I have noticed posts on here and other sites about your goals for the season. They come up every year. I was just wondering who around really sits down and thinks to themselves "I need to catch X number of coons this year" or "X number of coyotes" whatever your quarry may be.

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that's a bad thing to do. Some people need that I guess.

As for me I guess my only goals are getting out as much as I can. Hopefully I can spend as much time possible enjoying it with friends or family.






So, Who sets goals and what are they?

Hopefully I can spend as much time possible enjoying it with friends or family

your comment i pasted above is perfect take it as it comes and enjoy thats what its about

i set high goals this year for trapping.had it passed on check 2.now i am takin it easy the rest of the season....my goal was to get somthing lol.day 2 had me a nice boar coon and a grinner.its hard to top goals like that but we have to try lmao.

My goal is to humanely trap and dispatch my selected critters, to acquire new skills and refine the old ones. I will be pursuing coyotes for the first time this year and this will be a new learning experience for this "Old Timer". Last year first time for beaver and got 9, so if one yote stumbles into a trap, I will feel blessed.

Garry-

I set goals because it pushes me harder. I guess if your hobby trappin goals are not a necessity. I really on the income that I make from fur so I look at it as a business stand point. When I had my own masonry company I new after so many block were laid in a day I was turning a profit.
When I trap I try to hold a daily average. But look at it at the end of the week. Because there are things that happen on days that can't be helped. Like flooding.
So what about this year? I will make some money but not a huge profit. My goals for the minimal time I will trap this year have went up. And to reduce cost I will do more paddling and less driving. With all that babble I think goals are good for some

I did not set any goals, but this year was the first year of trapping since 1984. I caught my first coyote.
so far I have caught
6 coon
8 opossum
1 skunk
5 rat
2 grey fox
1 red fox
1 coyote

The last couple year's I have set goal's and for the most part met them not all of them but most LOL! Now bare in mind that I am merely a hobby trapper so my number's are not big to begin with. So I was thinking the other day about goal's for this year and it hit me my goal is for my son who will be 10 Nov. 30th to catch more fur than I did last year. We have his own line planned out for him this year and he should be able to accomplish this I hope.

So good luck to all of you wether you have goal's or not take the kid's as much as possible and the wife when she will.

"Aim at nothing, and you're sure to hit it." That's a pretty good philosophy for life in general, not just trapping.

I don't think it's necessary (or even desirable) to advertize your goals the way some folks do on this forum and elsewhere, but if you don't have at least a general idea of what you intend to accomplish, then how are you going to know if you're performing at an acceptable level?

Yep, it's true that we're out there because we enjoy it, and that's part of the "pay," but it's also true that the objective of trapping is to catch critters, not to get fresh air.

Set goals. Then keep them to yourself. It's nobody else's business in the first place, and nobody else is really interested in the second place.

Jim I will disagree with you a little bit. I think its fine to post goals. I don't see where it could harm the person posting it or the one reading it. It's just a fun thing to do. The early mountain men probly had goals and they would talk about it at the rondies. And yep some people are interested. Thats my 2 pennys lol

Okay, point conceded: I can't speak for everybody, and some folks may be interested. I just can't imagine why. It's probably not a big issue either way whether somebody makes his or her trapping goals public or not - but I can't imagine why anybody would want to do that, either. But you're right, Paul, I don't see where it can do any harm.

I think the important issue in this thread is whether or not somebody should set goals, and I think that answer is yes, most definitely. They don't have to be lofty or unrealistic, but why do ANYTHING if you don't have a goal? "Enjoying nature" is not enough of a goal. You can do that without trapping.

Well said Mr. jim

I exceeded my season's goal on my very first check, so from here on out, I'm going to relax and ENJOY it, moreso when the kids are along.

Matter of fact, I'm saving my best locations for a week when they can go. THAT is the payoff for me this season.

My goal is to become a better coyote trapper. I always catch a few but would like to improve my skills.

I always "plan on" catching more animals than the previous year...sometimes it happens sometimes it doesn't...but I always make it a goal anyway!

I plan to catch more than last year, My goal is mainly coyotes

This is only my second year, so my goals are simple.... To be better than last year. I'm not too concerned with numbers, I had certain issues last year I hope to learn to resolve this year. I'll know if I'm meeting my goals by the end of the season. I figure trapping like anything else I do, learn to do it right, and the speed or sucess will come on it's own.

My goal is 100 coon.I have 15 traps and am at 17 right now.Currently on pace!!!!

Very nicely put, I have my goals in my trapping journal. I prolly half way there.

You are a class act Mr Spencer, and 'Trapper and Predator Caller' is fortunate to have you as their Editor.

If I don't set a goal, I am never disappointed! Seriously, goals are something to shoot for, but are totally unnecessary.
HINT: I set goals for myself every day.... but not for trapping!