This popped up on my memories today. 11 years ago today I managed to catch my first coyote with the help of many here and some great guys in our state association.

I didn't even have my driver's license yet, my pops was kind enough to drive me to check traps after work. I remember feeling like the king of the world riding up on that coyote in the trap. My pops couldn't believe it. He had never trapped or been that close to a live coyote. Looking back at pictures now that coyote wasn't worth the time I put into skinning, fleshing, and drying it, but to me at that time he was the nicest coyote that ever lived. I remember clear as day it was caught at a flat set with a Duke #2.

I've trapped a many since that one but you never forget the first

Nice coyote.I enjoy seeing memories as well.

nice coyote, always remember the first of anything, sure wish I had pic, of when I started trapping,

That's a great memory

CD2,
You started out with some great fur handling skills!

I remember that smiley

What a Beautiful picture of you 3
it will be one of those pictures that will
become even more special over the years

Sure did, nice job!

Lol Swamp, you must not remember the infamous "First coon put up" thread. Circa 2012 or so. I don't have the picture anymore but I put up a picture here of my first coon put up and it was HORRENDOUS

2012 was my first season dabbling in it, I was 14. A member here came to my house and showed me how to properly do it after seeing the hack job I posted here. That was something like Jan or Feb 2013. I had caught around 10 raccoons that season and we put them all up that day. I took them to the local fur buyer January of 2013 and sold them and I have been hooked ever since. The following fall I got better and ended up working a little bit for that fur buyer.

By Jan 2014 when I caught that coyote I was MUCH better than when I started. That thread/picture was so bad that several here had that picture saved to their computer. It very well may still be floating around here

… remember that too lol

Lol....I went back and looked. Couldn't find the original picture, but this was my season's catch in 2012/2013 where a generous member from here came over and helped me out. The one on the far left is the hack job in the famous first coon put up thread and I think we tried to reflesh/clean it up that day.

Wanna know the funny part? I think those were the most valuable coons I ever sold. Market only went down from there. As my fur handling got better the market got worse

Love to see the memory of the firsts. I have a similar story. When I had no idea what I was doing with trapping or fur put up I made the most money I have made on fur. Thought I was gonna be rich until the market dropped. Then figured I better get a real job.