I set out 5 rat sets and 2 mink sets yesterday … I caught at rat in one of the mink sets. … I think this will be my last year … I just don't have any places to trap that have any rats. I checked the trout club and Granville golf course about a week ago and found 8 active rats dens at trout club and 5 at Granville .. went out yesterday and there was almost no sign of activity. Went to another pond that had good sign about 3 weeks ago and nothing there yesterday. The best ponds I have been trapping are at Planters development on horns hill road, but they now have new ground management and can't find out how to get in touch with them .. Esterley or something like that and they have all kinds of posting sings put up. I found out yesterday that I can no longer set the #110 traps without a setter … The Dupuytren's contracture I have in my hands have taken care of that. I thought by the time I got done today I was going to have a heart attack and was so weak could hardly get into my van. If I can't come up with something easy to get to in the next day or 2 my trapping days are done and I will have a bunch of traps for seal. Just one wore out old man I am afraid.


Garry





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Hang in there Garry.Do what you can without killing yourself.
This getting old crap ain't for pansies.
Good luck,
Tom

We are all getting there my friend. I am right at 73 and it isn't getting any easier.

Ditto on its getting harder, ive got various one handed trap setters so i can continue trapping....if you can only set a couple traps, set a couple traps , its still trapping. Go for it, slowly but surely.

switch to simple blind sets for mink and rats at bridge corners and sluices.mink's worth 2 rats and just as easy.

You’ve got 7 more sets out than me Garry. Hang in there.

I had hard time starting out this year but after a couple of times out I found out I was getting better moving easier an sleeping better. stay with it just go at slow pace or find a young person to mentor show them how its done ,you will love that

Wouldn't it be great if we had a club or organization that put some older folks that just can't do the physical part with some young folks that could benefit from burning off some physical energy and have them trap together even if only for a week?

^^ The knowledge that could be shared by those older trappers would be a real benefit to newer trappers.

Got a friend that could no longer set #3 bridgers for cats or even smaller coils for coon. So he switched to cages and snares, and now still very much enjoys trapping both. Very easy to set and gets him out and walking where he can. He sends me pics of every catch like a whole new adventure for him, it's fun to see him still going and trying new things.
Jim

Me and my friends set 15 trusses Saturday for my new cabin. I'm right there with you, at only 52 I am not sure how many more of those days I have in me, lol. Do what you love to the extent
you can.

Hobbie, sign me up as oldster #1. If I have to pass clearances or the like, fine.

I found it hard after I had broke my hip and then after needed a hip replacement and then put out of work because could not do the job anymore. Since i like to trap and hunt and fish .I had to find ways to make it that I will still be able to do it. I did that .this year is show me more of what my limits are. I make it work for me. i am just 58 now.

i've got a bed to sleep in,places to trap,and plenty of room for fur should anybody young or old ever wanna hang out,tag along,or go do you're own thing.don't threaten me with a good time.

the furbuyer locally i worked for year round has hung it up.hasn't set more than a dozen traps in 10 yrs.he will be kidnapped if that's what it takes but i bet it don't.

Son grandson and me are going to run a line in about a month. lots of stuff I still want to pass on to them. I cant go hard anymore but I can still pick locations and be the manager. They can do the physical stuff. going to an area neither one of them has ever been before. Grandson is in high school and son has a family to support. Never been able to get all three of us in a time frame to make it work before. Im pretty excited.

I haven't trapped for a couple of years , cause I just can't keep up with deer hunting , trapping and cutting wood. But back in June I woke up one moring with sever nerve damage in my left arm , it was so bad I was only averaging about a hour of sleep for about three weeks it was so bad. I still can't use my left hand to we'll . This weekend it got cold enough here in Indiana to go deer hunting cause it's bow season , so I got my crossbow and went out to the woods and I could not pull back on the string to (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) it back. Had to go get a string cocking device to help. I got stage 2 deterioration of my neck and lower spine and nerve damage in left arm , but I do what I can do and I won't give up and I just turned 53. Don't give up!

Garry, your book on muskrat trapping is sitting in front of me , dated '09. Bought it for my youngest daughter. She is now a junior in college and probably the only one there that can skin a rat. Last year, when her schedule was hectic, she called to say she wished she could come home to trap for a few days to "get normal" You have passed on a wealth of info that will outlast your ability to set traps. Thanks, friend.

2X Hang tough Garry.

I haven't trapped for a couple of years , cause I just can't keep up with deer hunting , trapping and cutting wood. But back in June I woke up one moring with sever nerve damage in my left arm , it was so bad I was only averaging about a hour of sleep for about three weeks it was so bad. I still can't use my left hand to we'll . This weekend it got cold enough here in Indiana to go deer hunting cause it's bow season , so I got my crossbow and went out to the woods and I could not pull back on the string to (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) it back. Had to go get a string cocking device to help. I got stage 2 deterioration of my neck and lower spine and nerve damage in left arm , but I do what I can do and I won't give up and I just turned 53. Don't give up!

Get ya some colony traps. Doesn't require anything to set them. Don't even have to get your shoes were most of the time.

Thank you … I guess a few people gained some knowledge from my book and that pleases me very much. I learned a long time ago, when I 5 or 6, to listen to old experienced people when it came to hunting, trapping, fishing and things they had learned on their job. As I understand they are still selling a few of them each year. If that is to be my legacy, I am proud of it.


Garry-

know how you feel set 2 coyote traps this year ended up crawling to a tree to get back up So I set some 330's for beaver maybe some mink boxes after deer season long as I don't have to kneel down i'm ok so far Keep Going

It's a very good book. With your talent you should write more if able. Many people can benefit and be entertained by your experiences.

I'm 67 with a heart condition and was defibrillated last week. Getting old sucks but beats the alternative. Do and enjoy whatever you can. Best wishes.

Hang tough Actor...but be safe also!

Starting to feel the years myself, but my almost 93 yo Dad tells me it's not bad until 85, so stop whining!

An older trapper around me was working with a couple teenaged brothers some years back. I believe Mr Dobbins used to work out of this man's place when he lived here.

Anyway, the boys got to learn from a seasoned trapper, and they did the grunt work for him, and kept an eye on him, so was win-win for all involved.

I feel your Pain my friend. I'll be 80 In May If I make It.

Rat trapping I think Is a thing of the past for me. But I'm still out there hanging CRs and digging In the dirt for coyotes. but I'm only 20 yards from the truck most of the time.

Thought about your post all day, life stinks sometimes. I think it bothered me so much because I am near that time in my life. I hadn't set a trap in three years until this year, I have four rat traps and one coyote set out, not much, but I am trying. I wish you the very best and understand how you feel. Good luck.

your book helped me a lot.This getting old suxs,in the waiting stage for a aortic valve replacement doc says a year or so before I have it done.I cant walk the ditches this year to short of breath .