2006 Iowa had 78 check days that would be just over 68 coon and 9 + mink a days average.

I understand there is a meat market for coon. You would need a walk-in freezer for hundreds of coon. You would have to gut. wash and bag each one after skinning. Finding a reliable outlet would be the next task. If it were me, I would be concerned about liability issues if someone got sick eating your coon. I have seen where a nice big coon carcass is bringing $10. 10x 5300 = $53000 plus what the pelt might bring. We are talking serious money. Then hope the IRS don't find out.

How do high number trappers record where hundreds of trap sites are? A pen and notebook or something else.

I used a notebook in which I used a code. I wrote about it in one of my books but I forget which one.

These days I would probably use an app and drop a pin.

I use a Garmin Auto GPS & log every truck stop & name the waypoint with a code example "Q F S". Q = the 17th letter of the alphabet so the point was set in 2017, F S = Fisher Set. I type in Q F S and the Garmin will number the point. I take 10 minutes each day I make sets to back up the Garmen file to a computer. GPS receivers die and are lost so I back up the data. I have most of my truck stops backed up for the past ten years. I then use a notebook to record how many traps are at a stop and where they are. I've been recording sets in a notebook for the past 50 years or so. I still have those notebooks & use a new one each year. Here is what can be done with the Garmin files.

I use onx, mark a point and add a note with the amount of traps at the location.

Whew! Looks like my record of 5,301 is still holding up! LOL

ol' dad

68 coon in a day is way more than possible…especially in the Iowa area. It’s maintaining that average that’s the problem. Especially when you take into consideration that the coon catch rate drops off progressively as the end of season gets near. Dealing with the fur shed duties while maintaining a serious trap line with that many per day for that long is the next problem. Even if you only skin and freeze the hides, it’s going to take you the better part of the year to put it up. I personally don’t see myself or anyone getting that done….even if my wife brings me breakfast, lunch and supper and skins my catch…and gives me a back massage after that! Boys, it’s not real!!

Fun to see how people think how not to do it, instead of thinking how it could be done.

Lots of guys in Iowa have done 1,000+ a year and quite a few have done 2,000+. I think one of the guys on YouTube is over 1,200 this season and he’s done all his own skinning, and is on college to boot.

The stars have to align to make a catch like this - the weather, Coon population, your health, the market or drive to do it, and the equipment and Trapline to make it possible. But trapping all day ever day, with no fur handling makes it possible.

Big difference between catching 1500 and 5300.

Spot on Mike. Don't tell what you catch, you'll be called a liar here too.

Yep...I believe he caught around 180 opening night. Having lots of equipment, time, work ethic and youth on your side helps. He's had a heck of a year and I think had close to a week after that blizzard he wasn't running any traps.

Only 3800.

As far as I know he skinned very few, if any. Sold on the carcass daily or every few days.

Some guys put traps out before season. Multiple lines. LOTs of traps. Opening day they are setting and baiting. In a state like some where you only have to check every other day if your making drowner or 220 sets you can take advantage of that. One line today another tomorrow. When a line slows down a bunch you dont pull the traps. You just fire them. Next day your putting in a new line with everything thats already in place. Set bait and go to the next one. Traps/fur get stolen doing this. Everyone I know that runs hard just accepts that.

Other guys spend a lot of time critiquing the way they make a set. Doing everything they can to maximize how many sets they can get out. If you cut just six seconds here and two there times how ever many sets you can make it adds up. They choose one set and just keep doing it over and over and over.

5300 coon season is amazing. I bet most reading this have not caught 5300 lifetime.

Right on!

I'm guessing there is plenty of other catches like this that nobody knows about. And probably never will.

Lots of people projecting on here how it can't be done because they know they aren't capable of those numbers. People are out there who are capable of these things and don't need the approval of random strangers on the internet.

The top 1%'ers don't seek the input of those who aren't the top 1%'ers because the drive to stack up fur, meat, skulls, or to create a $150,000+ a year trapping income via predator control is an inner passion. Some call it "drive."
And most trappers are wonderfully content where they are, doing what they're doing without large numbers or an income in trapping.

The real competition in trapping has always been within the trapper themselves. Period. And when some trappers hit heights that are unimagined to the 99+%'ers, the stones and tomatoes come out.

You want to catch 5300 coon in a season? Get after it.
You want to catch whatever in a season? Get after it.
You want to make 6 figures a year trapping? Get after it.

Most won't believe you when you do. And you'll witness envy from other people when they call you names your momma and papa didn't give you.
Just accept that as fact.
And keep on rollin'

Blessings,
Mark

Can positive income be made trapping these days? If so, how is anyone doing it? Will anyone here tell there secrets? I can understand if a trapper remains silent on these questions.