As noted by others on the blog he has passed on. I knew him and will share a few moments in history about him. Al was a great coyote trapper from Cliff New Mexico (a coyote corridor), he trapped from 70 to 100 Plus coyotes per year, plus cats and fox. I knew him for about 5 years, he never ran more than 10-12 traps per day due to his age and health. He did not like to catch more than one coyote a day because he had lost his strength to skin them: he would call me (I lived in Morenci AZ at the time) or someone else to assist him. He used a flat set of his own design, which I have never seen in print: using 4 coiled number 3 Northwood’s with 10 feet of chain and large drag, he set them with his feet on a setting board wearing rubber gloves and rubber boots even in the NM desert. He used a fresh trap after every catch. His lure was homemade, 1 gallon of beaver castor (wet paste) mixed with 1 gallon of red fox urine (stirred not shaken), with a dash of skunk that would be increased as the cats started running. He did not spare the candy and would ‘flick’ the lure/bait all round with a spoon. He used the same locations year after year, never had problems with remakes, catch circles or mixed specie catches. He really liked hooking into the bears and lions that happened by. He was raised in the “Dacks” of NYS and knew OL Butcher “Okey” as he called him. I do not know what happened to the Museum he operated after he passed on. J. Thorpe’s videos were filmed south of Cliff in the Burro MTNs down to Lordsburg (South of Silver City). Gerald Weiland trapped the border area of AZ and NM from Mexico to Mule Creek Pass: buy his books and check out his photos. Quite a few state hoppers worked that area. I think Jim Cudoff (spelling) author of Power Bedding worked the Smoothing Iron area near Reserve NM. it was an interesting area rich in history as this was the stomping grounds of Ben Lily also. If anyone wants more rumors or tales just reply.

John Magel was from Clarence NY, I took lessons from him back in 1986. He was a great all round trapper, not just water and he was entertaining. He used mostly three types of traps but owned many different types. 220 for coon and rats: 1 ½ Montgomery for fox and 330 for beaver. He figured out multiple trigger placements on the 330 based on the size of the beaver he thought he was working. Yes he thought about ever target animal as an individual. He stressed that he believed a large beaver could use their hind legs to kick off a 330 unless it was on him in the correct manner. He also knew how to fool square shy beaver. For fox he had a mouse factory in his barn and collected mouse nest material for bait which reduced non target catches. His material was a custom blend of fur from road kills he picked up in the summer. Rabbit tail fur was a favorite. He had a wall of coffee cans full of the material and it did have a odor. He did not use commercial bait/lure that I know of except when he went out of state, then he used White Mtn bobcat based paste. John was playing with burnt Muskrat glands as it provided a different odor. I think he got the idea from an Eckhart (NYS FOX TRAPPER) book that used burning scent stations similar to ones used in India for Tiger Hunting. A 1 ½ trap, a trappers cap, a dowel and some mouse nest. He did not like trap dips at the time due to the smell. I learned a lot form John, worth every penny even though he tried to give the money back, he said he learned a lot from me (we talked a lot of global politics as I was in the Navy), it just shows we all have value and sometimes the best questions are the best answers. John got me into collecting old trapping paper. John was very fond of wild flowers and his dogs. He knew nature. We did talk about other NYS Trappers like Brad Rendell and Bobby (Beaver) Johnson. A lesson learned was that people under rated the muskrat.

Brad Rendell (WNY) one of the old foxes himself, Brad made Black Dynamite, and I think it was a modified Bill Nelson formula, Brad knew Bill and he said he knew Craig O. I believe him. I remember watching Craig’s video’s with Brad at his home in Blockville NY. Brad raised foxes and would freeze the urine multiple times to make a concentrated urine. He was a great fox trapper: he, Bobby (Beaver) Johnson and Ron Brake formed Western NY Fur Harvesters. They gave back to the trappers when there was a lot of voodoo still being passed along. I took Brad to Safford AZ trapping, I think in 1993. We had some fun and I learned a lot. Brad liked Bugger King when a Whopper was 99 cents, then nap time: he was getting older then. He out trapped me, even toyed with me so to speak, as a learning experience. Trapping side by side with a numbers man can be humbling. Brad ran with Jesse Owens and was to compete in the Olympics except WWII broke out. He ran a deer down and killed it with a knife during the depression.
There are too many trappers to name that made what we have today and not all trappers are created equal, but we all have something to give back to our roots. Good luck: I have more on all but enough for now. Henpecked1.

THANKS HENPECKED1....great stuff!

Fascinating stuff henpecked

Don't stop now, I know I'm not the only one who enjoys hearing about the older trappers who really knew how to get numbers piled up in a short order.
Rest well and prayers sent for the family & friends
Allan

I have met Al years ago at a NTA and talk with him and also sat in one of his demos and help him with it also when he needed the help.I learn some things for the time I had talk with.He was willing to shear what he know.

Thanks for sharing, good stuff. Rip al, we've been to the mining district in Arizona , and are planning on new Mexico some day. I like mining history .

Met Al at a nta convention one year. We talked about his tire set with traps on drags on the out side he loaded the tire with grain to get the mice started. So the yote and fox knew where the food was. Enjoyed the visit with Al just like the time I met Glen Hanson he knew some thing also.

Knew Al and he Invited me to spend some time on the line with him. I was still working and just couldn't get the time off.

I do not know what happened to the Museum he operated after he passed on.

^^^^^^^^

Henpecked. To my understanding the majority of the items in the museum were donated to FBU (maybe some to FTA as well, not sure) to be used for auctions, etc. I have one of Al's mountain lions, from the museum, I purchased at an FBU auction a hand full of years ago. Don't know anything about where all of the items were distributed to in regards to state organizations, etc. Maybe Cindy can add some info to this post if she's it. Also don't know what's left, if anything by now. It's been a while.

Yweah, lots of owee's and arthritis: still trapping, just in New York now. Al was a good friend, fun to talk to.

Added another post: you may be interested in.

If I recall the museum items went to Missouri for another museum, but I could be wrong. I was lucky enough to meet and get to know Al before he passed. He was the salt of the earth.

Great stories, thank you sir.

you need to come down just across the pa line and tell me some of these stories around a campfire or fishin musky or somethin.lived a half mile from western ny for 50 yrs and have spent most of my life enjoying what it offers.keep the stories coming.

Thanks for the invite, we will have to do that, I live in the Jamestown area and work in Bradford. I have a few friends in Warren; Kinsu country. Potter county is not that far. I enjoy reading 50 years a Hunter and Trapper by Woodcock, That took place in your area. I attend the Catt. County Sportsman Show and share a table with Tim Mullard (Trapper Services): I have a few more tales from 19 years in AZ/NM. I also spent 27 years in the Navy/Army: I turned 50 in Iraq. If you want to talk a bit we can get together. Putting together a book right now. Figure out whats good for you. Henpecked

worked 20 yrs at cutco in Olean.live in a little town called Shinglehouse.can see NY from my deck.have 50 acres with a sweet camping area on the Oswayo river.aka-the headwaters of the Allegany.i welcome any t-man member to come and enjoy it however you wish.would like to have a get together weekend some time where everyone spends the weekend doing what they do after hours at the conventions.

Well its good that it was all returned to the trapping brotherhood, There were some interesting traps there, like some dogless number 3 and 4 jumps, some sterlings and a few hand forged, I think one was a standish beaver trap. Oh well my wife is going to have a fire sale when I move on, 450 traps and all the equipment, poof, like a disappearing act. Oh well. You know AL caught a Blue Eyed Lion once I wonder if thats the lion hide you have. Some Apache believe that blue eyed lions were shape shifters from some old passed on medicine man. Western Tales.