Awesome pic bleeohio

While trapping beaver through the ice back in the 70's I had a nice surprise waiting for me. I had placed a 3" diameter dead tree at an angle through the ice into the mud below. I wired a #4 double longspring about 2' up from the bottom with a bundle of popple tips wired above about a foot below the ice. Went to check the set about a week later and pulled a very large buck mink from the trap. I know they travel under the ice but was odd that it stepped into that set! Brought $28.00 at the local fur buyer. Sure do miss those days!

Chris

I've had many memorable days on the trap line. One that stands out for me is I set 60 long springs in a creek for mushrats and the next morning I had 52 mushrats,3 coons and big buck mink.

Yeah, Early 80s. I made more Trappin' than my full time job

Many memorable catches, but maybe I will submit my first beaver: Actually two of them. I was 16 years old and had been reading FF&G articles about beaver trapping. I had 3 #4 double long springs so I set them up with window sash weights for drowners. There was a slough near where I lived and some beaver where working it so I set up three trails coming out of the water and caught two the first night.

I hardly knew what to do with myself!

Sorry, but I have two memorable catches, and both were whopper beaver. I do remember my first coyote like it was yesterday, but these two beaver were definitely top catches.

First was many years ago, this huge beaver I snared, went 75 pounds.


second one was one that my then 7 year old son Gunner snared. He was so happy when we caught it. We had checked his empty snare for a couple days then bingo he got it. I was so proud of him!

That Shot of your Son is the Best!!!

Thanks 330. I was showing him how easy it is to catch them on trails with snares. No big traps or strong springs, just a snare and an extension to lock around the tree next to that little dam and trail they were using. It was all he talked about for weeks...caught it all by himself!
Jim

Couple for me. First was my first bobcat. It was the early 80's and the limit here was on cat. I had one set with a 330. I had to walk a mile and a half up a thousand foot ridge to check it. After a month I finally caught a cat. Got 250$ for it. Second was my first coon. It was big boar. I set two number two victor coils in the end of a hollow log baited with sardines. The coon was backfooted in one trap and burrowed into the hollow log. I grabbed the other trap and gave it a good pull. The coon came out on the fight and I fired an instinct shot from my old marlin lever action and hit it between the eyes. Lucky cause it would have tore the crap out of me.

Barn rat in a 220 bucket set.

Was especially memorable as I was talking to my mother, on the phone, at the time. Hilarious! Conversation sort of went like: " Yeah. Weather's as normal here, mum. It's just ..... Umm ..... What The ..... Hang on, mum. I ..... What The ....!!! HOW?! ..... Sorry, mum. What? Ermm; I just got this situation here ....."

Like, I'm swallowing my tongue and trying to comprehend what I'm even looking at!

my first mole..after 3 weeks of trying age 10!
my first snared fox even snared with a snare made from bike brake cables from a bike at the tip.

then as i got older a bit the first day i snared 4 foxes..and the first time i got 100+ moles in a single check

Those are some pretty good days

This 86 lb beaver when i was 16

Back when I was 17, I went to spend Thanksgiving with my Aunt and Uncle who lived in Roane County WV - I was from Colorado. They had a nice acerage farm that had a small river running through it. I caught my first Gray fox, mink, and possum on that trip. There were also muskrats and coon but I had been catching them in my home state. I felt pretty big in my britches for my first out of state trapping adventure.



Sorry for the old dark picture but it is all I have. left to right - Possums, Mink, Muskrats, grey fox and coons.



First ever Gray fox

80# Beaver would be memorable for sure Maniac

Jim....those old dark photos just add to the mystique ...Awesome memories.

I was dry landing some 330s on this rice plantation and I caught a bobcat and It had a hen mallard still clutched In It's jaws when It died.

I could still take you to within 10 yards of the spot I caught my first red fox back in Iowa. I'll always remember my first bobcat up near Hawk Springs in a set made for fox. A few "big days" will always remain vivid in my memory. What a wonderful sport we pursue!!!!!!

Isnt that the Truth ...I can remember many first locations

Beav That Must have been Amazing....did you mount it?

Red tail hawk I removed from a ladies house. It had crashed into her screened in porch. Captured it, took some quick pictures and immediately released it due to very strict federal laws regarding birds of prey.
Normally you can't touch these things without special federal licenses and etc. I've learned from my states DNR if it is a bonafide 'rescue ' and it is in the animal's best interests to save it from harm/injuries/death you are allowed to help.
Done this a couple times , 2 red tail hawks , 2 sharp shinned hawks.

Very cool seeing such a majestic animal up close.

A 40lb coyote