Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: Monster Toms]
#6739204
01/21/20 10:41 PM
01/21/20 10:41 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691 Nevadafornia
Lazarus
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691
Nevadafornia
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T
Most guys will browse over this and be right back next season over thinking things!!
And I'm one of them!!! Every year I start out with a bag full of tools, gear, gadgets, lure and what not. By the end of the season, there are only about 4 things in the bag and I'm running hard.
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Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: Lazarus]
#6739207
01/21/20 10:43 PM
01/21/20 10:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,081 MO
cfowler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,081
MO
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T
Most guys will browse over this and be right back next season over thinking things!!
And I'm one of them!!! Every year I start out with a bag full of tools, gear, gadgets, lure and what not. By the end of the season, there are only about 4 things in the bag and I'm running hard. Funny how that works. Appreciate the rant, and the insights.
I trap for fun. I skin 'em for the money! Grinners For Life-Lifetime Member, MO Chapter, Den #1 ~You Grin, You're In~
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Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: Lazarus]
#6739208
01/21/20 10:43 PM
01/21/20 10:43 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,390 williams,mn
trapper les
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,390
williams,mn
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Great post. There is only 2 things I am doing right now, lol.
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
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Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: PSB1011]
#6739210
01/21/20 10:44 PM
01/21/20 10:44 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691 Nevadafornia
Lazarus
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691
Nevadafornia
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Jeppers,Tracy,Ive only talked to you just a little, but you must of lernt something from me,lol About everything I learned about hard work and keeping things simple, I learned from Phil Brown!! I still remember when Bob Jameson called and asked me to come to the PA convention years ago. I remember humming and hawing about going, and then he said the magic words: "Phil Brown is doing a demo." That's all I needed to hear. I still remember sitting on the front row when Phil got up to do his demo. I was sure I was going to learn everything I needed to know to be a successful trapper. Phil shows up with a tiny bag with about 4 things in it and makes a set in about 30 seconds, then stands up and says "Any questions?" It took me longer to type this than it did for him to make the set. THAT is when I started learning how to be a trapper.
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Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: Lazarus]
#6739218
01/21/20 10:58 PM
01/21/20 10:58 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 325 Iowa
TrapperDR
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 325
Iowa
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I have a ton of respect for guys who speak the truth and keep it simple. That said, this comes from experience and time in the field. For many young trappers (myself included) the allure of a product or "magic potion" that will give us an advantage, peaks our interest and drives us to get into this lifestyle. I can vividly remember purchasing a bottle of Cherry muskrat lure from FF&G 20+ years ago and using it to catch my first season of muskrat. Towards the end of my trapping season my catch rate dropped after I ran out of the special juice and I was only using ear corn. In my mind, it was because I was out of the lure, looking back, it was because I had trapped down the population in that specific area. To this day, I still wish I could find that lure for memories sake. I think most of us go through a period of education of what is marketing for trappers. At the end of they day this is and industry driven by making money by both trapper and supplier.
Last edited by TrapperDR; 01/21/20 11:00 PM.
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Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: Lazarus]
#6739226
01/21/20 11:11 PM
01/21/20 11:11 PM
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 4,100 Bonner County, Idaho
Wild_Idaho
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 4,100
Bonner County, Idaho
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Great post, Laz. As a new trapper I got a lot out of this post, so thank you. The "tools of the trade" have a ton of options. And I'm still figuring out what I like best but you did help simplify this a lot for me. So thanks.
Real name Eric The sharpest hammer in the box of crayons.
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Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: Andy S]
#6739266
01/21/20 11:42 PM
01/21/20 11:42 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691 Nevadafornia
Lazarus
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691
Nevadafornia
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Beautiful picture. Hope things are good for you, would be nice to see you again one day.
You too man. I miss you putting me in my place all the time. ....
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Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: Lazarus]
#6739274
01/21/20 11:49 PM
01/21/20 11:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,029 PA
PSB1011
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,029
PA
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Jeppers,Tracy,Ive only talked to you just a little, but you must of lernt something from me,lol About everything I learned about hard work and keeping things simple, I learned from Phil Brown!! I still remember when Bob Jameson called and asked me to come to the PA convention years ago. I remember humming and hawing about going, and then he said the magic words: "Phil Brown is doing a demo." That's all I needed to hear. I still remember sitting on the front row when Phil got up to do his demo. I was sure I was going to learn everything I needed to know to be a successful trapper. Phil shows up with a tiny bag with about 4 things in it and makes a set in about 30 seconds, then stands up and says "Any questions?" It took me longer to type this than it did for him to make the set. THAT is when I started learning how to be a trapper. don't get mushy on me now.
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Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: Lazarus]
#6739351
01/22/20 01:17 AM
01/22/20 01:17 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,833 MT (Big Sky Country)
Allan Minear
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,833
MT (Big Sky Country)
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Laz so this is the post well written for sure ! To add some to what's already been written this basic concept holds true for snares and snaring or even cable restraints for that matter, people spend more time trying to find the perfect spot that's tightened down to force whatever target animal into the snare when it's possible to catch it while it travels down a cow trail with little to no funneling down. Keep up the good work and Stay Safe out there ! Allan
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Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: Lazarus]
#6739493
01/22/20 09:23 AM
01/22/20 09:23 AM
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 217 Northern Nv
NvHermit
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 217
Northern Nv
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How many days do you set 30-50 traps and how many do you have out at any one time ? Plus how many cats you average a season ?
I see some guys at Fallon with like 50 or more Hmmmm. You might have seen me there then. That's a lot of fur and way too much like a job for me. I live in Washoe co so I have to check traps every other day plus live at 6200' and get snowed in early.
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.
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Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: Lazarus]
#6739752
01/22/20 01:05 PM
01/22/20 01:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,171 ny
upstateNY
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,171
ny
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Maybe it will be my last.
Been watching and reading a great deal on Tman . . . as always. Its a great diversion from work and its always fascinating to see how the other guy does things. I've learned a ton over the years but I see a lot of the same themes coming up over and over so I thought I'd just issue a pronouncement on some things and then be done with it. You know, kind of like how therapists tell their patients to write a letter and express all their frustrations, then throw the letter away to get rid of their anger. Here goes.
First, most trappers spend way too much time analyzing and second guessing their sets, their equipment, their baits, their lures, their pan covers, their everything. Everything from how to construct a cat/coyote set, to which lure or bait is currently the greatest on the market. Here's my take -- If I tried making some of the sets I see on here (especially cat sets), I'd only get 3-4 per day. Cats aren't rocket scientists. Its been said a lot of different ways, but get in front of them, and make them step on your trap as they go about their business. Same for coyotes. They aren't geniuses either. Don't mistake me -- I very much respect them and there are certainly plenty that outsmart me (not a real challenge for them). But for the average fur trapper, they are pretty simple -- they are always hungry (during trapping season) and they are always looking for a free meal. Give them one!! Just make it natural like it was something they would actually run into out in the field. Have you ever seen where a coyote or fox actually cached food it didn't want or have time to eat? What did it look like? Could you replicate it? If you've got a good strong, proven trap, with a reliable anchoring system, forget about using a trap that would hold a small elephant or one that requires a college degree to operate. Keep it simple. On a good day, I set 30-50 cat traps and I can do a bit better on setting coyote traps (because I set them closer to the vehicle). If you are constructing complicated sets, only getting a handful of them set on a given day, and your success is still subpar, think about simplifying things. I didn't say get sloppy; I said simplify.
Second, for canines and felines, bait and lure don't need to be complicated, and you should think about using the appropriate one in a given situation. Take a page from Mr. Waddell's adventure -- very simple bait, no lure (that's his choice) and some quality urine. Over 600 coyotes this year. I don't think he's sweating the current shortage of Abyssinian Civet Musk or whether its 5 ounces of castor or 6. Use something the animal actually wants to eat -- what a concept!! And without complicating it, think about where you should place that attractant in relation to your trap. Visualize how the animal will approach the attractant and place your trap where he will step on it. If you can't envision it, get yourself some good trail cameras and make mock sets in the off season and watch where/how/why a predator places his feet and body in relation to the attractant.
Third and final, traps are like trucks. We all drive a Ford/Chevy/Dodge/Toyota/Nissan etc for one reason or another. Some of those reasons are valid and some of them probably aren't, but as long as its dependable and gets you down the road, who cares what make/model you drive? Traps are the same way. Some are better than others. My advice is to do your own research, or talk to experienced, actual trappers in your area and see what they like. Then buy the very best you can afford and do it right from the outset. When I was a kid, I was poor. I picked up potatoes on my uncle's farm for 6 cents per 100 pound sack. On a school day, after school, if I hustled I could pick up 20 sacks. On a Saturday, if I busted my fanny, I could get 100. Yup, a whole $6 for the day. I saved my money to buy coyote traps. In my mind, I couldn't afford to buy some of the better traps so I bought some cheap traps (not going to tell you what they were). When I learned to catch coyotes, I had to endure the pain of pullouts, broken trap parts and weak springs. One Christmas my grandmother gave me a dozen #3 Victor Longsprings. I'm not saying they are the BEST trap, but they were quality -- especially compared to what I had been using. I quickly learned that cheap traps cost me, and quality saved me money. I've tried to implement that principle every day of my life whenever I'm tempted to buy something cheap because "it was good enough." Instead, I try to buy quality and you should too. I think it was a trapper from Montana who said "you can judge a trapper by the quality of his tools."
OK, I'm done. Dukes suck!!!
the wheels of the gods turn very slowly
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Re: My first Tman post of 2020
[Re: Lazarus]
#6739793
01/22/20 01:39 PM
01/22/20 01:39 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,100 Southern Nevada
cat_trapper_nv
"Cat Master"
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"Cat Master"
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,100
Southern Nevada
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Awesome post Tracy. Needs to be pinned at the top.
That being said I think we need to talk about what cat set is best. Also what coyote set is best. I also think we need to talk about the best trap. Which ones are over rated and which ones are worth the money. Finally, what lures are the best for each, coyote and cats. I'm not sure if you mentioned these things in the post, I just skimmed through it and thought it would be easier to ask instead of reading it.
If traps work like the Antis say......I would have no fingers.
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