Embarassed old beaver trapper
#7192939
02/23/21 12:08 AM
02/23/21 12:08 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,577 Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins
OP
"Trapperman custodian"
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OP
"Trapperman custodian"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,577
Goldsboro, North Carolina
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Today I had an experience I've never had before. I hear lots of stories about folks getting whacked with 330s, but of course no one that I know of can beat those whacks that Marty Harmon has told about over the years. If I recall correctly, Marty says the only place a 330 hasn't whacked him was his left testicle. My experience was tame compared to his many experiences.
I found a nice divot in the bank that would offer a great spot to put a 330. I got a tall 330 stabilizer all set with a 330 installed. I fastened a wire to the top of the stabilizer, and I secured the end to a small pine that was right there. I then tried to move closer to the edge to position the trap, and my right foot caught on a vine. Well, I saw it was just a small vine, so I yanked my foot back and slammed it forward to break the vine. The problem was that my foot, once it broke the vine, kept going forward into the set 330. Of course the trap was upside down in the stabilizer, and the safety hooks were dangling freely. It came as quite a shock when those jaws wrapped on my foot. I started laughing and hoping no one would come down the road while I was in this fix. It reminded me of the time that CDR caught my wallet when I fell on it. Anyway, I sat down to try to compress the springs. I was unable to compress them because of the awkwardness of how the trap had me. So, I took the wire off the top of the stabilizer and slid the stabilizer off of the trap. I then crawled on my hands and knees to my truck, which was only about 15 feet away. Culvert trappers don't get far from their trucks, you know. I was able to reach in the truck bed, get the setters to compress the springs, then remove the trap. I swear it was more embarrassing than painful. I reckon it's a good thing it wasn't a Belisle, or it may have been more painful. I have set 330s many thousands of times, and this was my first Marty Harmon experience.
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7192942
02/23/21 12:13 AM
02/23/21 12:13 AM
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 227 MN
MnJag
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 227
MN
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7192943
02/23/21 12:14 AM
02/23/21 12:14 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,912 east central Minnesota
Maddog47
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,912
east central Minnesota
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Oh but I would have given a lot for a photo op of that experience. Bet the photo would bring a good dollar at an NTA benefit auction.
Peace is that brief glorious moment when everybody stands around reloading Thomas Jefferson
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7192944
02/23/21 12:15 AM
02/23/21 12:15 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,923 Central, SD
Law Dog
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,923
Central, SD
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Stepped it one the slap did not hurt but the ankle bone was sure feeling it every time I tried to move I told my buddy to pull up on the stake end of the cable extension he pulled up on the trap end. I do feel your pain.
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7192945
02/23/21 12:15 AM
02/23/21 12:15 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,599 NC, Orange Co.
QuietButDeadly
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,599
NC, Orange Co.
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If it had been a Belisle, the safeties would not have flipped down and your record would still be intact.
Life Member: NCTA, VTA, NTA, TTFHA, MFTI Member: FTA NRA NWTF
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: QuietButDeadly]
#7192950
02/23/21 12:19 AM
02/23/21 12:19 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,577 Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins
OP
"Trapperman custodian"
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OP
"Trapperman custodian"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,577
Goldsboro, North Carolina
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If it had been a Belisle, the safeties would not have flipped down and your record would still be intact. No, the safeties would have been off even on a belisle, because I was placing the trap. I was three feet up on the bank and wouldn't be able to reach the safeties once placed.
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7192955
02/23/21 12:25 AM
02/23/21 12:25 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,246 Oregon
beaverpeeler
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,246
Oregon
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I wasn't as lucky as you Boss the first time my foot wore one of them 10"X10" torture devices. There was a witness.
Back in the early 80's I had waded across a rain swelled small creek looking for my submerged conibear. Found it with my boot and wore it back across the crick where NewHouse 114 was laughing so hard he couldn't even attempt to take it off for several minutes. He still reminds me of it every once an a while.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7192962
02/23/21 12:33 AM
02/23/21 12:33 AM
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,742 Iowa
CTRAPS
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,742
Iowa
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I wonder how the conversation would have went had Mr. Charles D. had been there with you?
Life Member: ITA, IBA & NRA. Member of SA, FTA & NTA
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7192966
02/23/21 12:34 AM
02/23/21 12:34 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,276 Lakeland,Minnesota
Bogmaster
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,276
Lakeland,Minnesota
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R-E-S-P-E-C-T-Thats what we do with a 330. And we don't need any reminders from Aretha Franklin. LOL getting whacked by one is something we never forget, Tom
If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping. Tom Olson MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7192974
02/23/21 12:50 AM
02/23/21 12:50 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,276 Lakeland,Minnesota
Bogmaster
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,276
Lakeland,Minnesota
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Water won't slow it down much--just ask any beaver that has encountered one. The couple times I did it -one I was getting ready to place it,so no water . The other was half submerged.They both got my attention and kept it. Tom
If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping. Tom Olson MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7193017
02/23/21 05:17 AM
02/23/21 05:17 AM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 195 ontario
k9-hunter
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 195
ontario
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just a reminder on"it would never happen to me"always be careful setting traps and working with power tools
Last edited by k9-hunter; 02/23/21 05:17 AM.
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7193031
02/23/21 06:25 AM
02/23/21 06:25 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13,118 Central Pennsylvania
Nittany Lion
Don't call me Mister, Mister
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Don't call me Mister, Mister
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 13,118
Central Pennsylvania
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Good story, I am glad you weren't hurt.
I got myself a seniors' GPS. Not only does it tell me how to get to my destination, it tells me why I wanted to go there.
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7193037
02/23/21 06:34 AM
02/23/21 06:34 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 525 Pa,
trapper4002
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 525
Pa,
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Welcome to the club many years ago a 330 caught both arms kinda a sticky situation very cold out and already wired off but I think the only time my wife ever went with me. she learned to use the setters that day
Cpl USMC. 1989-1993
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Re: Embarassed old beaver trapper
[Re: Paul Dobbins]
#7193056
02/23/21 07:08 AM
02/23/21 07:08 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,357 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,357
Firth, Nebraska
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Thats great Paul. And where you crawled up from the location you made a nice visible fake slide to enhance the set appearance, way to go. Cant beat that for eye appeal! Jim
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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