When I first started trapping 20 years ago or so, it took me two YEARS to catch my first coyote. After that it just clicked and the next season I caught 12 of them. I was at a rendezvous this weekend listening to a couple of old timers who are both in the hall of fame, the guys who have probably killed more fur than most of us on this thread combined, and they said in their experience it takes a new trapper 3 seasons of really dedicated learning to become a decent coyote trapper.

So I guess what I’m saying is don’t have high expectations for your first season. And go to all the rendezvous and conventions you possibly can. I’ve been trapping two decades and I learned a ton this weekend just sitting and listening to a couple of old timers and two government trappers BS for a while. Not to mention what I learned from the demos they put on. Stuff I’d never even thought of that will now make me better at trapping. I drove 4 hours one way with two little kids in the car to get there and it was worth every bit and more

If it's your first year don't have any expectations, just go in to the season with an open mind and try to have as much fun and learn as much as possible. Good luck this season, tight chains.

When I started I thought the coyote would be my main target, it’s one of the only animals I didn’t get…lol but my throat was pretty sore from yelling when I walked up to my 1st wolf falling asleep in a snare! Reading all kinds of books where guys are crushing huge numbers was unrealistic for me. I learned that the wolves & coyotes General don’t mix in my area. I wanted to get a couple beaver but they wound up my main animal to trap, they’re pretty easy to catch and the the prices I got were a nice surprise when I was guessing I’d get $8-10avg and wound up with $40. And the beaver catch rate got outta hand in spring. Set for how many you want/can put up. I was overwhelmed with beaver for a week or two. Putting up fur is another steep learning curve. When you watch an expert on YouTube fleshing and he makes a nick, a new guy doesn’t feel so bad. My main goal should’ve been to get the line operational, but making sets is more fun…lol. It seems to be never ending connecting lines, making more efficient routes.