Wayne and Gary many times and will continue to do so as you’ve
Helped me more than anyone !
but I love taking guys that have never caught coyotes out and showing them a few sets and giving
Them some lure, bait and traps ! I e helped 3 different guys catch their 1st coyotes and even
Took 1 of Out WVDNR Directors for trapping Instruction this year ! When someone catches their
1st coyote it’s as good as your own catch !
God do bless you guys for helping me !!
Love ya

Hats off to all the trapping mentors. Mentoring someone on a trap line is a great way to teach, understand, respect conservation principles.

I am thankful to my mentor for taking the time to teach me how to trap, and how to balance the population between predator and prey on my farm. I followed my mentor on the line for two years, I have been trapping my farm for 6 years now. Since I started trapping and controlling the high number of predators on my land, I now have an abundance of deer, rabbits, turkeys and other small game for my son and daughters to enjoy hunting.
Thank you again to all the mentors out there.

Mr. Ron, I'd be your student any day. I figure you're in the top 10 all time of good men and God Fearing men that I have ever met. Thank you for all you've done for ME!

Tattoo, you're in great country up there. I cut my teeth trapping in the Catskills.

Pay that stuff forward and teach someone else. They'll be seeking you out for advice before you know it. They'll be talking about "old man tattoo" down the road. Lol.

Great learners are great teachers good teachers will grow to see students better than themselves.
Taking on a younger or beginning partner is good thing for both.
Good on ya John you have heart as big as you.

I enjoy teaching what I know. That's why I have my YouTube. Really make me feel good when someone tells me one if my modification videos saved them some head aches or helps them in something other way

I’m still a learning, hope I never stop! I’ve picked up more info on these forums than I could learn in a lifetime by myself. I don’t know any local trappers in my area. One of these years, I’m going to go for a ride along or ten, and hit up a trappers college.

Thanks for all the help John, and everyone else!

And don't forget to take a kid along, teach our future.
Jim

Here is my eleven year old beating in some rebar stakes through our rock solid frozen soil, and test driving the new #3 Bridger he got for Christmas.
Start your partners early and geez the things they turn into later!
Pretty soon he will want the truck keys too. Heck yes teaching is just as much fun!

Another oldie worth bringing up! Teach the youngins!

Since 2016 I have the pleasure of teaching my son Remington on the trap line!!!! Aside from teaching him the Word of God it has been one of the biggest honors of my life. I am a first generation trapper and only hoped he would carry the torch. He is now on his way to becoming a Game Warden!!!! Make it fun and have fun!!!!

The day I stop learning is the day I die.

I can’t take my knowledge to the grave, I’ve willing helped where I can. I love trapping and am passionate about sharing.

On many occasions I’ve also been the student and appreciate all that have shown me the tricks.

I’ve been an instructor in one form or another for much of my adult life. Tactical shotgun, LEO firearms instructor, training sergeant teaching everything from report writing to use of force. Taught polar bear deterrence in the oil fields of the north slope.

I’ve been doing trapping demos and teaching trapper education since 1990. I had a hiatus while we lived in Alaska but am back at it now. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than teaching trapping to a new generation of trappers.

John pulled up some blasts from the past! I’ve been teaching my daughter the ways, she is 8 now, but I don’t have much time to get too crazy with trapping anymore, unfortunately. Hope all is well with you guys!

"For those of you who haven't done so, I recommend taking someone out. An especially good target is another dad and young teenage kid. Priceless." Do you recommend a knife, bullet or hand to hand lol?