Decoy made a comment on the View from my home thread and I replied to him. In pondering & reflection I figured I would start this thread so we can get to understand each other's reasons for being here. Folks like Paul understood the value of this site and dreamed it up, as top notch trappers and formatted this venue. A tip of the hat to them.

Decoy reflected:







My reply to Decoy and a reason to start this thread.





Two tips for new trappers that I learned which speed up trap setting.

(1) When adjusting pan pressure ,put your fingers under the loose jaw and push the pan to desired location in trigger slot and that controls the pan tension better without risking a trap snapping on your fingers as your fingers are not between trap jaws but under the loose jaw. Eventually your eyes and your fingers will be able to locate trap lb pressure and make for wobble free trap placement.


(2) Have connie-bear cross stakes handy and ready when you put your trap on brook bottom. I always use a dive pole if trap immersed under water and stand down stream of that pole. I then put my fingers between the top jaws of the trap and drop it into place. Do that without curling fingers tightly around those jaws so that if the jaws snap shut your trap jaws will be moving away from your hands as they snap shut. As soon as the trap is on the bottom ,place a stick between spring and force deep enough into the bottom to keep the spring steady and then tip the stick at a sixty degree angle so that it fits between top jaw and lays against dive pole. Then do same on other side. Make sure those stabilizer sticks as placed so that if an otter or beaver is caught the sticks will pull out of the bottom and allow the captured animal to be pulled down stream and free of the set location so that other critters can pass through without being impeded by the first . I always put tangle sticks down stream so animal will float free but not be pushed or pulled to shore as the wire is just long enough to allow them to pop free of the dive pole location, pass the tangle sticks but not long enough to allow access to shore. If a hungry coyote/farm dog or bobcat wants to pull the floating beaver to shore they might enter the water but they will not stay in long enough or be able to pull out past tangle sticks. This is especially important with otter who might be tail or waist trapped,(it does happen no matter how good you are with trigger honing skills) and will hasten their demise. I used to spend a lot of time offering and accepting such tips but I now have other things to offer which might seem obscure and unimportant but in my opinion are even more important in the education of new trappers hunters and gun enthusiasts.

Mira keep up the information post. I read each and every one . I find your information quite valuable.

I read every one of your threads too Mira. Please keep posting just like you have been doing. Lot's of good, vauable, info about the enemy that can be used when writing letters to the editor, or to politicians, etc.

I do read your posts as well. On occasion the topic dose not interest me so I dont finish reading it. I for one do appreciate your info. keep posting. I did miss the view of your front yard. Chub

No problem hunterchub. here is the link.

http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthrea...ira#Post1186082


In the meantime for those interested in that letter writing and informational campaign the past articles can be found here.


http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/27/1/Mira_s_Nuggets

Maybe others would like to reflect on what they get out of Trapperman.com. Could be interesting stuff.

Mira .... I too enjoy and read most all of your posts and I agree with you that the future of our joy of trapping lies in the youth and not old timers like me, but it is our responsibility to see to it that youth are guided to the best of our abilities and have the opportunity of our experience.

Keep up the good work ...... Garry-

Yessir I click on each and every one of them. Mostly because I know from past experiences that it'll be good factual info. Thanks for posting them.

I too read and learn from them,we all need to share what ever we have just reaching one is well worth the trouble.

Thanks for all you have done.

Thanks Pal .

I like reading your posts, Mira. But --

I was unaware that anyone here needed to justify their presence to anyone but Paul.

Jim

You have been a real asset to the forum for the 10 years I have been on here Donnie, keep up the good work! Asa

Mira,

Thanks for all you do and keep it up. I read all your posts.

thanks for sharing! I'ts very much appreciated here.

It isn't about justification as much as noting where I have changed in how I post here. I was hoping others would enter into similar reflections as to why they post and if they understand how we must recognize what the future is bringing down the pipes. Where can we help to get the messages out in the courts & the political arena that we have just cause in practicing our lifestyle and how important is our lifestyle to Wildlife management which we PAY LICENSE for to our animal populations?

A few people in powerful positions took over----sounds just like what our new Washington thugs intend here.

Others may feel the same about YOU Keith. You yourself have done a lot of bashing on members here as well as that members family. There's an old saying that states "Think before you speak", well on the internet world it is also "Think before YOU type". Yes I thought this reply over.

Keith ... 1 thing I want to mention though. I DO respect the knowledge you have about & towards trapping. For that, your heart IS in the right place.

You lie LOL We still have a bunch of snow here too, do you miss it at all ?

We walk on water up here although it isn't about Saintliness! We have to, because water is frozen right now. However the underground springs make for some good trapping localities when they seep out of the bank and a bit of bait with a 1 &1/2 coil is just the right toy to make a little jig on ice worth while.