what can I say? I learned a lot!!

Really, these guys LIVE trapping in the nuisance and fur trapping worlds. Jonesie and Newt live in a state that restricts what they can use: no foot traps except DPs. Morgan comes from out of state so he can use foot traps and we got some lessons in how he very effectively used them, too.

I flew into Philadelphia on Thursday. Cameron Kelsey picked me up at the airport. He’s as nice a guy in person as he sounds on Tman. Class started Friday, at noon. We met Newt at his boat building shop and he made everybody feel comfortable from the start. Over the next three days, we got more education from Newt, Jonesie and Morgan than I could have ever gotten from videos or books. You see, I have to be able to observe, ask questions, take notes and be able to see things from 2-3 angles. And take pictures and videos and fall down and get dirty. It’s how I learn. Ten pages of notes and lots of pictures will continue to remind me things are both different and the same in the world of trapping.

For instance, we were taught about prebaiting, the importance of wind direction for all sorts of sets, different applications for snaring, baiting and luring strategies; negatives and positives when using cages; stupid sets and advanced sets; the ins and outs of running a business; and the mindset of the 80/20 concept. As a fur trapping hobbyist, if I catch what I want to catch, it’s a good day. But for a nuisance trapper, he has to figure out how and why he’s not getting 100% all the time.

None of the instructors pushed their own products. I bought a little and the TSA folks didn’t remove it from my suitcase, though they left a note saying they looked. I met trappers from Alaska, Maine and Minnesota (if you count Cameron who has dual residency (Minn and the Navy), and others up and down the east coast. Everyone faced different conditions, soils and regulatory restrictions. In some east coast states, land trapping restrictions are so strict, trapping is heavily done on public lands, meaning having to compete with hikers, bikers, hunters and use by the general public. Yet, Trappers have figured out how to continue trapping regardless of these restrictions.

Would I go again? You bet. The next time I’ll be able to say how well these instructions worked here in Minnesota. Or, how I successfully adapted them to the conditions I face here.

If you’ve never taken face to face instructions, here’s a chance to pick the collective brains of 3 people who make their living from being efficient at what they do. You’re getting three for the price of one and any one of them would be worth the cost of this school.

Bill Adler (Teacher)

Thank you Teacher.

I learned everything I know the hard way. It took years and still after it. The older you get the harder it is to apply your knowledge. Although the passion to learn remains. I would have likely been much further ahead spending some money and finding a good instructor. Someone that's handy could triple an average guys catch, long as theyre willing to work. my opinion in hindsight.

I always wondered how to value lessons, what are they worth?

I’ve been to “free” demos from those fellas and learned quite a bit. I can only imagine what the value of spending three days and getting in depth instruction is. Maybe next year!

I believe all three gentlemen will be at the Virginia FTA Rondezvous in June!!

Thanks for the kind words Teacher! It was great to meet you and all the others at the school. I learned a bunch and found it well worth the time and money.