What are some of your guys' trapping essentials for water trapping or land trapping? Also what sets do you use these essentials for? Just looking for things that I may have overlooked in all of the excitement of preparing for trapping season. Thanks in advance!

-TheYouthTrapper

Trap connection hardware, extras of many tools like hammer and pliers. Extra gloves, small roll of good duct tape. If trapping on foot your needs may vary. I precut trap wire into a couple lengths, roll into small coils to grab easy.

Trapping wire. Even if at the moment you can't think of a need for wire, get some anyways. You'll need it.

For water trapping a hook stick is great to have. Mine is about 6' long. Basically it's a heavy duty broom handle type piece of wood with a screw hook in the end. I have one in my canoe when water trapping or hunting. Great for retrieving traps, decoys, or whatever is out of reach in the water. Drill a pilot hole in the end before screwing in hook to avoid splitting the wood.

Plat map or local map and a good notebook and pen for recording set locations.

Whatever tools you use, have two sets of them. Then if you forget your hammer at a set, don't waste time going back for it because you have another in the truck.

You need different stuff in winter than you do in the fall before freeze up and deep snow.
Also need some different stuff depending if you are only targeting a couple of species or running full multi species trapline.
Also depends on if you are trapping roads and home every night or if you are trapping remote and staying out on the line for extended periods of time.

Regardless,it takes some pre season preparations either way and it is good that you are on it now.
Eventually you will customize your equipment for your particular requirements once you start running the lines.

Water trapping... Tater rake/4 tine cultivator is #1 unless you like swimming in cold water. Especially in areas that have/had beaver.

And for land, a walking stick isnt a bad idea either if you're walking a 1/4 mile or more. I use a mid length spade. The hikers you see running around with thr two trekking poles arent doing it to look cool. It really helps reducing physical stress on your body when walking up and down hills. Especially when it gets muddy.

Such an item is good for keeping your balance as you carry a heavy load of traps and rats up and down muddy ditch banks. My staff has saved me from stumbling/sliding into the ditch on many occasions.

I'd suggest not worrying too much about all the equipment you need. I know it's enjoyable to browse through the trapping catalogs and use all the cool trapping gear. But, for a young person getting started in life, saving money for transportation, education, car insurance, building a savings account, down payment on a house... that's a much better investment than extra trapping gear. I'd recommend only buying the bare essentials and making do with what you have, what you can make out of scrap, or what you can get by without. You can always take a small part of your fur sales and buy one or two tools that will make life easier during the next trapping season.

Traps Snares Stakes Tie wire. Pliers, Channel Lock Pliers, Wrench, File, Screwdriver, Estwing 28 Ounce Straight Claw Framing Hammer, Knife, Hatchet, Sifter, D Handle Trowel Bait/Lure Urine Roll of Cut in Two Wax Paper

You will evolve over time and refine your techniques and equipment. Don't spend alot of money on expensive equipment as you can make or buy used until you find your groove. Also garage sales and en excellent source for finding items you can use without breaking the bank.

I have it whittled down to trap, wire and cutters and anchor since I started water trapping.

When I fox trapped, trap and stake, hammer, lure/bait, trowel, sifter and pack basket.

Learned this a long time ago.

If using body-grippers, a setter, safety device and a stout piece of rope. You will eventually join the club and need an escape plan.

Walking stick ..for water trapping. Helps with balance..and a great indicator if you have enough boot to take another step...

I have a lot of cable extensions, so I don't have to use any wire and they're already pre-rolled, the extra gloves are definitely something I would have forgotten.

Yep, I have some tie wire already and some cable extensions as well, so should be good there.

Yep, I have a 4 tine garden cultivator, and that works great for the same thing.

I use ONX Hunt, so I don't have to deal with plot maps, thanks for the suggestion though, I have a couple of notebooks set aside already from the school year.