To all the members of Trapperman I would like to say thank you. After a few slow seasons the Girls and I have finally figured out to have fun, set on sign, have some more fun, and set on more sign. I have been neglecting to tell this story because I couldn’t figure out how to post pictures from an iPhone. But now that seems to be fixed here we go.

Chapter One, How not to catch a K9

My father in-law owns a beautiful piece of land that we deer hunt, they trapped rats, and occasionally shoot a duck or two from. After hearing their tails of full stop losses I get the itch to go k9 trapping. And I sign up for the trapping education course, met a lot of great people and gained some sound advice. I also hear the word trapperman. So I go check out the sight, spending hours reading gaining more wisdom from the pros.

That year I purchase some traps and due to lack of free time I put them in the ground basically straight from the box with the whole family as cheerleaders. I did look for tracks in the logging roads so I new where the Coyotes were that day, lol. Obviously I did not actually learn anything from the fine people trying to tell me what not to do.
I caught 1 grey squirrel and a fisher that I did not have a tag for. Lots of lessons learned on year during year one.

Chapter 2, Gods pity

Year two starts of with bowling traps and wax that’s that I have no idea if it’s too hot or burning, but sometimes learning what not todo is more valuable than what todo, at least that is what I tell myself. I drive down roads after work looking for tracks before season scouting, actually scouting this year keeping a mental list of how many I see, whiping the sand clean to ensure the next set is fresh. I set traps in the area of of the hunting land, this time I set mostly on sign and honestly, a few were I think they should be. The first catch and second catch of the year are on the same day, a Grey fox and Fisher. My father in-law found the Grey in the split of the four where I had made a flat set. And my Brother in-law found the Fisher while sitting in his stand.

I few days later I connect again only this time it’s a badger that had a great front foot catch on. The hole it dug was impressive and I call my father-in-law and he and my brother help me get it out of the trap. I leave the area and decide to come back the next day, to my surprise the badger completely filled in the big hole that was there the night before. So I grab the dirty trap, I was going to reboil and wax and put it back, and then I decide I hold put a muskrat in that spot for bait and cover it up and the following night I would return to put the trap back in the ground.

The next night comes and to my astonishment a red fox way there that night a stole my bait. But now I am excited throw some bait in the hole bed a trap in front and the back and wait. Two more day pass and I notice something doesn’t look right. I walk up to the set and the dirt hole has been covered up and the ground is mounded up differently. My trap is missing. What in the world is going on hear. Well luckily I keep a shovel I. The back Incase I get stuck on n the snow. I dig down until I find the anchor and notice the chain is headed right into this burm of sand. After what seamed like digging for 30 minutes I arrive at the hind foot of another badger which has burrowed its way in and is intent on staying there. After a few minutes I get enough courage to pull this beast out with the catch pull around the trap. Then kneel on the shovel which is laid on its back and release it.

After figuring out what can freeze will be frozen, watching tracks avoid my sets, the nearly two overs at night on snowshoes, and my wife telling me that I need to change a diaper at least once in my life. I concede to defeat late January.

Chapter 3

Year three begins with a with Trapperman member giving me a bunch of books I read them multiple times. After reading the books I find a few fields to peek in from the road and look for sign. I also listened to a YouTube with Mark June as a guest and they were talking about land owner permissions. I am the type of person that doesn’t like doing new things for the fear of rejection, so asking took me a awhile. After knocking on a few doors 3 said yes 1 said no, I figured out that the no’s are that bad.

In the meantime I am also thinking that I need to be able to include my family or this could end a lot worse than getting skunked. I talk to my then Three year old and ask her if she’s ready to go trapping, she replies “ I can’t dad I don’t have a Trapping basket”. I. The next weeks we build one together ( small plastic trash can, nylon webbing). We set off she’s proud as a peacock and I am even prouder I setup on in the center of a two track the runs next too a hedge row. She has her great grandfathers #1 in the track it’s self covering it up with the garden tools that I gave her that morning as coaxing gift.

Now this part seams hard to believe I know and only God could be looking out for me like this. Some four days later it’s Saturday and I wake her up and we go checking traps, and we find I first coyote standing in the trap to which she thinks is hers. We end up catching 7 coyote, handful of coon and our first Redfox which my daughter and my niece were with for that check.

Chapter 4,

This brings us to this year, I have now figured out that it is way more fun to actually spend time with my daughters doing these things than to do it myself. So opening day in Wisconsin my 2-4 year old set out on a blustery day. We get three traps in the ground before it’s time for hot chocolate, I head out later to get some more out. A few days later I take my oldest and her cousin, which my daughter HAD to make a trapping basket for, head out my wife is kind enough to come with and the girls dig a huge dirt hole, and pound in the stakes. It’s so big I find a log to place in between the holes and bed a trap about 12” in front of the log and another in a dirt hole I baited. We proceed to put a spat set up. A few yards away and the girls are literally touching every grain of said and would have nothing todo with me taking a few swings of the hammer.

Again this seems hard to believe but a few days later with both of my girls in the Jeep we catch a nice female coyote in that flat set. A few days after I have to call my wife at 5:00 am to bring the girls to see the Tom bobcat we caught in that huge dirt hole. My loving wife brought them along although my daughter was a little afraid to be in the dark with the cat.

I know this is long winded and I am no professional trapper I have caught a total of 10 Coyotes. But I figured I would offer my story to see if it might help someone else.

Have fun out there,

God Bless,

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Looks like a good time they will never forget! WTG

yep, that looks like fun, I can tell by the grins.

It don't get any better then that. Make sure to save these pictures they will be priceless.

wtg the girls will never quit telling trapping stories with there dad

That looks like about the most enjoyable way to trap!!! Glad you and the girls are catching. Thanks for sharing your tale with us.

Freakin awesome!!!

That's Great

Now this was a well written, from the heart, submission and I'll offer my way-to-goes also.
You need one of my DVDs to watch with the girls and enjoy!
Can I send you one no-charge?

PM me.
Mark

Amazing stories, way to keep after it and keep them included. My dad started me out pretty much just like this nearly 30 years ago, and I'll always be grateful for it.

Great story and priceless pictures.!!!!!

Very classy, Mark. Great write up and pictures, Walliguy. :



Charlie

Thanks for posting that Great Story Walliguy. Reminds me of the Great memories I had with my Daughters when they were young like that. Now I take my Grandkids

Out-trapped by the kids! Again!

That's Awesom!!! Good job on keeping with it!