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Advice #7614974
06/28/22 09:57 PM
06/28/22 09:57 PM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 76
Ohio
Del Gue Offline OP
trapper
Del Gue  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 76
Ohio
Hey everyone as I continue on down this road getting ready for my first real trapping season, I’ve come up with another question for you. What is your top piece (or piece’s) of advice? What tips and words of wisdom can you give a first year, mostly public land trapper? I look forward to reading your responses, and thank you for all the great answers you’ve given me so far. This place is incredible, and I have learned a TON from you all! God bless!


I are a mountain man, and I'll live 'til an arrow or a bullet finds me. And then I'll leave my bones on this great map of the magnificent…
Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7614979
06/28/22 10:00 PM
06/28/22 10:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,110
Three Lakes,WI 72
C
corky Offline
trapper
corky  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,110
Three Lakes,WI 72
Stay positive and learn from every mistake. Patience. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7614982
06/28/22 10:02 PM
06/28/22 10:02 PM
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,776
Pennsylvania
P
patrapperbuster Offline
trapper
patrapperbuster  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,776
Pennsylvania
Concentrate on picking the best locations & if in dog hunting areas put trap very close to (dirt hole). This will miss most hunting dogs

Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7614983
06/28/22 10:03 PM
06/28/22 10:03 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,511
Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30 Offline
trapper
yotetrapper30  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,511
Oakland, MS
Spend as much time as you can between now and then roaming around the area you'll be trapping. While it's true that the habits and travels of animals can and will change between now and season, not all will change. A beaver dam will still be there, more than likely, come season. A hot otter crossover will likely still be a hot otter crossover in January. Muskrat dens will be the same if the water doesn't fluctuate too much. A mink will probably take the same path down the creek bed in November as he did in September.

Spend as much time as you can getting to know the habits of the animals you'll be trapping. You can do that to an extent by reading and watching videos but neither takes the place of getting out there and letting the animals themselves show you how to catch them.


~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7614986
06/28/22 10:07 PM
06/28/22 10:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,099
Adirondacks, N.Y.
T
trapdye Offline
trapper
trapdye  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,099
Adirondacks, N.Y.
Relax & take your time with sets, There will be no competition to deal with. The only thing on state land, You have to watch for hunters, Keep your sets off the beaten path.


John's Nuisance Wildlife Control
If you like what you do for a living, It's better than a vacation. Most days.
Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7614990
06/28/22 10:10 PM
06/28/22 10:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
B
Bob Offline
trapper
Bob  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
My biggest hangup has always been not setting a trap or spending too long on a set because I can’t find the “perfect” spot. I’ve got better over the years but it still gets me sometimes. So my advice to you is to just start punching in sets. If a spot looks decent, don’t overthink it, just set a dang trap or three. Traps in so-so locations catch a lot more fur than traps sitting in the back of the truck, and you’ll learn in time which spots to set and which to pass up and make the decision quickly.

Second, take some time to study your sets when you check em. If you’re trapping coyotes don’t inspect em closely but maybe once a week or ten days, but when you do, spend a few minutes studying them. You’ll learn a lot from critters you miss if you pay attention to the sign they leave.


"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7614994
06/28/22 10:13 PM
06/28/22 10:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17,692
Central Oregon
AntiGov Offline
trapper
AntiGov  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17,692
Central Oregon
Just start putting traps out . Learning what not to do will make you a wise trapper


Report a post club - Non member


Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7614995
06/28/22 10:13 PM
06/28/22 10:13 PM
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992
Ohio, USA
Ave Offline
trapper
Ave  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992
Ohio, USA
All of the above is good advice. Where are you at in Ohio?


Ave don't go where the beaver don't flow
Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7614996
06/28/22 10:15 PM
06/28/22 10:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
Learn as much about the biology of the furbearers you want to target.
By studying the biology you will get a general idea of densities,their preferred food and habitat their habits,life cycles home ranges,where to look for their tracks and scat and what their tracks look like etc.
Then in early fall go out and use your biological knowledge of the animals to locate habitat and then sign of animals.Once you find sign then you can look for potential set locations for the up coming trapping season.
If you can take a trapping course it will shorten your learning curve substantially if it is any kind of comprehensive trapping course at all.
A good trapping course should supply you with a manual you can refer to when out trapping,as well as putting up fur.

Last edited by Boco; 06/28/22 10:19 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7614999
06/28/22 10:16 PM
06/28/22 10:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
M
Moosetrot Offline
trapper
Moosetrot  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
Have fun and keep it fun! I still get "butterflies in my stomach" every time I approach a set.

Moosetrot

Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7615002
06/28/22 10:21 PM
06/28/22 10:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,750
Southern Virginia, 50 yr old
V
VaBeagler Offline
trapper
VaBeagler  Offline
trapper
V

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,750
Southern Virginia, 50 yr old
Originally Posted by Del Gue
Hey everyone as I continue on down this road getting ready for my first real trapping season, I’ve come up with another question for you. What is your top piece (or piece’s) of advice? What tips and words of wisdom can you give a first year, mostly public land trapper? I look forward to reading your responses, and thank you for all the great answers you’ve given me so far. This place is incredible, and I have learned a TON from you all! God bless!


What are you targeting?

Re: Advice [Re: VaBeagler] #7615006
06/28/22 10:23 PM
06/28/22 10:23 PM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 76
Ohio
Del Gue Offline OP
trapper
Del Gue  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 76
Ohio
Originally Posted by VaBeagler
Originally Posted by Del Gue
Hey everyone as I continue on down this road getting ready for my first real trapping season, I’ve come up with another question for you. What is your top piece (or piece’s) of advice? What tips and words of wisdom can you give a first year, mostly public land trapper? I look forward to reading your responses, and thank you for all the great answers you’ve given me so far. This place is incredible, and I have learned a TON from you all! God bless!


What are you targeting?


Weasels, mink, muskrat, coon, fox, and coyote.


I are a mountain man, and I'll live 'til an arrow or a bullet finds me. And then I'll leave my bones on this great map of the magnificent…
Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7615008
06/28/22 10:25 PM
06/28/22 10:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,932
NY
R
Rat_Pack Offline
trapper
Rat_Pack  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,932
NY
Keep a log/journal. Number and types of sets, which ones produced, which ones didn't, type of lure or bait, etc. Something you can look back on and use for the future

Re: Advice [Re: Rat_Pack] #7615015
06/28/22 10:33 PM
06/28/22 10:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 20,914
North East Kansas
Marty Offline
trapper
Marty  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 20,914
North East Kansas
Originally Posted by Rat_Pack
Keep a log/journal. Number and types of sets, which ones produced, which ones didn't, type of lure or bait, etc. Something you can look back on and use for the future


x2.

Hunting dogs and wandering farm dogs can be a concern on public...consider that.


E
'Honey Badger Militia'
Sleep, the anti woke adote.
Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7615030
06/28/22 11:08 PM
06/28/22 11:08 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,159
Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter Offline
trapper
Trap Setter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,159
Eau Claire Wi
For coon, K9's and cats bed SOLID. Practice in the off season on different types of ground dirt, mud, sand, gravel, etc. Play with your traps, a lot. Use the tools you'll be using, making mock sets, driving anchors, digging dirt holes, placing dp's, using under alls, pan covers, wax dirt, sifters, pliers and everything else will prepare your muscle memory and help you organize your tools in your bag or bucket.

Practice makes perfect, now sets don't have to be perfect but they must be solid and the more confident you are the more successful you'll be.


Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.
Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7615064
06/29/22 12:10 AM
06/29/22 12:10 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,750
Southern Virginia, 50 yr old
V
VaBeagler Offline
trapper
VaBeagler  Offline
trapper
V

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,750
Southern Virginia, 50 yr old
For canines set in intersections of paths or roads. Bed your traps solid, no wobble at all. Gang set, if the location is good enough for a trap set two. A lot of predators travel in groups.

Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7615071
06/29/22 12:34 AM
06/29/22 12:34 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,459
Oregon
H
H2ORat Offline
trapper
H2ORat  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,459
Oregon
Have to agree with BOCO (at least partially) --- study the animals behavior --it will tell you what works. If you get the opportunity to watch your target animal -- do so. I am not talking about for 5- minutes until you decide you need a closer look == watch it until it decides it is time to leave the area and pay attention to the small details. 1/2 hour to an hour doing this is time well spent. Have lots of patience -- It took me several years but I finally don't always carry a gun on the trapline and shoot the first fur-bearer that I see. I now just watch them and say "see you in a couple days".

Re: Advice [Re: H2ORat] #7615199
06/29/22 09:03 AM
06/29/22 09:03 AM
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 165
White House, TN
camlock Offline
trapper
camlock  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 165
White House, TN
Get the current copy (2022-2023) state trapping laws/regulations. Study them and know them before you set. If there are any questions you have, find the answers before you go to set your trap. You may want to know your local fish and game officer personally. The officer can clear up any of your questions. He may be the one in your county that will be inforcing the law in the area you are trapping in. Always set legal. I never wanted to look over my sholder setting ilegal sets etc. This way you have the piece of mind that you are compliant with your trapping regulations.
Best of luck.

Re: Advice [Re: camlock] #7615213
06/29/22 09:20 AM
06/29/22 09:20 AM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,665
PA
W
w side rd 151 Offline
trapper
w side rd 151  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,665
PA
Originally Posted by camlock
Get the current copy (2022-2023) state trapping laws/regulations. Study them and know them before you set. If there are any questions you have, find the answers before you go to set your trap. You may want to know your local fish and game officer personally. The officer can clear up any of your questions. He may be the one in your county that will be inforcing the law in the area you are trapping in. Always set legal. I never wanted to look over my sholder setting ilegal sets etc. This way you have the piece of mind that you are compliant with your trapping regulations.
Best of luck.

Excellent advice camlock We should all know the laws for the area we are trapping in .By being legal w e do not leave ourselves (all trappers) with a bad reputation with others also using the same areas

Re: Advice [Re: Del Gue] #7615214
06/29/22 09:23 AM
06/29/22 09:23 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 670
ND
DakotaBoy Offline
trapper
DakotaBoy  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 670
ND
Set on sign!


"Pretty cocky for a starving pilgrim!"
"An elk don't know how many legs a horse has!"
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