My opinion isn't worth much, but I agree with the "build your own knowledge" school of thought. The only caveat is that many young or beginning trappers don't have the self confidence to go out on a limb, so to speak. I urge patience with the many posts that are titled, "Will this work?" or "What kind of set would you use?" or "What coyote(or beaver, or coon, or mink, etc)lure will work best?" The more beginning trappers we get started right, the more support we have in the long run. There hasn't always been this much information at our finger tips. I remember, vividly, the day an old time mink trapper taught Dad the "pocket set". This was in the early 70's and information just wasn't exchanged. Dad ran into this gentleman at the fur buyers and he had an excellent collection of mink pelts. He made sure Dad lived far enough away, before he would share this valuable knowledge. Learning the pocket set sounds kind of elementary now, but back then, as far as we were concerned, it was cutting edge. Our mink catch sky rocketed. So there is a place for advice within our ranks, but one shouldn't be dependent on it. Keep up the good work, you guys and gals are great.

great advice

good post. everyone has different approaches. Only time and trial and error for each trapper until he figures his own way.

I agree with Sam of-course.

Trial and error. Everyone is different.

Slim sez:
"The best advice I can give anyone is exactly what the old timer told me: Don’t put too much faith into what the experts tell you. Listen and learn, but use your own mind to figure what works and what doesn’t, because the animals will teach you something new every day."

Nuff sed !
Listen to the animals ........

amen and very good post

Slim, I appreciate your post.

There is more than one way to skin a cat......

I like it when someone tells me "you can't do that, that would never work!", and it's been working for me for years. Let em think what they want, I'll make up my own mind and use what works for me.

Slim very good post.

Daddy always said "Son, you got 2 ears and only 1 mouth....That means you should listen twice as much as you talk." Sound advice I think...That's why I don't have thousands of post, I try to listen to most of the debates before I contribute (If I can contribute)......CC

Younguns follow a coyote track in the snow for a few hours and try to figure out why the coyote is doing what he is doing. Best teacher you will ever get and you will understand what Slim is saying by let the animal teach you.

Thank-you Slim for this posting, realy separates the people from the real people, your words of advise is to listen and learn , not speak first then listen, watch, listen and learn, good advise for any one at any age and experience level, I'm sure Slim learns something new every year even from some of the novise trappers. Steve

when we stop learning, we ain't breathin'.

the grump.

Now that is a confusing statement if I ever read one. Do I ask expert advice or not? Apparently not, since I should not put much faith in expert advice. So learn from the animals by trial and error?

Well, that is one piece of expert advice I intend to ignore. I have learned a lot from reading and listening to experienced trappers.

It sure sounds like you are handing out expert advice from an old timer which says not to have faith in expert advice from old timers. LOL.

Slim, that advise is essentially the same as my mother taught me as a child.

"How to make a decision: First, collect all the facts, and then you are free to do as you darned well please"

Very well said Slim! So far made for a very interesting post.

Thankyou Slim for your guidance. I agree because I am sorta an old codger and can remember when the only trapping info available was FFG magazine which was fine. I read volumes and volumes trapping literature. Then I think of the physical makeup of my trapline. Unlike you I am more of a water trapper and a mink trapper to be specific. My bible for trapping in this frozen northland is the bottom edge set book by Ken Smythe. Its not the total scripture though because since I started using it I have expanded it my own way and found new and various ways of making it effective WHERE I LIVE. Time is growing short and I just got a ups shipment of new 110s to boil and rust and dye before October.

I personally don't care if it was an old axe that he was grinding. Many missed the point in my opinion and Slim even said it in a book not to long ago: (not word for word)
"If you disagree with me, good, the point I was trying to get across was to be able to think for yourself"

One other point from his book and post that I read into:
Animals are individuals just as people and you have to adapt and be inovative if you want/need to get the last one out.

If the example he used was an age old argument, big whoop, it was probably easiest to remember and to make a point of differing opinions.

Good post Slim.

Good post Slim, and like others have said, your comment applies to everything in life.

I see nothing disrespectful in Slim's post. Thank goodness that guys like Slim speak their mind freely. Too much emphasis is placed on political correctness nowadays. When people speak freely and honestly, and hopefully respecting all at the same time, the truth can come out and we can all learn. Free speech is of primary importance.

I value the advice of experienced people. But nowadays I've learned to question that advice and I think I am the better for it. I also give advice at times, but I acknowledge that my way in not necessarily the best way or the only way.

Not all circumstances are identical. Animal behaviour can vary. What works well in on set of circumstances might be improved on in another.

And things evolve. Once upon a time the experts said the world was flat.

At a more sinister level it seems that some individuals want to maintain an illusion of expertise so as to keep holding the reigns of power. Now I'm not saying that anybody on this forum is doing that. For example look how people in some countries are persecuted or even executed for speaking against the current government. I think I can also see this kind of pressure in some businesses and church organizations. Folks have to 'toe the line' if they want to maintain a comfortable life.

So once again...thanks Slim.... and everybody else who might want to help others by gently and respectfully speaking their mind.

seems to me that my grandpa has said that to me many times, bout every time i see him. he is one of the old timers still alive, he trapped from age 7 on and still hasn't missed a season, even if it is just setting one trap like last year, he is 93, that is a good excuse.