What trapping things ya doing in the off season?

I got somewhat organized, sifted peat moss & tinkered with equipment. This spring, I did catch some unwanted critters on our property, by making a few sets.
Am planning to attend a rendezvous or two which is off-season fun.

What are ya doing this off season?

Ive got 3 dozen traps that need new chain and new pans and painted id like to build some coni stabilizers like set and go style

I am welding up more T-stakes in 1/2”x2’,and 30”, and the same in 3/8”.

Also, more kill poles and snare supports and some that are both. I need on hand about 100 of about any configuration for ease of deployment.

I've been gathering things for the season, like better bricks for mink trapping

I also have a bunch of welding to do, lams, baseplates and V shaped coni stabilizers for trail sets.
Also adding #4 pans to #2dls so I have a few more top edge traps

And of course taking my early morning drives to look for poop on the roads.

*Cut and and welded twenty 1/2" rebar drowning rods for beaver (I bought more 750s.)
*Cut/welded same amount of 30" 1/2" rebar stakes to go with them. *Painted the top 3ft of the rods and top 6" of the stakes black.
*Painted a dozen deep water 330 supports black.
*Put Expand-a-pans on eight Belisle 280s to use in bobcat boxes.

Yet to do:
*Dip all BGs and beaver footholds in black Ambush dip.
*Make up a couple dozen beaver snares and dip brown.
*Need to dry about 15lbs of castor before September to sell to Paul at the GTA convention.

I haven't had a beaver call since February. Likely due to the extended drought. All of our small streams are dry. Ponds and swamps are extremely low. Problem beavers ain't causing problems. I'm glad....I needed the break.

Love my “set & go” especially through the ice.

Got all my land traps dyed and waxed. Finished modifying my 850s. I picked up a dozen Alpha 3s so I’ll need to add chain and super stakes.

I picked up some stop loss traps so they’ll need a vinegar bath and painted.

And I’m working on a square tubing frame and rack for the bed of the side by side. The frame will support the cross bed tool box and the rack will have expanded metal so I can secure some of my tools like my release tool, stake puller, shovel and catch pole.

If I get time I’ll do dogless mods on some more DLS. Only nine dozen to go.

Ive never had any but they look awesome and Ive got acess to a lot of scrap

I’ve been working to get ready as well

Built 300 cable stakes
Built 275 snares
Built 100 snares supports
Built 150 cable xtensions
Tagged all traps and snares
Dipped 140 550’s
Colored and painted snares and extensions
Bought two hammer drills bits and augers
Went thru my camp gear and bought a new diesel heater.

Things to do yet

Waxed dirt, 500 ish pounds
Attach swivels - j hooks to snare extensions
Buy lure and a few odds and ends at the conventions.
Several things I’ve forgotten lol

In case anybody missed my video in the KB Stabilizer thread on the Trap Talk Board because it does pertain to preseason preparedness.
https://youtu.be/V_Z0aLzXxcg?si=sJEIYcAtSg--bwup

Cutting wood stakes and bait stakes right now
Building some 2 sided tunnels out of some scrap boards next.
Probably starting to wax some dirt next time it gets hot.
Working on some foot holds soon. I have 100 I need swivels put on, dogs filed, pans adjusted and then waxed so I can catch all those high dollar mink this season

Good video I enjoyed it i like the looks of those but I don't think they'd work well on our rocky streams here

Powder coated all my snow traps white. Dyed and waxed my other footholds, and all my wolf drags. Built an open sided (just a roof, no sides) shed down in the brush at the bottom of my property, a couple hundred yards from any habitation, etc. to hang all my canine gear. Built a couple dozen new wolf traps. Made myself some new, fancy, adjustable setters.

Still need to boil and dye my conibears, make waxed sand, powder coat the new traps I made, and make a few more drags to go with them.

Procrastinate until September. Hate working on traps etc. Do keep an eye out for new locations and possible permissions pretty much every day. Planning on going to Coyote Days in Wyoming even though I’m not a cat or coyote trapper for the most part. Probably go to at least one other convention.

I couldn’t help myself and I believe I’ve got all my equipment ready. The is one thing I’ve learned to do during my mink trapping years is to “mud scout”. Yup, I scout when the waterways here are at their lowest looking for mink sign in the mud. I’ve learned that whether it’s mud edges in the summer or snow cover ice edges in winter here, if there are mink, they will use pretty much the same general routes/travelways.

After reading all the responses above, it would appear that water trapping requires a lot more work than predator/land trapping? Lots of equipment, gear and fastening systems. Just an observation.

And constantly adjusting the traps for the rising and falling water levels
It's the one thing that does get under my skin about water trapping
I put a trap in the dirt and it's good to go until I get some action at that trap
But I do enjoy catching mink, so I will adapt

LOL! Canine trapping was waaaay easier and less work than beaver trapping for sure! Coyote were a little stinky and initially difficult to flesh but better than hauling a 50# bag of guts up steep, high banks and I never had to haul a sled load of coyote through 1/2 mile of tagalder swamp even on ice like I’ve done with beaver! Otter, mink, & rats are pretty easy especially trapping on ice and LIGHT to haul as is the equipment! It’s also way easier to find coyote & fox sign in my territory than mink sign.
BTW, this winter I plan on using an 8” ice auger with drill/driver so there’s an added bulky, heavier piece of equipment but there and again, if you trap hard water you need to be able to get below it! LOL

You guys are making me feel guilty . . . .

This is how you haul beaver and otters