Hello,
This is an educational thread for trappers to share any tips, tricks or other helpful information on. I will ad my few little tips here.

1. A good, cheap way to make pan covers is to buy a roll of wax paper at you local grocery store and cut 5" x 5" squares. You can make 100's if not 1000's out of 1 roll for super cheap.


2. Good flagging for bobcats are bird wings (save them from dove, duck, quail, pheasants, etc,) and hang them in a tree or bush over your set with wire so they can flutter in the breeze. You can attract lots of 'cats from long distances with that. Christmas tensile works great too. (Get is after Christmas and it is super cheap, like as low as 88 cents per roll.) Caution: If you use flagging at your sets if will deter coyotes but not fox, coon, etc. Check your state trapping regulations before you use this, it is illegal in some states.

3. Most trappers know this one but I will add it in for beginners. It is good to collect the scat of your target animals all summer so you will have plenty for trapping season. Scat is free bait, just collect it yourself, don't buy it!


Tight chains!
AuthorTrapper.

Scat is not really considered bait.

https://trapperman.com/trapperman/tips_and_tricks.html

One thing I'd like to know is where to store traps while the season is out. The guy on here: www.coyotetrappingschool.com said to store them in tubs with pine needles. Anyone ever tried it?

Carry waxed dental floss with at all times:
---great for hanging cat set attraction disc
---good and strong for sewing holes/cuts in pelts

Mark your axe handle with measurements for ease of loop size and height above ground measurements confirmation re snare setting:

Bag all your fur when you catch it for transport,especially in cold weather.fur can be damaged if just thrown in a sleigh,trailer or truck box,and left to bounce around.Fur freezing to each other or any metal will be damaged,so bag each animal in a plastic garbage bag,or feed sac,fur bag,or burlap.These bags can be used over and over again.
Also never pick up heavy animals by the bodygrip trap.This can cause damage also.Take the animal out of the trap at the trapsite and carry it by the foot,or in a packsack.
Carry a change of dry clothes,and couple of fusees when beaver trapping in winter for when you go thru the ice.A fusee burns hot for 10 minutes. To get a hot fire going fast,put the fusee to a hug size bundle of dry dead spruce branches,then change into your dry clothes.

this is faster and easier if you saw/cut the roll into thirds, so you now have 3 rolls 4-5" long.

Yep, that works great too!

Fasten the boat to the bank every single time you get out of it.

Read this---> https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6300578/Fur_Shed_Tips_&_Tricks#Post6300578

Fasten the boat to the bank every single time you get out of it.
LOL

Keep a small broken off file with you. Helps with those traps that wont stay set

When using a split (adjustable) board, to obtain consistent butt width for the pelt size per NAFA or FHA specs, spread the spacer board to the butt width at the specified length and then mark the spreader board accordingly.

and make sure the plugs in every time you go out.

I always keep two looesables with me on the line. The first is a 12 dollar pair of shirt pocket binoculars from Tasco. They are not great, but they will tell me if I am looking at a stick or a mink. I do not need expensive binoculars to count hairs on an animal nor to lose in the river.
Second, I have a Tracfone, not the big smart phones, but a miniature for emergencies, which fits into a small hard sunglass case I keep in my pocket. It is cheap and I can get internet on it if I need it on the less than 2 inch screen. It does not get in the way, is not expensive, and it is better to have ate by a coyote that comes back to life by miracle than an 800 dollar phone.

...and I would add, start the motor before you shove off the bank and make sure you have a paddle or oars on board!

When your offroad never turn off your truck. Always have a set off spare keys hidden outside the cab. It's not fun to have the battery,starter, or alternator etc. etc. die a mile back in. Learned that the hard way... Long cold night..

When trapping public marshes use different markings on all your stakes so It looks like multiple trappers are already there.

If you have extended check laws on the marsh get the whole line out before you start checking. On big marshes your better off setting It all before checking. I've been on big marshes were it took 2 or more day's to set It up.

When setting up bobcat flags make a chain of small gauge wire instead of using string it won't tangle up as much. A good simple flag is a turkey tail feather wrapped with Christmas tensel

That's illegal in many jurisdictions (if near a trap or snare).

A good simple and very effective cat flag is a 4X6 piece of cardboard white on one side and brown on the other. When fluttering in a breeze the white stands out against the dark forest cover background and the brown against the snow, like a flashing neon sign.

When you are starting out you don't need to spend a lot of money. Wooden trap stakes might be out of style now but you can make your own for every application out there. A wood stake that is seasoned and cured properly can be driven into the ground and it will swell when it gets to the moisture in the ground. Some wood stakes cannot be pulled out. Dogwood is a good hard wood for stakes followed by oak.