Had my back surgery yesterday all seems to be going good able to get up and move around with out pain is nice . Still have some sciatic pain doc thinks a little nerve damage but will hopefully heal over next few months. Now the long wait of healing. They say I can’t pick anything over 8 pounds up for 2 months and give it another before any hard lifting. So looks like I will be arm chair trapping this year. Trapping partner is headed out this weekend to set line sure going to miss it.

Good to hear your on the mend! Be good to your body, I for one want to see those catch pic's next season!

Take it easy and hope you have a quick recovery!

Just ride along and let him do all the work!!

Hope it's a smooth recovery man!

Hey John glad to hear surgery went well and you are recoup mode. Listen to the Dr's and you'll heal up fine. Are you still sewing and making boat tops?

Yep last couple years have been busy every one and there sister has been buying boats or redoing there’s . Already booking them for spring.

Not trapping this year because of back surgery but partner is running with a friend. He sent me a pic of a Wolverine they caught in a tip up we built 4 years ago and have only caught cats in it . The one year I don’t run it actually worked I just thought I would share the pic .

That would be something to come up on just after getting caught. That worked really good. Thanks for the picture John!

That is awesome. Always wanted to try that.

Did something similar back in my 30's... over a couple decades ago now. Had a condition called Spondylolisthesis, but anyway, fancy way of saying that vertebrae moved and nerves got dragged and pinched, primarily the sciatic. It went on for a long time, and I finally had surgery. Metal cages. Bored open nerve holes. Packed in hip bone to fuse it. It isn't perfect, but it stuck. I have some nerve damage, but have been able to tolerate it since. I still get sciatica, but if I behave myself, it's ok. The main thing is, posture is key. I can't slouch. Can't sit on couches or recliners. Anything I can sink into is pure poison. Hard chairs and floors are better.

I've had many a good adventure since then. Probably forgot about more than I can remember.

I imagine they've come a long ways when it comes to getting better at back surgery in the past two decades.

This, of course, is all to give you hope.

And, you're not alone. I'm right there with ya this winter, being the armchair trapper, which is why my journal has been so quiet. For me, it's hernias and carpeltunnel.

Rest up, behave yourself and heal, and you'll be rocking it next season.

Nice catch of fur.Congrats

Can you post a picture of the snare trigger you use TeamV

What a sight to see. Bet you all are thrilled it finally connected with a wolverine and worked. Now to set up a game camera and get some video of it right after being caught.

I'd like to see that trigger too. Used to do the white 17 snare pole for wolverine around Nome. Would really work well in spruce tree country.
Jon, you and the pard are the ATA calendar picture for February. Curious where the dredge buckets came from. Even small ones like that are pretty heavy. How did you get them to the cabin?
Nice pic in the calendar. Heck of a big animal catch that year!

Don’t have a pic of trigger but can explain it . First build a snare with about 3 feet of 14 or 9 gage wire attached to it with double feral . First attach it to your lift Pole than swing your Pole down to bottom and figure out we’re your snare is going to set . Best way to do it is wire your Pole to stationary tree so you can do work safely. After wired pull extra wire around back side of tree and drive a large nail in to stationary tree . Wrap extra wire around nail 3 or 4 times and cut head off nail . Once done remove safety wire and back out . Dredge bucket were at cabin we used for pictures not sure they came from . Was a lot of work last year my back can contest to it . Sure am missing trapping this year .

Not my wolf but trapping partners . I have caught a lot of wolves but this one is the biggest I have seen so far . My trapping partner and friend got it on the line with 3 others but this one is huge. Pic does not do it justice . Weight is 131lb

Good looking toad of a wolf!

That is a big one !! Was his gut full of meat ?

Wow! Looks like a fatty!