I didn't see a thread about any Northern MN guys headed out today. I made a half hearted attempt (at best) and set a few Beaver sets. I want the carcasses more than I want the hides. My rat lake had a grand total of ONE house on it. I put out about 5 rats sets and called it a day. I just can't get excited about it this year.

I'm in the Southern zone and Dry land started today, like you I am having trouble getting excited. Probably set a coon trap or two at the local farm for the farm kids to check, other than that wait for next weekend to try and find a few beaver as I am out of meat.

I saw sign of one other guy and that was within a mile of his house. The "regular" guys that have trapped here for years were MIA today.

It looks like it might be a good year to trap weather wise here in the north.So far it looks like it is going to be a late freeze up.
I have never felt the water so warm for this time of year.They are predicting a cold winter.Usually when it freezes late we have good ice all winter.

I'll be heading up nort mid November for a few weeks. Until then I'm concentrated on putting some venison in my freezer.

I'm helping some farmers and neighbors with skunks and coon . No Beaver trapping till Good Ice.

Ha! I am trapping beaver so I don't have to deal with coon and skunks!

I'm doing some swapping/ trading for materials I need. So it's a win, win

I have a couple of dug ponds behind the house I went and set a couple of rat traps today to see if they were still in them just to play a little. Probably start a few canine sets next weekend here at home. But will wait until the deer rifle season is over before I get to crazy.

I set today more out of tradition than anything. I don’t believe I have missed an opener in around 40 years and I didn’t want to break that streak.

Hang in there guys
It’s got to get better,
I hope..

Hey Rob is the little fella still trapping with you?

He will be tomorrow. The internet kind of got him. I need someone to pack beaver. I am too old and feeble and a strapping 14 year old pack mule is just what I need.

Keep on him. The internet/video games got ahold of me too about that age. My Dad would whine and moan and find any excuse to get me out of the house and limit my time on the games. It was highly irritating at the time but I understand now. Don't want to look back and regret all the time wasted on there.

Thank you. I have done this and all but gave up. It is draining to drag him out of the house kicking and screaming. His life pretty much revolved around electronics now and that is all he cares about. I don't get it.

Just had three military chaplains speak to us several weeks ago and I was amazed to hear that the #1 "addiction" in the armed services right now, for 18-24 year olds is....
video games.

As military branch chaplains, they often deal with addictions and all manner of human endeavor, and they said it's a HUGE problem now to get service people involved outside their "rooms."
You can guess what the #2 addiction was. It's also online.

Sad.

It is sad to see a 14 year old kid that lives in the country never leave the house. He has everything a kid could ever want.....boat, guns, fishing poles, snowmobile......and it never gets used. He would rather lay in bed with the shades drawn and play on the internet in a make believe world. He needs to take 2 extra external power packs with him to the deer stand just to keep his phone charged. He will lie, sneak and cheat to take sure he always has an electronic device. It breaks my heart to see that.

I only have internet on my phone now, I find I'm more productive this way.

I set 14 sets out for beaver today.
Just good to be out again.