PA 2020 2021 season.

Figured try to start a PA one early maybe see what all the fellow pa trappers are up to as the seasons getting near. When ahead and stripped and repainted a few dozen traps yesturday.
First a acid bath followed by a baking soda bath.
Then a good pressure washing followed by bare metal primer dip.
Then a week of air drying followed by 2 coats of fmj.

Looking good! I’m going to start working on equipment this week

Looking good hammer. I only got my traps power washed so fat and started my first batch of waxed dirt.

i've taken back up golf.

Thanks guys. Got about 4 more dozen num2 dogless to do up then that will be it for the traps not going to set probably the 50 I got done up yesterday but might get to it depends on how busy the shop is. Hornady, going to start making some wax sand and dirt sometime this weekend waiting on my wax to show up in the mail.

Pcr2 you putting up furs for people this year?

not sure what i'm doin yet unfortunately.

Got to cage trap 13 ground hogs off some properties this year that was almost as fun as coyote trapping almost lol. Probably made more on them jobs then I will off the coyotes this year

we seem to have had a heck of a coyote hatch this spring between what i've saw and reports from a lot a landowners.

I can agree on that pcr2 the properties I trap have had more sign then ever before. Must of been a good predator breeding season. Even the red fox dens that I've come across scouting all had good pup litters.

i havent touched any trapping gear yet lol

Drive down 255 this season you won't need to Miller I counted today on my way to work 15 big coon and 2 red fox.

i guess that's why they call 255 "The Million Dollar Highway." LOL

anyone goin to Clearfield Sat.??

Sweet! I think I'll be starting a thread here shortly as well.

I'll be there Pcr2. Lugnut you are probably on to something there lol.

ill be up labor day for a long weekend.
will get ahold of you

I'll be here keeping the elk around for you two miller.

Made a few CR's. Probably make bait and waxed dirt late Aug/early Sept. I don't run a lot of traps and probably never turn a big profit, but I absolutely love it. Hope to be at Clearfield this Saturday.

I don't see to many people showing up with all this crap going on.

I plan on going to Clearfield. I like those "blue buckets" Hammer.

Made a FNT order yesterday. Wait till the wife see that bill.

I have tons of them. No I don't make blue bucket sets lol. Hope to meet a few people there from tman.

Trying to get some wood spilt and stacked but the yard pets are wanting to the feeders filled first I guess.

Got some of those also

You near weedville area? The first pic of yours the one on the left is neat. Got a few like him around the house.

Pottersdale area

If I draw a tag, I want to come over!

Some of us from down here r planning in it!

Me too!

You got some nice ones hanging out. Maybe some day I will draw

Woke up with a email saying my metal supply should be in today so looks like I'll spending some time time this weekend making up some more drags and base plates for some new 550s. Once I make a few I'll post pictures. Going to be another hot one today so probably just dry out some dirt and sand.

We’re staying at the KECA Homestead in Benezette, haven’t seen an elk on the property in the last 2 days. Seems they dropped down into the valleys, too hot and dry on top. Took the kids swimming in the East Fork yesterday and a yellow-phase rattlesnake swam across right below us, he sure was (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) once he got to shore

keep em down there

Took a ride to Wharton yesterday, PCR. Used to hunt deer up there as a kid

i'm still close to an hour north of that.

half hour goin east and west,and a half goin north and south.

Was at a spot they call big rock local swimming spot Saturday down past medix hotel had 3 bulls walk across the river about 20 yards from us. Must of needed a cool down.

last time we were up the water was so low the rope swing behind the benezett store was gettin sketchy.
seen one of those angry yellow phases there too lol

my river is 78 degrees 3 ft down.have pretty much shut fishin down for the good of the musky.

Those yellow rattlers are awesome to see. Use to have one up by the camp but only been seeing 2 dark ones this year.

keep em down there is fine with me--and they keep me outta ya'lls sang woods too.

Don't like snakes I take it pcr2 or just the poisonous ones?

Harmless but these dang things will give you a heart attack whenever they run across your foot down by the creek. Wolf spider I believe they are.

yea im not a spider fan ha
those stupid things love our outhouse at camp

Are the elk fed daily? I've seen them, more than a couple.

Canning season is on over here.

The elk at my weedville property and at my Penfield property are fed daily all year. Mainly deer feed pellet kind some corn and wild bird feed mix. They seem to get mad when the auto feeders batteries die they have learned if they knock it over there's plenty to eat haha. They love it when the field gets planted with clover as well.

What all you canning? I got a second batch of cucumbers about ready. Also going to try and can some chicken of the woods mushrooms. First year trying canning my father always canned just about everything so figured I'd give it a try.

Tomato sauce and green/wax beans for now. Been nasty hot with NO rain.
Pickled peppers soon. Been doing meat too, want to try fish.
Florida mullet was great, want to try a native to here fishy.
Oh and did some experimental smoked potato's, great mixed into tater salad.

If they like clover try alfalfa if you can.

The local farmer grows that in his fields down the road they seem to enjoy being in there as well. Next year will be sugar beets.

Only 40 more to go. And it's hot out.

Do you paint dip your traps?

Got mine ready early this year while it was cool out. Helped a buddy get his ready for his first year last weekend. Looking good guys, good luck this year hopefully we all get one of them elk tags. I lucked into a cow tag about the second or third season they had , still trying for the coveted bull tag. It's nice to come up and visit them snakes but glad you guys keep them up there.

Spray paint for the dp and dye and wax the 550s

I'll be at Clearfield. Riding with CoonDuke. I think there will be a good turn out. 100-200 folk is my guess.
A couple of vendors will be there as well.

Did a water trap boil/waxing with CoonDuke & Nittany Lion last Saturday...

Now that looks relaxing Hern

A lot of fun, Hornady Reloader. A lot of work to do up 250 water traps, but with three of us, it went pretty quick dying & waxing.
CookDuke's wife brought us homemade breakfast sandwiches early on. Later, CoonDuke made burgers and dogs. We did share stories & get to relax for a while.
All in all, a good day shared with friends.

We did up a mixed bag of #1 long springs, #1 jumps, #2 Victor square jaws w/Kelly pans, 110's, 160's, 330's & drag chains
drying line was always full...

Looks like a nice spot to do some relaxing and trap prep. Traps look good guys.

Doing a little bass fishing.

Hope to see some fellow tman trappers tomorrow in Clearfield. Got a order in from Hoosier today anyone ever use there lures for coyotes? I've used the top dog bait before with good results never tried the lures tho.

Hey all you elk masters. When i draw my archery bull tomorrow you can fight over who gets to guide me.

I’m 1 for 1 guiding in Area 13. Cow in 2016.

not makin Clearfield,got a lung full a dust n pollen i believe but if you think i'm takin a chance on bein the guy that gave everybody the china virus at the meeting your crazy.

Sorry to hear that pcr2 hopefully it clears up for ya. Just got back home wish i could of stayed but have a birthday party to attend. Spent a bunch of money at the chubbs trap supplies stand on things im sure i didnt need but guess you can never have enough trapping supplies. Also bought a few things at the PTA booth. All in all fun time for all the longer I could be there.

Got a few decals for the new trapping rig.

nice

Went ahead and thru a dozen of 550s I picked up there in the dishwasher should be ready to paint and fmj dip when I get back from the bday party.

I was there, from about 9:15 until the meeting was over, I was hoping to meet The hammer and pcr2.

Well at least u met me!

I didn't get to talk with Grousewit. Sorry about that. But you were always BS'ing with someone else.

Grousewit, are you going to Chubb's Trapper Appreciation Day/Trap Boil this coming Saturday, the 22nd?
Hope to see you there.

Sorry nittany I was hoping to get the time to talk and meet some people. I was the 32 yr walking around aimlessly spending all his money before I had to get to a b day party.

Got a couple more dozen traps painted today.

Yep, what the heck happened, to you leave early?

They look great Hammer.

Thank.

Looks good hammer. I got another 20 dp's painted and 20 more prepped. Still need to do my 550's.

Thanks. Once I fmj dip i should be done with this season's prep. Only prepped 100 k9 traps total for this season. Rest of the traps will just sit in the totes or boxes.

i'm digging a big hole and burying my warter traps so i can't get to them but man-how do you drive over a bridge with no traps set for mink while canine trapping?i'm weak but can't fit anymore mink in the freezers.

Nope-got auction to be at.


At least we shook hands and said hello. Got my stuff from Chubby and Smitty didn't have strechers I was looking for and wife wanted to go to see friends at Medix Run so off we went looking for elk b4 mtg started. Put couple hundred miles on suby!

Nittany-read above.

Was just reading the market report in THE TRAPPER mag September's issue. You probably best to bury those water traps Pcr2. Keep the beaver ones out tho caster is still going strong.

gonna bury all my DPs too probably

Hammer,i didn't think anyone needed a new 4 wheeler cart worse than me till i saw yers.

also guys--offer still stands to stop or come and visit my amuse me park.lotsa room and love sharin it with others.huntin,trappin fishin golfin or anything.

Yeah it's getting pretty rough, but still does it's job sometimes haha.

mine still has the gate across the back to hold its shape but they look like twins other than that.

I got that same cart at camp.. After twenty-plus years of hauling firewood, deer, flagstone and anything else you can think of it looks about like Hammer's and PCR's.

I keep the gate in mine to keep the sides from spreading out.

not sneakin up on anything with mine i'll tell ya.

I have an old, steel-wheeled barrow at camp. The wheel screeches pretty good once every revolution.

One spring I was doing some yard work. Went to move the wheelbarrow and a gobbler sounded off from the knob west of camp.

I stopped to listen...nothing

Started up again; screech, screech, screech........gobble!

This went on for about twenty minutes.

I have the gate for mine still works. It hauled all that firewood in the elk picture down at my trapping garage. Will be doing another load this Saturday if anyone is frisky more then welcome going to have a fire some beers and try not to split any fingers in half lol.

Lugnut, you can call them in then haul them out 2 in one tool haha.

Years back I bought a used trailer for behind my atv. I replaced the bed & painted sides
It stays hooked to atv most of the spring/summer. I use it for different chores.
6' bed and as wide as the wheeler

Nice little rig hern.

Got the Miller out going to make a few drags today now that my metal shipment and D rings came in.

i'm gettin ready to move equipment to the end of the road so i can get the last big project of summer finished.

heck,a couple weeks we'll be splattin sky carp and mourning doves.

It should be years before I do that to my trailer.

Been watching for a new to me tow behind trailer.
Might get a small one of those like grass cutters use.
Expanded metal or lathe or whatever they are named.

That is a cool chainsaw mount, home made?

No ordered it with the cart. That trailer will haul more wood then the utv can tow unless in low gear.

now i know where to get one.

Fifth 5 gallon bucket of waxed dirt/sand started, if the sun allows might get a number 6 out of today.

That's alot of waxed dirt hammer. I only use 10 gallon but on get to trap for 2 or 3 weeks. I will paint my last 10 dp's tomorrow.

I don't use near what I make every season. I don't run enough sets to even go thru 2 buckets of it. I just keep it stocked up in case one season I can go run a long line season. Last season helped a fellow trapper out gave him 2 buckets for his season. With the 5 buckets I got done today, didn't stay sunny and hot enough for the 6th I topped my 55 gallon drum off. Guess I'll have to find something else to do to pass the time probably make drags,base plates, and jaw laminations. Got 2 bales of peat moss dried out as well today didn't get pics tho.

Back at it again couldn't let a hot day like today be wasted. Sitting in the pool while the sun does the work.

i'm over this heat stuff.

I'm ready for some nice fall weather.

had 40 on the jeep when i went to town at sunrise and well over twice that now.

93 degrees right now. Heading to family BBQ & campfire.

The campfire will keep you toasty warm. I am ready for frost on the pumpkin.

Got all my dp done and just did some stabilizer plates. Might do the mb 550's tomorrow after I can some pickels. Did 150 ears of corn today. And this heat can end at anytime.

i will move some from point a to point b tomorrow cause they are in my way.way behind but i'm used to it.

Hornady Reloader, wife, daughter & I put up 150 ears earlier in the season. So that's done.





Speaking of ATV trailers-
I bought my trailer used years ago. I rebuilt the rotted front panel. Then attached PVC with hose clamp & bolt on bottom, for tool holders; shovel, pitch fork, rakes or broom.

Hern, do you freeze the corn or can it?

Other than checking my trail camera, I have not done much but get some supplies for trapping.
Think if it cools off a bit I'll boil traps, then wax.

NL, Freeze.
Cook 2-3 minutes, place in ice water, take off of cob, place in vacuum freezer bags, draw air out then seal.

Nice fish PAskinner

Nice fish pa skinner. Hern I do the same with the corn. Yesterday was 18 pints of bread and butter pickles.

STILL canning here too.
See If I can pull this rabbit out of my,,,




Holy moly I posted a picture.
You guys talking trailers and stuff.
Anyone know how I can get a Reese receiver hooked up to this tractor?

WR, hard to tell from picture. First thought is welder.

Some square tubing, 1/2in plate, some good drill bits and a welder would do the job.

duct tape n jb weld.

finally got a lil rain.

walked past some traps today--close as i been in a while.

divin head first into the workshop today,then the house/store later in the week. bleep the rona-i'm goin back to normal.

Nevermind my idea Pcr is onto something.

Talked to a pro welder, said he'd stop over this week and I need to get beer lol.
This tractor is shaping up pretty nice.

Got about 1/4" rain here too. Maybe more later.
Definitely more in Oct.

Any of you fellow pa trappers use many mb 650s? Thinking about ordering 2 dozen with inside lamination.

any one else finding evidence of a BIG coyote resurgance??have had coyotes wake me up 4 nights in a row and don't think i've talked to a landowner yet that aint said worst they ever heard em.

Dying and waxing is mostly done. Still have a dozen new traps to do and some odds and ends.

might do some cookin and trap work and what not next weekend anybody wants ta stop in.

Definitely seems to be.

I had pics of 2 large ones on trail cameras.

I will be waxing my 1.5 coil spring traps I use for mink trapping tomorrow with CoonDuke. Todd was kind enough to dye them for me, the wax job will get underway around 8:00 AM.

Reminder: Big show at Newville this coming Saturday. Lots of Vendors already committed and lots of tailgaters expected.

Placed a order for the kiddos birthday gift. She is turning 10 October 14th. She loves going trapping with me and last year started to make her own sets. Well she got her first coyote did everything but set the trap I set them for her and drive the wolf fangs in if not on a drag. Well now she is comfortable setting them with her feet. So she wants her own trapping stuff now instead of using dads haha. So order a dozen k9 extreme jrs, some heavy duty j hooks, crunch proof swivels, sifter, trowel, baits, urine, carrying bag, some chain for drags, gloves, and few other little things. So should be a good gift. Hopefully she sticks with it and passes it down to her kids if not atleast she grew up knowing trapping and what it's all about and enjoying the outdoors.

good stuff hammer!

Parts all made for tractor, man started welding and his machine went down. We tore into it and it aint looking good.
In search of 220v stick welder he can use or new welder guy. Always something.

So I switched gears and got traps dyed.
I have dry wood if anyone wants to use my set up, I'm almost done.

Thanks when you making it back this way again? Did you get to catch some elk singing?

Sent ya a PM

I was done waxing and dyeing traps, purchased a bunch at Newville so I need to dye and wax again.

NL, I found 52 Canine traps I didn't treat in the spring. This week I boiled then waxed them. Am ready to go.
NL, let me know if you need help boiling/waxing.

Hern, I am not finished going over the traps I purchased at Newville. I'll let you know if I need some help when I decide to do them.

ya both can come jelp me,aint even started yet.

Will be boiling the wax off of mine today.

Was hoping to take the kiddo to the show in d7. Last night had my second shift supervisor call me with bad news 2 cnc lathes crashed so that's now today's priority.

Working on the new trap shed while doing trap. Use to be my son's treehouse until I lowered it 6 feet. New roof with vinyl siding to install yet. It's nice out today

great workin weather for sure,i just came up thinkin it had to be close to noon only to see its pushin 2 and my house smells like a giant ham boiled dinner.

FEAST ON

Sounds good Mark. I will be smoking a pork butt tomorrow. Couldn't resist had to start a campfire.

18 mb550's ready to go and got the new door I stalled in my future trap shed.

Nice little trap shed. Waiting on a couple orders to come in and the daughter and I should be set to go. Spent the weekend cleaning up the garage for trapping season. Got the chimney cleaned a few loads of wood brought in plus filled the coal shoot. Also got both buggies tuned up did oil changes and new plugs and filters so those should be good to go. I'll do the jeeps the weekend before season.

im gonna get all my DPs nice n cleaned and dipped this week... then hang em up and look at em all fall and winter unless i get a serious urge around the end of november.

I don't blame you. I have 2 dozen brand new in a box probably will remain there till I'm gone and the wife sales them for what I said they cost

How much did you tell her they cost?

Was a joke. She doesn't care what I spend on my hobbie. She would just make sure the kiddo got everything when that time comes.

Did a little tinkering yesterday, adding better swivels to some used traps and making up a few grapple chains. These cool nights make it feel closer than it is.

PAskinner, that is what I've been doing. I purchased a bunch of traps at the Newville show and I've been taking advantage of the cooler days tinkering and tuning them.

When is everyone going to start trapping and for what target?

Starting the first day of season on a one single property. This is my last year to trap this particular property due to being developed into solar panels by next year, and I've had pictures of several yotes, and we've seen one fox in particular that we're really after

I'll be starting the first day as well. The kiddo will get to enjoy the entire season everyday this year being in cyber school so should be a fun year.

I guess that's one of the advantages of cyber school for kids like that, kinda makes me jealous lol we usually don't set until after deer season, but we've seen an albino fox 4 times now while dove hunting always within 100 yards of where we set so we want to get in after him asap

That would be something to catch.

Hornady Reloader nice shed. Neat to re-purpose the kids things, just cant always do that.

I'm enjoying this cool weather

Down to treating body grips now.
The ones that were waxed are a lot nicer condition than the painted ones.
Next time I get to a State rondy some traps are getting sold.
Sad truth, I got too many lol.

The last order showed up today. Kiddo is super excited to get out trapping now!

Got a dozen for the kiddo and my dozen. Love these traps already ordering more.

Nice looking traps there hammer. I still like my mb550

I really like the mb 550 as well. Can't go wrong with mbs. Have a few dozen of them 2 dozen still in boxes. I like the dogless style traps more.

I switched to the k9 extreme jrs. Two years ago and never looked back. It is the only trap I use for coyotes and fox. Love them.

I do like the dog less part

I'm going to probably order 2 more dozen and another 2 dozen next month. That should be more then I could ever have the time to set. I still have dozens of other traps in boxes never touched. Can't have to many but can have to less old man always said.

I tried that line with the wife. She doesn't understand why I have 2 of everything. I just tell her the other one is for our son. Glad she doesn't know how many traps I have.

Haha. My wife doesn't get to involved with the trapping but knows the importance of it, so doesn't ask how much this or that cost or why so many. I mainly think it might be fear of I just may ask how much her make up or clothes cost and why so many lol.

I picked up a half dozen of the Jr's at the district 8 show 2 weeks ago. Love the traps, but had to do some tinkering to get the pan tension down to where I was happy. Out of the box they were north of 5-6lbs

I rubbed a little wax on the jaw tab seemed to help, still would say they are around the 4pound range maybe 5 just going by feel I don't use a tester.

I tried the wax thing with a tester and it got them to 4.5-5, which is still heavier than I like for fox, so I did some filing on the night latch, then shined the block on the jaw with a wire wheel. Now they're all down around 2-2,5lbs without wax. Some i actually got to where they were too light with a free falling pan, but simple fix to just tighten the pan bolt up a bit

I had to take a file to a couple of them cause they would fire when I would try to engage the night latch. Had to catch it just right or they would just fire off so filed the block on the jaw perfectly flat fixed that issue all are ready to go fmj is drying over night.

I've got mine ready to go and drying from their second dip now as well, but instead of fmj im trying out the zep floor polish to see how it works. Did 3 dips on a bunch of 1.75s a couple weeks ago and was rather impressed with the outcome

Pcr2 when you dying your traps or have you already? One of these weekends I'd like to find the time to come to your place and meet the famous pcr2.

i'll be in Emporium Sat. for Dist 4

probably 2 weekends yet before i dye and i'll put somethin here and cook a little food should some wanna come by.

Got some lures in.

Nice start hammer

Thanks. I have a a bunch from last year some opened some not to use up first. Also got a gallon of coyote urine but didn't put it in the pic. Mainly use pcg lures and baits. Figured I try some others out for the heck of it.

Made a dozen drags for the extreme jrs today at the shop.

still lookin at my dirty piles of traps on the floor lol

Was a nice day in emporium today for the trapper training weekend district 4. Got to meet and make some really nice friends can't wait till the next time we all can get together again.
Group of us t man members all got to hang out. CoonDuke put on a very educational demo on fox trapping. All in all a very good turn out.

Forest county trappers day was good. Picked up a couple things I didn't know I needed too .:)

Did some dishes this morning.

Well that's a motley looking crew. Lol
Wish I could have made it, but there seems to always be something pressing, work or family that has to be done just right now.
I'll start dying traps mid October and wax them after they have hung in the woods for a week or so.
I'm still playing with a different pan cover and learning to bed a #3 dsl quickly.
I'm starting day one on 3 properties for just yotes. Pan tension experiment is still on for this season.
I ran 8pound tension on my traps last season and only caught 2 fox and coon besides the yotes that were all deep catches.
This season I switched to all pit pans and heavy screen pan covers. Without screen I have 5+ pounds of tension, with it 71/2 pounds. It's tough screen.
Good luck to all this season.
And stay safe out there

There’s Hern and Grousewit!

(L. to R.) Hern, Hammer, Elkaholic, pcr2, Grousewit

Boy do these nice cool mornings got me itching to put some steel in the ground couple more weeks. After the kiddo and me get done hunting Saturday morning will going to scout some coyote spots.

Good luck to u and yr youngin. You might b busy with deer later instead of scoutin!!!

I might have to fire up the dye pot and wax pot again. I like cool temperatures for that job.

Loving this weather. I'm always torn between trapping and bowhunting. I consider that a blessing. Best of luck to everyone this season. Bee Safe...

Her first year archery got the cross bow all dialed in. If she tags one in the am will still hopefully get some scouting in. Will skin and hang it in the walk in for a day then cut it up. Like to get out on the gas well roads and gather up some more fresh scat before it's rained on again. Who would of thought a father and daughter cold have so much fun picking up crap lol.

Starting to run out of things to do to prepare for the season. May just end up stripping some traps down to bare metal let a surface rust form and do some dying and waxing just for old time sakes. Miss the smell of a dye pot over a fire on a nice cool fall day. Going to be a pain getting the fmj and paint off of them but wanted some traps to hang up around the shop walls for decorating. Figured nothing looks better than a old dyed and waxed trap hanging on the walls.

I am presently soaking some traps in a walnut hull bath. I tried this a year or two ago and I liked the results. The reason I am doing it this way is because I am not doing many traps and I didn't feel like dragging the pot, the burner, the hose and all the other stuff to boil traps. We have a huge walnut tree in the lawn and the walnuts need picked up to mow anyhow. I am not in a hurry so I will let them soak for a few days. After they take the dye I will wax them.

My two walnut trees are dropping them like bombs. Learned my lesson on parking the buddy under one really fast 2 days ago. I did a little searching on here and going to try the super clean soak to get the paint off a couple dozen traps I selected to dye and wax for wall hangers.

I am keeping busy by Archery hunting

Where do you get the super clean soak?

Get it at Wal-Mart in the automotive section. It's a purple bottle. A gallon is 9$. Also can use purple power much cheaper but works the same from what I have been told. I'll be soaking the traps in it tonight I'll post the results of a over the night soak. The traps I'll be soaking were painted and dipped in full metal jacket twice so i will be impressed if this takes them back to bare metal. It does great on stripping old lathe parts down to bare metal. Caution don't soak aluminum in it! It will pit it really bad found out the hard way working on a old four wheeler head. Was only going to soak it for a hour then got caught up working on something else for got about it till the next day and will say all carbon was gone but head was useless from the pitting it caused.

Made a run last night to Bill's up in Montrose last night. $100 later

Nice haul Hornady.

Didn't take any pictures but the super clean degreaser soak took all the fmj and paint off after a 24hr soak. Very impressed. After a good pressure washing I let them all dry over night. Yesterday I fired up the old dye barrel and wax pot. Got 4 dozen dyed and waxed last night. They turned out very nice imo. Been a few years since I've done the old dye and wax method of treating traps and well needless to say I'm going to go ahead and just keep doing it from here on out. Sure brought back alot of memories of sitting by the fire doing traps up with the old man.

I have some great memories of dyeing and waxing traps.