Yeah Gary, you start talking about those times and as much as I loved trapping and the fur business its remembering all the special people I got to know because fur had value that makes the whole thing one of the most important parts of my life. I'm sure you and many others feel much the same way. The story of your remarkable contribution to trapping and wildlife management is a true American success saga. I remember well when MiltonLiesemeyer first told me in his fur shed that Chuck Boelkes had told him about a whiz bang coon trap one of his helpers had come up with. The rest is history! Thanks for the ride, God willing coon fur will someday shine again!

Awesome and they keep on catching. Congrats Getrz

Congrats Gary! Very people have had the impact on trapping that you have. You should be very proud!

Jayme

Congrats Gary! My friends Jim and Joel up here kind of got me into trying the trap. I was ahead of the curb using them when most trappers were still skeptical of their coon catching ability . What a great invention I consider you The Godfather of DP trapping and everyone else followed

Congrat's, Gary. Your trap is a great achievement. I started trapping about a decade ago when my twin boys were 8 or 9. I bought a few dozen Grizz traps when they were $240/dozen. You then helped me with some info and product for magazine articles, etc., and were wonderful to work with and I always appreciated your help getting me and my boys into trapping. I've bought more since, and trap a fair amount of public land setting at least 4 or 5 dozen on a long weekend. I can sleep easy knowing that trap is specific enough to avoid problems with other public land users and I love trapping coons. Your trap has helped trappers be able to use them in areas where other traps just wouldn't work for fear of non-target catches. For that, all trappers should thank you. I certainly do!!! Great job and great trap!!!

Thanks for making them. I still use my old ones and they are my favorite. Great trap and super quality.

Milton Liesemeyer was a very good man. He spoke in a soft voice and always had a good story to tell when he brought a load of coon to get put up at B & B Fur. Milton was warmly called " Uncle Milt" by the crew at B & B. Had a lot of respect for Milton and still get reminded of him when I drive by his old place off of Hwy 50. Chuck Boelkes was my Mentor. I worked for Chuck for 20 years....will never forget the good times....will never forget Chuck either.


On to the story....

The late 1980's I changed over to using drowners for coon as I was working full time at a regular job and didn't want to deal with dispatching live coon. My use of using 1.5 coils and staking at the waters edge left a lot of desire in regards to animal welfare.....that was one reason for changing to drowners. The early 1990's were a turning point for me. First change was converting over to #11 dbl's for coon. Trap change was due in part to plenty of local coon hunters....I got along with the majority of them and their biggest concern was of course....catching their dogs. Once I showed them the small jaw spread of the #11, most of the guys thought it was okay. I had to make coon sets along waterways next to deep water and pinch points that dogs would go around but coon could go through. Everything worked fine....it's really fun to dig pocket sets under root wads in a canoe above deep drop offs. Pocket sets for coon worked great....as long if it wasn't raining or if the water level didn't change much or you didn't have to deal with backwater from the Missouri River. Weather, water and ground conditions when making pocket sets a person just delt with. Pocket maintenance was a daily ritual.

In early 1993 I read an article in the T&PC that changed everything. ...

More to come.......

Gary