Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
#322367
09/04/07 11:55 AM
09/04/07 11:55 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 908 N. Dakota
Slim Pedersen
OP
"Trapping Icon' "
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OP
"Trapping Icon' "
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 908
N. Dakota
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I have been thinking about making this post for some time already. A very good, experienced, old timer gave me this piece of advice several years ago. Think it was one of the best pieces of advice anyone ever offered.
Before I pass it along, I believe all the internet trapper forums of today probably prove this piece of advice to be very true.
I have read advice on forums by supposed qualified experts to only use a short chain to trap fox, bobcats, or coyotes, only to be refuted by an example when someone in a different part of the country talks about badgers digging up trap stakes on short chained traps. I have read advice to only use a large jaw spread trap for trapping bobcats, only to have others talk about how many are caught in small traps. On the opposite side of the scale, I have read where there is no reason to ever use a trap larger than a 1.75 for fox, bobcats, or coyotes. I always read that a trap must be positioned just exactly so many inches in front of a lured attraction, only to have someone else refute the same advice with another exact measurement. I have read that only a rubber padded trap should be used for live market animals, and that he had never experienced a pull out of one of the traps, only to have others discuss their many pull outs with the same set up, and about rubber padded traps cutting off circulation to the foot. I also read about a videographer witnessing many pull outs of rubber padded traps. I have read that only cross staking with such and such a rebar stake of such and such a length was only stake system to use when trapping for coyotes, then read where same individual paid some good money to have an aluminum sifter built to save on weight. I have read that lures that smell of skunk musk are not good lures to use in summer months, only to have others talk about trapping in summer with the same lures they use in winter months with good success. I have read-----------------or been told-----------
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.
Proud to be a trapper and supporter of trapping organizations
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: Slim Pedersen]
#322381
09/04/07 12:03 PM
09/04/07 12:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 860 Nova Scotia Canada 52yrs
tuskettrapperman
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 860
Nova Scotia Canada 52yrs
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I agree Slim, I will listen to everyone and their reasons why and then make up my own mind. SOmetimes when I ask people for advice they're alittle hesistent afraid I'll come back saying " well you told me!" but then I tell I'm asking for their advice and I then I make my own decisions and down blame others.
not your milk hand, your cookie hand!
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: ]
#322398
09/04/07 12:21 PM
09/04/07 12:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 592 Kansas
Kansasbert
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 592
Kansas
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: Kansasbert]
#322424
09/04/07 12:59 PM
09/04/07 12:59 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 892 Ozarks of Missouri
BaldKnobber1
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 892
Ozarks of Missouri
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I would like to add this wee tidbit of additional advice, (with the caveat that I cant hold a candle to Slim's blowtorch of experience): Your second day in a row of not enjoying trapping (or any hobby) should be your last day of trapping. There is another outdoor hobby out there just waiting to be fallen in love with; flyfishing, gold prospecting, wildlife photography, fieldtraining dogs, mountian climbing, cave exploration, scuba diving, falconry, and on and on. You guys who do it for a living...never mind, cuss away at it
Last edited by BaldKnobber1; 09/04/07 02:12 PM.
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: trappinia]
#322439
09/04/07 01:26 PM
09/04/07 01:26 PM
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Corey Hain
Unregistered
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Corey Hain
Unregistered
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Good post, it would have been better minus the jabs towards B.W. though...IMHO
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: ]
#322454
09/04/07 01:46 PM
09/04/07 01:46 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,061 Ames, IA
MikeTraps2
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,061
Ames, IA
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I always try to season my advice with "What I have found on my lines and what works for me is ......"
Nothing fits every situation and circumstance
Good advice Slim
Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure
Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: j lord]
#322622
09/04/07 04:44 PM
09/04/07 04:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,140 Texas Hill Country
Cedar Hacker
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,140
Texas Hill Country
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The advice is sound and applies to all of "Mother Nature", not only trapping. When I would go into a new area, we had the experts but I would try to find the locals who had the most experience, pick their brain, then combine the experts, the locals and my own to form a plan. I don't see a single name anywhere in Slim's post except his own therefore I don't considered it belittling anyone. Just sharing his opinion and experience.
Sit on your horse on top of a ridge, look out across the country and tell me there is no God.
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: mikeak]
#322759
09/04/07 06:31 PM
09/04/07 06:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,385 Alabama (Bama for short) 108 y...
Jtrapper
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,385
Alabama (Bama for short) 108 y...
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What do those of us without enough sense to figure things out the animals are teaching suppose to do oh great shadowed one who walks in fields of daisy's while pondering lifes little up's and down's? lmao.
Not my circus, not my clowns.
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: ]
#323363
09/04/07 11:00 PM
09/04/07 11:00 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,358 PA
john1182
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,358
PA
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: pilgrim]
#323712
09/05/07 08:10 AM
09/05/07 08:10 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 664 Omro, Wisconsin
Cooncuff
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 664
Omro, Wisconsin
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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
In youth we learn, In age we Understand.
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: Slim Pedersen]
#323760
09/05/07 09:11 AM
09/05/07 09:11 AM
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Joe B
Unregistered
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Joe B
Unregistered
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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. 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.
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: ]
#323765
09/05/07 09:20 AM
09/05/07 09:20 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,523 WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,523
WI>>>MN >>>WI
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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"
Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: Wade Lacey]
#324123
09/05/07 02:55 PM
09/05/07 02:55 PM
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Todd Lund
Unregistered
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Todd Lund
Unregistered
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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.
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: ]
#324191
09/05/07 04:02 PM
09/05/07 04:02 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,700 South Central Michigan
Freepop
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,700
South Central Michigan
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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.
Born to hunt, forced to work
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: Freepop]
#324228
09/05/07 04:31 PM
09/05/07 04:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,175 NW Iowa
cwilld
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,175
NW Iowa
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: TRapper]
#325135
09/06/07 06:35 AM
09/06/07 06:35 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,723 Maine
Mac
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,723
Maine
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As per usual Slim offers up some good advice.
Mac
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: TRapper]
#325138
09/06/07 06:53 AM
09/06/07 06:53 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 549 Velva North Dakota
HunterInShadows
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 549
Velva North Dakota
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works for me! Been working that way for from day 1. Thamks for saying so! If you listen to what most people say...They say basic things over and over, so some things remain a given. It is thier "Twist" on techniques that is interesting. Try the twist from time to time just to see if it works. You might lean a new skill to make an age old pursuit just a little more fun!
KIDS! They are what we live for!
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: TRapper]
#325172
09/06/07 07:54 AM
09/06/07 07:54 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,681 odessa Mo.
RayA
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,681
odessa Mo.
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Good post Slim expert advice at times is great other times leaves ya scratching yer head sayin Huh!.
J remember Sky diveing could be a option
I dont suffer from Insanity i enjoy every minute of it.
Citified Mo Trappers Ed Instructor
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: RayA]
#325203
09/06/07 08:51 AM
09/06/07 08:51 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,662 NW Pennsylvania
ZekeMan
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,662
NW Pennsylvania
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From a trapper who is still a greenhorn at coyotes........... You hit the nail on the head! I have asked a lot of questions, and in the end, I was as confused or mor confused than before I asked the question. Mostly in regards to trapping equipment. I guess that's why I have a few traps of several sizes and brands with different chain set ups etc. I'm still learning. If I ever quit learning, then I should quit trapping to pursue another hobbie. Thanks Slim for the post!
NOTE TO VEGETARIANS: My food poops on your food! Enjoy your salad!!!
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: ZekeMan]
#325221
09/06/07 09:21 AM
09/06/07 09:21 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 18 Taupo, New Zealand
Tone
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 18
Taupo, New Zealand
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I love advice, cause I ignore it until I need it. There are so many ways to 'set the trap' that when things dont work, you can draw on the experience of others.
Last edited by Tone; 09/06/07 09:24 AM.
Possum buster
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: Tone]
#325223
09/06/07 09:28 AM
09/06/07 09:28 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,232 13 rt 2 rouses point ny grey h...
fishguts**
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,232
13 rt 2 rouses point ny grey h...
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i dont know about this slim fella. befor i even met him, via mscats cellphone he had me sticking my bare hand in a huge 4 coil trap he made! after i did it in front of about 30 onlookers mscat grabed the chain and took off running, saying see it aint gonna pull off! and thats a true story, well most of it. i still want one of the traps bad! any way great advice slim can i post it over to the bucket?
There is no such thing as stupid questions. Just stupid answers
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: ]
#328398
09/09/07 12:34 PM
09/09/07 12:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716 Sandhills Nebraska
Gary Benson
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716
Sandhills Nebraska
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I learned alot from an outlaw longliner coming through the country from 75 miles away that was trapping under our noses and kicking our butts. We got onto him, observed what he was doing, and beat him at his own game. We used to walk alot, which is great but takes alot of time. Learned to stay close to the pickup, keep sets simple, move fast, work hard, and work all day. Also as a fella gets older he looks for easier ways to do things.
Life ain't supposed to be easy.
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Re: Best Advice I can offer to a trapper
[Re: Gary Benson]
#328403
09/09/07 12:40 PM
09/09/07 12:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 715 north Mississippi
Marty Harmon
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 715
north Mississippi
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Also as a fella gets older he looks for easier ways to do things. Well said, only difference is I have to look for easier ways. LOL
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