I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to mentor Gavin. I did a beaver demo 3 years ago for about 15 kids and their parents. I expected to be there for 45 minutes. 3 hours later Gavin asked what seemed like his 100 question. He asked if he could come trapping with me. I told him he could if his mom was OK with it. He is now 10. He gets the little stuff. He can now find some of the best spots on the spot. Earlier this spring we rode along with Craig Hilburn on his beaver line. I am recovering from a total knee replacement and couldn't trap yet. Craig gave him a different view than mine. We both learned things. Gavin is a sponge.

2 weeks ago the Dr gave me the ok to trap. I had to go very slow and Gavin had to do a large part of the work but we had a blast. We set 7 traps the 1st day. On the next day the first 2 traps were empty. 3rd one was missing. A 330 that had 3' sticks through the springs into the mud with a cable to small stump. One stick was broken, other stick was exactly where it was the day before. I thought it was stolen because it was right next to a busy road. We were bummed but went to the last spot where we had 4traps set. Success, all 4 had a beaver. Gavin made 2 trips with the sled because he couldn't budge it with all 4 beaver in it. He was one tired boy.

I got to thinking about the missing trap. I replayed the set inmy head. I started doubting myself. Maybe it wasn't anchored well enough due to being in a hurry. I brought my fishing rod with the next day and hooked my trap. It had a 72 pound giant in it. I think it weighed more than Gavin. Next spot had 4 more beaver. That spot had 4 beaver 4 days in a row and 3 the last 2 days. 22 beaver in 6 days with 4 traps. Gavin picked the spots. Kids is a machine. I made him promise me that when I'm to old to trap that he will drag me with him on his beaver line.

He is learning to process what we catch. His 1st solo skinning resulted in 1 tiny hole between the nose and eye. He did better than I did on my 1st beaver.

We are looking forward to the fall. He wants to trap other animals.

Love it!

great

Fantastic and kudos to both of you.
These are the trapperman posts that I truly love

nothing better than having a young person on the line , thanks for sharing.

Great pictures and thanks for the effort of taking a kid trapping.

Memories

That's great! Sounds like Gavin is a beaver trapping machine!

He's got the fever for sure. Great job taking him along.

Really Awesome

Hats off to you dakidsmn. These lessons are something neither you or Gavin, will ever forget.

That is incredible! Great job on mentoring and passing on the tradition.

love to see and hear this!!!

Good Job,some big ones there.
Great to teach the kids trapping and skinning.

Nice hearing about a youngster fired about about a tradition.

makin trappers thats great,looks like a couble of good ones you are showing the way.

Very cool!

More pictures

More pictures