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Firsts #7392083
10/30/21 07:53 AM
10/30/21 07:53 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512
Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30 Offline OP
trapper
yotetrapper30  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512
Oakland, MS
As I walked to the last set on my trapline, I wondered why I was even bothering. It was early December and I'd been checking empty traps for almost 6 weeks now. Oh, they weren't always empty; I'd caught plenty of possums, a skunk, and a few coon. But I was trapping fox and coyotes. I fancied myself a canine trapper, even though I had never caught one. Not just this year. I'd never caught one ever, and I'd been trapping for them for at least 4 seasons now.

The first year my Grandfather had came with me to help me make sets for a couple of days. The problem was he had never trapped canines either, only muskrat and mink, and that had been 40 years earlier. The first year we had made about 20 sets... and that first week we caught about 10 possums and that was all. He stopped coming with me, having shown me all he knew, but I kept on all that season. And the next, and next.

One of those early years, my goal was to catch a coon I called Ol 4 Toes. I caught his fifth toe the first day of season. In my ten year old mind, if I could catch him after having lost him once, I would be a REAL trapper. It took three or four weeks and I learned a lot about reading coon sign in those weeks. I had blind traps buried in any place a coon might even consider leaving a foot print. I caught a few coon, but they all had all their toes. In the end, I caught him Thanksgiving week in the very same trap that had caught his toe. And I was a REAL trapper then!

But that was two years ago, and I still hadn't caught a fox or coyote. I sat in school all day, hating the time it was taking away from me being on my trapline. I read FFG magazines laid open across my text books during class, and read Stanley Hawbaker's Trapping North American Furbearers on my lunch break. I got off the bus, changed into "play" clothes, and then ran down to the woods until it was too dark to see every day. I made pretty much every set in the Hawbaker book's chapters on fox and coyote, but had no luck. I knew we had plenty of fox and coyote, their tracks were plain to see in the snow on my line and I often heard the coyotes howling on clear cold snowy nights when I stood listening in my backyard.

My last set was a dirthole at a cow cemetery. When I rounded the corner I saw it was empty, as usual, but when I got closer I saw it was also sprung, and dug out. As I knelt and remade the set, I was about convinced I would never catch a canine and I should just hang up my traps. When I was done I stood up and just looked around and it was then I noticed for the first time a small mound about 20 feet away from my set.

I don't know what had originally made the mound, but it was about 3 foot across and maybe 18" high and smooth on the top, covered in wet leaves like the rest of the woods. And somewhere in the back of my mind something tingled, and I remembered reading somewhere about a "mound set". From what I could remember, a trap was to be set on the top of the mound and blended in, and an attractant like a dead skunk should be placed in the vicinity, but not right at the mound. Well, I didn't have a dead skunk, but I did have a dirt hole set the canines were already working, so why not? I reached into my pack basket and pulled out a #1.5 Victor I had previously boiled in sumac before waxing, and blended it into the top of the mound. I didn't know how to stake it there, so I used my trusty roll of baling wire to wire the trap off to a dead tree for a drag. And then I hurried home because it was getting dark.

The next day was a Saturday and I rushed to go check my traps. But they were all empty, even the new set. I walked home through an overgrown vineyard and kicked out a pheasant and shot it, so the day wasn't a total waste. On Sunday my traps were also empty, and there was no hunting, so the day was spent by the woodstove reading trapping books and magazines and dreaming.

Monday dragged in school, the way Mondays tend to do. When I got off the bus, it was snowing. I changed my clothes, grabbed a couple of cookies and headed out, packing my trusty Marlin squirrel gun. I was met by empty trap after empty trap but today I didn't even care. It was December, Christmas was coming, and it was snowing heavily. The snow was piling up on branches, it was the wet, heavy kind, and everything was completely, perfectly beautiful. I tarried as I went along, in no hurry, just thoroughly enjoying walking through this winter wonderland. I spent a half an hour stalking a squirrel I heard barking, when suddenly I noticed the lengthening shadows. I still had traps to check so I hurried on.

I approached the furthest end of my trapline and my last three sets. The first one I came to was empty; a scent post on a field edge. My last two were the dug out dirthole from the other day and the new mound set. I walked through the opening between the two woodlots, and made my way to the trail that led into the cow cemetery. And when I turned that corner, there bouncing around against the newly fallen snow, was a red fox in my mound set!!!!

I don't remember walking home. I don't know if I walked, or ran, or was transported on the wings of angels. Any of those options seemed viable because I was a sure enough trapper now that had just caught my first red fox! When I got home I ran next door to my grandparents house and my Grandfather showed me how to skin the fox in his garage that night. I have a picture of that somewhere still.

A couple of weeks later, I caught my first gray fox. I guess the curse was broken now.


~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392090
10/30/21 08:03 AM
10/30/21 08:03 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Offline
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Offline
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,493
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Very well written Angela. I enjoyed reading that, and I think you should do more writing.



Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392092
10/30/21 08:05 AM
10/30/21 08:05 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,599
Port Jervis, NY
B
beachcomber13 Offline
trapper
beachcomber13  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,599
Port Jervis, NY
Hahaha, pretty much describes me as a school kid waiting three seasons to catch my first fox. I'd also made every fox set EXACTLY as they were made in Hawbaker's book. Now I realize I was making those perfect sets in the wrong locations.

Great story, yotetrapper, thanks!

Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392093
10/30/21 08:06 AM
10/30/21 08:06 AM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 9,917
Arkansas
J
J Staton Offline
trapper
J Staton  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 9,917
Arkansas
Enjoyable read. Brings back memories of my first goal to become a real trapper involving a mink.


James 1: 19-20
Re: Firsts [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7392109
10/30/21 08:35 AM
10/30/21 08:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,112
Three Lakes,WI 72
C
corky Offline
trapper
corky  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,112
Three Lakes,WI 72
Originally Posted by Paul Dobbins
Very well written Angela. I enjoyed reading that, and I think you should do more writing.

x2

Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392129
10/30/21 09:04 AM
10/30/21 09:04 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,915
Nevada
YamaCat Offline
trapper
YamaCat  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,915
Nevada
Thanks for re-living that with us. Very enjoyable!

Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392136
10/30/21 09:14 AM
10/30/21 09:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,561
Va. Lee Co.
D
Donnie H Online content
trapper
Donnie H  Online Content
trapper
D

Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,561
Va. Lee Co.
WOW...it was like I was right there with you...
I remember my first red...10 foot tall and bullet proof.
I had tried so hard to be like my uncles and now I was...
Thanks for the post...


Donnie

Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392146
10/30/21 09:39 AM
10/30/21 09:39 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,241
The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane Offline
"HOSS"
Leftlane  Offline
"HOSS"

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,241
The Hill Country of Texas
Great story!


“What’s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.”
Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers


Re: Firsts [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7392169
10/30/21 10:29 AM
10/30/21 10:29 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,366
New York border
Cragar Offline
trapper
Cragar  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,366
New York border
Originally Posted by Paul Dobbins
Very well written Angela. I enjoyed reading that, and I think you should do more writing.

X3


NRA benefactor member
Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392259
10/30/21 01:15 PM
10/30/21 01:15 PM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,444
South Alabama
Boy Named Sue Offline
trapper
Boy Named Sue  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,444
South Alabama
Great story! Thank you for sharing. And for the new vocabulary word "tarried", I had to google it. grin


"Common sense is always the least common of sense."
Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392286
10/30/21 01:57 PM
10/30/21 01:57 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 381
Vernal, Utah, USA
Dan Barnhurst Offline
trapper
Dan Barnhurst  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 381
Vernal, Utah, USA
What a wonderfully written story. Thanks for sharing that!


Sneak the pan under his paw!
Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392305
10/30/21 02:35 PM
10/30/21 02:35 PM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,829
KY.usa
rex123 Offline
trapper
rex123  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,829
KY.usa
The way you wrote that was like being there.

Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392311
10/30/21 02:50 PM
10/30/21 02:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,966
St. Louis Co, Mo
B
BigBob Offline
trapper
BigBob  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,966
St. Louis Co, Mo
Good job kiddo!


Every kid needs a Dog and a Curmudgeon.

Remember Bowe Bergdahl, the traitor.

Beware! Jill Pudlewski, Ron Oates and Keven Begesse are liars and thiefs!
Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392320
10/30/21 03:09 PM
10/30/21 03:09 PM
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 225
PA
Charles2 Offline
trapper
Charles2  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 225
PA
Great read! You SHOULD do more writing as Paul has said. Very well done.


Charles2Trap
Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392411
10/30/21 06:14 PM
10/30/21 06:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,278
Va
O
Owen156 Offline
trapper
Owen156  Offline
trapper
O

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,278
Va
That was outstanding!

Re: Firsts [Re: Paul Dobbins] #7392426
10/30/21 06:35 PM
10/30/21 06:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,932
SEPA
L
Lugnut Offline
trapper
Lugnut  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 19,932
SEPA
Originally Posted by Paul Dobbins
Very well written Angela. I enjoyed reading that, and I think you should do more writing.


X 4


Eh...wot?

Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392432
10/30/21 06:52 PM
10/30/21 06:52 PM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 411
TN
Oreamnos Offline
trapper
Oreamnos  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 411
TN
Good read. Thanks for sharing. Took me back to my first grey fox that I caught on my 16th birthday.

Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392435
10/30/21 06:56 PM
10/30/21 06:56 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512
Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30 Offline OP
trapper
yotetrapper30  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512
Oakland, MS
Wow wasn't expecting all these replies to my early morning ramblings. Thanks for the kind words everyone.

And glad I could expand your vocabulary Sue, LOL.


~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392440
10/30/21 07:01 PM
10/30/21 07:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,261
Wisconsin
R
RdFx Offline
trapper
RdFx  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,261
Wisconsin
great story, when you have time from skinning write some more, a little every nite till you have story done.


RdFx
Re: Firsts [Re: yotetrapper30] #7392453
10/30/21 07:27 PM
10/30/21 07:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,430
PA
C
coyotesoldier229 Offline
trapper
coyotesoldier229  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,430
PA
Well written and thank you for sharing.

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