7 year old new trapper gifts ideas?

My coworker has a 7 year old boy that wants to trap. She got him the book from the national assosiation and he loves it. What would you recommend for him to put on his Christmas list? He is young but full of excitement.

A few #1 1/2 longsprings, maybe slightly used and easier to set than new ones. I doubt that many kids that age are able to set any trap by hand, and I wouldn't get anyone that age a trap that needs to be set with a trap setter. If he gets a longspring on one of his thumbs he can always step on the spring to release it.

You guys got weasels? I would think a weasel box or three would be safe enough for him to set with some help and already dispatched when you get there.

A not too strong single 1 1/2 long spring. He will wear it out setting and snapping if he is like we were at that age.
Swivel it well so it's ready for action.

Waggs beat me to it, we think alike.

Get him a mentor and a few long springs. Time out with an adult will be priceless.

Coon cuffs and muskrat colony traps.

Some dp, my boy was a little smaller then that, but coons are easy to trap. You can keep interest when fur is in the trap. Also you can make a hat out of the 1st coon. Also you have someone to set traps while you set coyote traps to try and keep the trash out of your sets.

Maybe a gift of time would be in order- take the boy out on the line and he might tell you what turns his crank.

A copy of the book "My Side of the Mountain."

Good Bucket... 5 gal,

Make a seat for it by making a circle that is the same size as the mouth of the bucket from half inch plywood covered with old carpet with a couple of 1X1 nailed in a X on the bottom. (make sure it fits tight) removing a section of the seat to allow for stuff to protrude (like Ice fishing rods) will make it a multi purpose bucket. Help the Kid do this or get the idea to his Dad.

replacing the little plastic handle on the bucket with a piece of half inch PVC will make it nicer to carry.

drill a bunch of half inch holes in the bottom and sides and its a water trappers best friend. (Leave the seat home.)

One of my buddy's who is 53 years old still has the bucket his Dad helped him make when he was a little kid...He still takes it out Ice fishing and Duck hunting every year

A copy of my book... "Muskrats," by Garry L. McLaughlin. It has much more in it other just trapping muskrats. I no longer sell them, but they can be bought from Dakota Trapline, Minnesota Trapline and several others. I was written for beginners, whether young or older. I had it proofed by young children for comprehension.

Garry-

Like...I may make myself one, lol.

Echo on the weasel box and lure.

depends what he has access to and parent time
does he live in town or out

if in town a couple live traps

a DP or two to go out and catch some coons with mom or dad supervising and maybe setting.

a 1-1/2 to make practice sets in the sand box with

maybe a orange bottle of tanning solution and help the kid tan up his first catch

A pair of knee-high rubber boots if he does not already have some. Everything above is good if he already has boots.

Moosetrot

Bandaids.

He lives in the counrty with a swamp in the back yard. I like the weasel idea.

FTA has a real nice set of animal ID cards . there is also a little trappers coloring book I have seen

Subscriptions to a couple trapping magazines.

There are at least a couple youth trapping camps held in WI each year (health issues allowing). A gift certificate to pay the camp fee or part of it would be great. Instructors, peers, social time and learning all aspects of trapping.

Bryce

I got each of my kids a duke dp, six #110 conibears and three #1 1/2 LS traps over the last few Christmases.
A good pair of rubber boots might also be the ticket

Subscription to fur-fish-game.

A ride along or several means as much to a child that age as equipment he may not be able to use otherwise. When I was that age my friend's dad took me along a bunch and 50 years later I still smile when I think about those days. He also took me to a couple.conventions where I entered kids trap setting contests.

When my son was 7 he wasn't able to set 110s or 1.5s yet by himself but he got some of each for his birthday. I did get him several coon sized cage traps just inexpensive ones from tractor supply company. Also a few rat colony traps too. He had more fun with those because he could set them by himself, bait them, pick locations, and had a lot of success with them. My older son was 12 but gunner was 7 when I started him out and cages really got both of them started trapping. Snares too. Those two could snare beaver and coon like anything. Cages and snares don't have the big stiff springs that little hands can't set by themselves. Species specific, and teaches them to trap on location.
Some pics of Gunner when he was that age for you...Noah is my older boy.

And yes, ride alongs and take time to teach. Those are best gifts.