Every winter I get out and do some fur trapping, regardless of wild fur prices. It's what got me into wildlife control, and is still a part of our family heritage. As Josh posted a couple weeks back, it isn't about money at all, even though some years pay off well.
Here's some pics of a few recent trapline outings, sometimes with my nephew Owen and even his little sister and brother. Can't put a price on the experiences we gain from this activity. It does seem odd..... I work long hours 6 and 7 days a week dealing with animals all year long, then for "relaxation".... I go out and catch MORE animals. But it's not the same. No pressure here, just spending some quality time in the swamps.
Packed these two beavers up a huge hill yesterday, and caught a third one at the top of the pond dam on a crossover. Had four traps set, caught three beavers. Dad wanted some "meat" for our annual New Years party, which definitely features wild game!
My nephew Owen retrieving a 35-pounder from a dam crossover set.
Three beavers from 4 traps. Quite the catch ratio!
55 pounder caught yesterday. Set traps during extremely high water conditions. Bottom land was flooded, as we had 9 inches of rain in 3 days (see TV news stories). Knowing where to place traps when the whole area is knee-deep (normally dry) is one of the great challenges that makes trapping addictive.
Nice buck mink taken in a 110 in a muskrat runway.
Picked up some muskrats and a mink at this small farm pond about a week ago. The landowner had repaired the dam (using his track-hoe) after the muskrats had caused a cave-in.
Owen getting a rat from a log set. #1 longspring (one of my favorite muskrat traps) was set on the log where they were climbing out to use the "toilet station". Long wire around log, rat jumps in when caught, end of story.
I can't carry these monsters as far as I used to, so usually use a jon boat for all lake trapping. I can row forever!
Youngest nephew Luke pulling a muskrat from a bank den set.
My niece Sydnie, also getting in on the action, pulling a muskrat from the water. 110 in a runway. Photo bombing by Owen and Luke!
Owen caught his FIRST mink today. We only had a few traps set out, but he hooked up with this male in a 160 set in a well-defined trail through some grass and weeds along a small stream.
