July 15, 2012:

Just thought i'd throw a quick update on here. It's been a very busy summer so far this year. I'm employed at a different farm operation, and with poorer crops then usual we have been haying non stop. I have made as many bales in the last 6 days as I would have in 2 weeks last summer. Been very busy. Just waiting now for 6 days vacation for the National Trapper's Convention!


On the side I've been doing a little nuisance beaver removal on, and on the edge of my property. Got asked by a landowner to remove some more tonight, checked things out and there is two big dams and a lot of water. No pictures of that yet, but check out this big male I took in a 330 the other night. The picture doesn't do his size justice.

Don't get any ideas in smuggling that beaver tail
to the Minn winter convention.......

What? haha, i'm not sure I understand squirrelchaser.

At the winter Minnesota Trapper's Association meeting they have a contest for biggest beaver tail

Oh, okay. Well no plans of that now! And I think I could find a bigger tail somewhere anyways!

That tail don't compare to the ones I've seen there!

Seen where?

hello again

i was just checking your posts again to see if you figured out what the stone formation was, and saw where your from. turns out that my only trip to manitoba was this same area! i hired a guide from poplarfield and hunted the area near stewart lake. my mind is slipping some, but i remember them calling it something of an indian name? very nice area and we crossed alot of beaver dams. i asked about trapping and he told me of the bounty, 25 dollars at that time. he was a trapper but had slowed because of guiding, time just wasn't there as before he said.

you had quite the season, full of the highest of highs and lowest of lows. thanks for taking us along for the ride! every year i think of coming back for another hunt, i loved the place.

thanks again! hippie

Super neat story! If you can arrange the time to come up here, I'd love to set you up for some bear or deer in the area. And take as many beaver as you like! I'm sure there is quite a few more since you were last here. And the lake has changed very little. Other then more water.

Thank's for sharing!

that is a very neat story!

To the people with different restrictions then my area of Manitoba. Here are the basic trap restrictions here.
I am in an Open Area Zone, not RTL (Registered Trapline)

Hope you have packed your bags for the Nationals, and on the road tommorrow?

Was a 10 hour drive, but we got to Owatonna around 6:30.
When are you coming through?

August 1, 2012:

Well there were a few minor bumps in the road to get here. But 10 hours after the start we arrived for the NTA.



Will post little updates as I can.

August 2, 2012:

Purchased around 107 new and used traps today.
Going to pick up another dozen or two yet tomorrow.

That wont even settle the springs down on the truck. Keep on loading them up.
Where are the best deals...are they taking Canadian at par...he he

Best deals are just everywhere. Stoploss appear to be non existent at a good price. Got 10 at a good price and the rest I will purchase from Kris back in Canada.

August 3, Convention Day 2, 2012:

Went to a couple demonstrations today at NTA, bought a couple more traps, some dye, wax etc. and went through what life would have somewhat been like in the mid to late 1800's for the little town of Owatonna when we visited "The Village of YesterYear"

Some of it wasn't bad, but our tour guide was kind of... well not the best.

The village included (to name a few)
Black Smith Shop
General Store
Cabins
School
Fire Hall
and of course the shop of horrors (Dentist, Barber, Doctor)

August 4, Final Convention Day, 2012:

Today was the last day of the convention for me, tomorrow is just a few trap sales and what not.

All I can say is Wow, I sure am glad I went to the convention. I'm told today, that it was the biggest National Convention since a previous one in Wisconsin. Someone had said including the dealers and tailgaters there was around 10,000 in attendance.

Ended up coming out of it all with
4 dozen 110's
a few 330's
8 different muskrat traps (#1 jump, #1, #1 coil etc.)
dozen Victor Rat Traps for weasel
2 dozen Belisle 120 Super X
1 dozen Belisle 220 Super X
1/2 dozen Belisle 160 Super X
3 dozen under ice beaver snares
1/2 dozen colony traps (will make more)
10 stoploss (could not find any worth buying or any for a good price)
and some various forming boards, lures and bait and other odds and ends.
Will post pictures and probably a little video when I get back to Manitoba and get things sorted out.

Approx. 137 traps total, and then the snares. So bring on Trapping Season!


Watched a few demo's the rest of the day and had a good time, despite the heat!





Definatly recommend you check out the NTA convention if it's near you!

August 7,2012; The Day After:

Well today is the day after we got home from Minnesota (at 12:00 am). And here's a little video I uploaded showing all of the stuff I purchased down there.