Hey everyone.me and my fiance are new to the trapping community and are looking for any insight on land trapping.we are looking at doing yotes coons and fox this season.so any advice would be very helpful and appriciated.thanks

Hi art. Best advice is to read the archives and watch some videos, many are free on line. Other than that, it's addicting, you'll spend more than you'll ever make, you'll fall in water, you'll trip on land, you'll smell awful somedays, you'll walk your buttocks off, you'll scratch your head a lot, you'll be tired at work, you'll pinch your fingers, you'll find yourself smelling and poking animal scat, you'll wonder how trappers pass themselves off as sane and you'll love every minute of it.

The DVD by Mashek "Making Sense of It All" lived up to the title for me (I started in January). Purchase supplies, try Minnesota Trapline Supply. I actually call them with general trapping questions even after ordering, and they are happy to talk about it.You can find both on this link Making Sense of It All

I have to say any of these supply places would probably do that now, it is a different world today. In all of my life I have never had the customer service you get from MTP/Caven's. In 1979 when trappers were double top secret. I asked a buddy's dad & trapper to get me started. He said the first thing I can do is move to another state and don't try to cut into his line! He never even spoke to me again. This website is the bobcat's hind end. You Tube is excellent to learn on too.

The third thing I would say is go to your public library. There were tons of good starter trapping books available. Pay attention to the copyright day and focus on stuff from the 70s to now.

I have read at least a book a week this year, all on trapping. One of the better starters is surely the NTA book written by Krause.

Lastly,you can join two great organizations for nothing thanks to Sterling Fur. For a $30 membership to FTA you get a choice from a number of free $35 DVD (donated by Sterling Fur). Matt Jones "Coyotes East of the Big River is very instructional even if the filming itself is poor (fuzzy). Contact Sterling Fur ((330) 939-3763 or trap@sterlingfur.com) and they will send a catalog & form to join the NTA membership ($30) through them and they give you $30 off an order of $100 or more. Sterling does NOT have a website you can order off.

Art,Have you taken the Wisconsin trappers Ed. course yet?
Tom

Just remember when starting keep it simple and have fun coyotes are hard and you will get frustrated good luck and have fun like it was said before it is very addicting

bogmaster yes I. Have just completled the trappers ed course bout 2 weeks ago.I did learn somethings while in the class.our instructors were big beaver trappers.well really all water trapping.I read on the archives to pick onbe thing to go for either dry or water.me and my fiance are doing just dry land.in wisconsin we can use conibears on land for racoon.I actually just built 2 coon boxes.I had picked up a couple duke 1.5s and a 220 and a 110 from our bait shop in town.can I use the 1.5s on yote or are they mor for fox.are the double springs better for yote or do the double coil springs work good.

Oh and thanks for the guidence ringbill.ill have to go check our libray out here when I can get a day off from work.I went ut last year with a buddy whil he set traps and got to smell first hand some lures baits and boy did my dogs go crazy when I came home.what do you do if you see tracks but can't find any scat in the area.

Art the #11/2s are not a coyote trap.They are a fox,coon,mink trap.
Tom

Ok.would 1 3/4 work for yote.what about 2's or 3's

1 3/4 are good traps. I use duke #4. Big trap though. Hard on fox and coon.
If you don't weld I would buy MB traps that are ready to go. Most trappers seem to like to tinker though.

#1 3/4 is the smallest you would want to go.#2's are just fine.
You may also want to look into cable restraints.
Tom

Ok thanks bogmaster.our trap instructor said to use the smallest trap for the animal you'd be trapping.I'm looking at going to the next convention in sept I believe I need to just find out the dates of it so I can request time off work to go.I was tld its a good place to get used traps as I do not have many.

If you don't mind traveling a little, the National Trappers Convention is in Owatonna, Minnesota in Aug 2-5. You could find out all kinds of info,and get an upclose picture of the Trapping Fever others are talking about. It is very addictive and once you have it you'll never have enough traps,lures nor will you ever have enough information about trapping. You will begin to look at things and wonder if you could use or make that into something you could use on the trapline. And as it has been posted you'll love every minute, even if it kicks your butt sometimes. (As Tom Hanks once said)"Its the hard that makes it great" good luck
I hope your fiance is very understanding, its nice to see you are both looking to start this new adventure together, my wife has threatened to leave me over trapping. LOL If she does I still got trapping. ha ha

Try to attend the Wisconsin Trappers Assoc annual doings on the Fri & Sat after Labor day week end. check their website for more info. It is held in Marshfield, WI and they allow camping on the grounds. Best location to buy trapping supplies and learn that you will ever find. Most years there is also a Trapperman feed (cook out)for members here.

Yea I'm already looking at things and wonder would this make a goood weight or would this make a god stake.lol.my fiance didn't want me to trap at first then I should pics of animals with mange and a study on doe fawn ratio to areas where predators are hunted and trapped and she came around.she actually is very excited about going to set a line.she wants to get invovled with it like I do.I'm actually picking up bout 2 dozen misc traps in the morning.sme need a lil work like new dogs pans etc.I just bought a welder to make my own stakes.got a trap shed in the process of being built(which in my opinon I've made to small 8x8x8)but its a goood start for our first year.I'm. Actually taking the night off work on the 7th so I can stay and attend the convention in marshfield.