I am fairly new to trapping (only trapped 1 year) and would like to purchase some trapping books. There are numerous books out there and I was wondering if anyone could recommend some good books that they have read.

The books can be single or multi-species books. My target species are bobcat, coyote, fox, coon, beaver, and otter.

I am trapping in NC around a lot of farmland and woods (mostly flatland). Most of my water trapping is in swamps. I have a ton of land I can trap and would like to narrow down good locations and places to put in different sets for specific target species. I know a lot of this comes with time on the trapline but I hope that reading some of the books you all could recommend might help with the learning curve.

I would like books that talk about locations to place sets in these areas, animal habits, different types of sets, types of baits/lures to use at different sets, etc.

Thank You for your recommendations.

-Drew

all of slims books are good, bernie barringers, on coon i like austin passamonte's High Volume Coon Trapping book.

I'd read "trapping north America furbearers"

It's a good run down of all your basic sets along with some more complex ones. Covers every animal too

Coyotes - There are two books that i highly recommend and that is "hoof beats of a wolfer" from Craig O'Gorman, and "Clever Coyote" by Stanley P. Young!! Both books are top notch and very informative. Hoof beats is a really tough read for some people but if you have an open mind and can gather random thoughts at times you will learn a lot!!

Thanks for yalls recommendations. I will definitely have to purchase some of these books

I enjoyed Russ Carman's Trapping the Eastern Brush Wolf, Milligan's Coyote Fever, and Carman's Foxes by the 100's.

Read the Archives on this site. All of the topics you have listed are covered and its FREE!!!!!

As a new trapper I read several books last summer. Of these, Passamonte's book on fox had the best info by far on set locations. Lots of photos and good descriptions. To me, this made it one of the most valuable because learning how to make sets is easy, learning where to put them is much more difficult.

Drew, just come by the house sometime and borrow some of mine. By the way I heard you did very good for a rookie this season.

junes coyote book is the best IMO.Carmens foxes by the 100s is a great fox book and will teach you alot about location

Everybody,

Thanks for all the good advice on what to read. I really appreciate it.

Jim Spencer's "guide to trapping" is a pretty good book that covers several different species and offers a pretty simplistic nothing fancy approach to catching them. I was really happy with this book.

Those are my favorites.

I suggest that every beginner read "Trapping North American Furbearers" by Hawbaker. This is a good introduction to trapping. It is a sound foundation upon which to build your trapping knowledge. Principles learned here will get you started in the right direction.

Ralph Bice's book-"FUR-the trade that put upper Canada on the map" is a good read.

X2

I am new myself, and have read about 40 of them this year. Some of these authors owe me a Christmas card. Check your library, over half came from there for me. I have donated all those I bought too,except one. I have also bought one I read there for an on hand referrence.

I though Krause' National Trappers Handbook was great touching on everything and Spencer seemed to fill in some of the details too. Bob Noonan's FisherGuide is absolutely top notch for that animal. All four of the FTA Favorites. Faler's Mink Guide. Land Sets by Dobbins. Krause Dynamite Predator.

If canines is you thing the DVD "Making Sense of It All" was key for me. I recommend it before trying some of the more complex DVD's and books.

land trapping by Charles dobbins if the best one i have read

just got falers mink trappers guide today best trapping book yet

Hoofbeats of a Wolfer! Fantastic book!

Scott Welch's Predator trapping is pretty good.

John Graham's fox book.

You can't get it anymore I don't think, but Slim Pederson's predator trapping problems and solutions #2.

Yeah, I have #3, but thought #2 was the best one.

I agree on austin passamonte's High Volume Coon Trapping book-don't care what anyone says, one of the best on picking coon location-which is really what it's all about.

Charlie Dobbins Open water beaver and Otter book ought to teach you a thing or three.

Locklears Eastern Wolfer O'Gormans Hoofbeats of a Wolfer Carmans Eastern Brush Wolf are good ones

Complete Guide of Lures and Baits by Russ Carman .
Besides a understanding of lure and bait,there is a lot more in the book .

http://www.minntrapprod.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=508_600_331&products_id=1279

Last year was my first season too. I read a bunch, but the ones that I kept going back and reading again were Jim Spencer's trapping handbook, Barringer's book on trapping farmland, and Dobbins' land trapping manual. All three are very comprehensive. I'll be reviewing them again as the season approaches.

x2 forgot about that one good book

All of Dobbins books are very well written. My favorite of his is On The LIne with Charles Dobbins. Also his book Great Teachers is a great read. I also found J.W. Crawford's "The Canine Trapper's Encyclopedia" a very good and informative book. I do not read much, but these books kept me interested from the time i opened them until i finished them.

All of Dobbins books are very well written.