My great uncle is 85 years old. He started off trapping when muskrats were king in south Louisiana. He transition into the nutria market when they pushed the rats out. He has caught more otter over the years then everyone on Trapperman combined. He trapped back when buyers wanted coons squared, not cased. He knows more about mink than the mink do. He stopped trapping as he says "I tink it was 'bout 79 or 80." I pick his brain all the time when it comes to trapping, hunting, and commercial fishing as he is known by all the locals as the best there is. Where is this going? He recently came to my house for café au lait, pain français grillé, confiture de fraise and conversation informelle. I gave him a tour of my trapping gear and here is some of his observations:

- He was shocked at what I use for coyotes. He never trapped them and was shocked at the hardware involved.

- He was shocked at the size of the coil springs I use for beavers. He said all he used was #2 Victor long springs. He said he would use that trap for anything in North America.

- He never saw a drowning rod before. He liked it. He said he would tie a "line" (tared line" ) to a #2 or 1.5 long spring, run it to a piece of "cane" in water. When the beaver or otter took off it would hit the end of the line, and gradually twist itself and drown on a short line around the "cane".

- He talked highly of the old Victor #2 coil spring square jaws I had hanging. He loved that trap, saying it was the best nutria, mink, and coon trap you could buy.

- He almost got misty eyed looking at my #11's. He said that the #11's was the best trap for otters that was ever made. The #11's paid his daughters' way through school.

- He was amazed at the lure, bait and attractants I had in my trapping fridge. He said he used sardines, homemade fish oil and cut the glands out of the animals he trapped. One comment caught me off guard was he stated he knew how to trap, he didn't need all of the bottles of stuff I had in my fridge. But, he also was like a kid in a candy store looking over everything.

- He loved the wire stretchers! All of his stretchers were made of pine or cypress. I cornered him and I get to dig in his barn, and the cypress boards are mine!

- When I showed him my great grandfather's #1 single coil spring Victors with the large stop loss bar, and the 55 gallon drum of my grandfather's muskrat traps he really went down memory lane. We sat on the back porch, I made a little café au lait with whiskey, and he told stories of those two old timers, and the stuff they got into to. He told stories of my great grandfather, his father, about killing ducks by the hundreds with a damascus double hammer gun and black powder shells to sell. He told stories of my grandfather, his brother in law, of hunting with him, using a carbide bulleye, slaughtering animals by the pirogue full.

We ate some turtle sauce piquante and his daughter came and picked him up. It was really a amazing time listening to a man who made his living off the land in South Louisiana, and his views on "modern" gear and methods. If you have a old timer in your family make sure you spend time with them as you might learn something, or three.

Wonderful post, thanks. An old neighbor, Saint Germaine, sp? started me on my trapping journey back in south Louisiana. He gave me a couple of victor #2 longsprings out of one of his barrels of traps. A long time ago lol

Great story! Love hearing about the old days...thank you for sharing.

And yes I know what all those french dishes are, love me some lost bread.

Great story!

I enjoyed the post. Thank you

Great story.
I feel if the old-timers were trapping today, they would be using modern equipment vs. what they used back in the day (with few exceptions).
They would somewhat progress as some of us senior citizens have.

Exactly. He was a kid in a candy store. He loved the concept behind the DPs. Earth anchors got his attention as he used cane in the marsh, fence stables and nails, or wire around trees. He liked the idea you could put a trap where you wanted. He acted like the lures and bait were too much, but he picked up every bottle and read each one. I could see the wheels turning. He can't fool me. Night latches and adjustable pan tension used together was a hit with him. I'm pretty sure if he would run a line next year he would have me with him showing him how to use new gear.

He hadn't recreational fished in years, when I took him he fell in love with the new braided lines, the smoothness of Shamano reels, the lightweight rods, etc. He couldn't understand why I used a 7' rod for "green trout" (bass), until he tried it and yanked one out of the weeds. He hated bow hunting because all he remembers is when it first came out and the gear was crappy. I let him shoot some bolts out of my crossbow and changed his mind quickly! He is old and set in his ways, but he is not one to turn his nose up at new stuff, if it makes sense.

x2 They used the best that they had at the time and would use the modern traps my dad was born in 1922 and used mainly long springs growing up but double coils and connibears were his go to trap in later life

Some of us still use long springs. LPC is a good trap. Saw Roy McBride the otherday. At 89 he is a wealth of knowledge on trapping. Yes. The oldtimers would use lots of the stuff we use today. BUT some methods. That are old time are being forgotten. Everyone wants === traps set and aniamal caught right NOW. No patience at ALL ! The old ways are dying because of the = modern trapper of today. But some of us will never forget the old ways !!!! Great Story ! Thanks! Off to set some flat sets !

Good read. Thank you for posting.

That time you got was priceless

Spend some more while you can, wish I had recorded some of the conversations and stories I was told by the old folks I knew

Very nice write-up. A lifetime of learning where to set, when your catch was going to feed the family, made those old-timers the trappers they where. The equipment might change over the years but for the most part the animals still travel the same paths.

Had someone ask me one time why I trapped. Said I liked the outdoors, animals, challenge, etc. same line we have all thrown out. An old trapper beside me snorted and said he trapped to put food on the table. Made me stop and think about how much more time and effort I would put into it, if that was the case. Talked to that old boy for awhile and explained I could make more from one damage control job then a season of furs at the auction, he asked me why I still trapped for the auction then. In his mind it had to male a profit or was not worth doing.

Q ) Can I borrow your Pepere ?

( I'm all out . . .)

Me too

Great story!! I miss my people. You have a gold mine right there!! If you can, take him with you, now and then. He will see stuff that you would overlook!!

@TrapperGunny Great thread describing a conversation that will likely stay with you as long as your memory remains. I wish I knew trappers. The only one my older relatives talk about is a cousin who’s been dead for years. I don’t know a lot of people that like being outdoors much aside from of gardening, cowboying, and shooting sports. I can appreciate people like members of this community and stories like this. Thanks for sharing.

You and your Grand father more than likely have relatives up here. The ones up here stayed here. Your Gran fathers kept heading South when the British sent the Acadians away from P.E.I Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

What a wealth of knowledge your great uncle and all of of aging trapping family are. I loved reading your story and could just imagine spending a day listening to a man like that. I'm sure you both made each other's day something special. This is one of my favorite recent threads. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it

Yep good read, thanks for sharing.

I got to meet some old timers back when I was in highschool,
My uncle's knew them pretty good and said they never shared much
of there trapping knowledge with anyone.
They said they lived through tough times, and made their living off
of trapping, fishing and hunting.
When seasoned trapper's talk I listen.