TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 10/20/1103:07 AM
Day 1 & 2 Well, i've done ADC pretty well all summer on one of Manitoba's most populated fur bearers, the beaver. And now that the colder weather and shorter days have come around the fur has primed up quite nicely. I got a call the other night from the RM (Rural Municipality (Same as a County) asking me to go and remove some beavers that had established a run across the road and we're knocking all the rock in to the swamp. So when I went to check it out and set traps here's what I found.
As you can see here, the beaver are pulling all the rock and gravel off the road as they cross over. Near the top of the photo you can see deeper, darker water. Other side, with the run heading back to the lodge which is shown below. But there's the lodge (above) with a muskrat house to it's left.
So I set the traps up that night, just a couple simple dive sets in the channels. Went back to check the following night and had 2 beavers in the sets.
So I left the first check on day 2 with two beaver in two 330's. I re set the same traps in the same place, and left them till the next night.
With mother working in the hospital there was something that went on that prevented her from getting home sooner and giving me a ride, so I got out there a little later then I should have on the 3rd check. And as well all know, playing with 330's in the dark isn't a good idea. But anyways, here's the 3rd check at about -2 Celsius:
and #2
And now i'm skinning and removing the castor on them. Don't have any pictures of it as of right now. But I'll throw some up tonight with entry #4 ( Day 4 )
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 10/21/1101:13 AM
oh so you must get very wet you should get some they are very helpful ya seems like we can never get any big castors unless you get them in late winter but every ounce counts
how does your the dexter knife work I fleshed most of a beaver from with a pelter in some areas I couldnt get some of the flesh of of the face and rear area so I put him in a bag and in to the freezer and will flesh when I get a proper knife
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 10/22/1102:35 AM
lay the hide over your knee and just start slicing the flesh off
what works for me is using a very thin curved blade and making fast cuts, i slowly change the pitch of the blade as i cut to make sure i only cut the flesh and not the hide. i only use this for the hard area on coons or around the face of critters
I can post pictures of fleshing as soon as I have them. There isn't much to it, just like countrysmith stated. Just make sure also if your wearing jeans or anything that can bunch up that the material stays smooth on your knee, one little bump of bunched fabric will cut the hide.
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 11/03/1101:30 AM
Further Into The Season:
Well, due to being busy with other things in life, I haven't really set anymore traps, since my last post I had two 330 conibears stolen, and the third one was thrown into the weeds. My guess is who ever stole them took the two traps with beaver and got mad because the third one was empty. So I pulled the one remaining trap out while it was still there, the same night someone jack lighted a deer so I know it was poachers. Which is quite alright, because enough people have complained that they are out poaching that our local Natural Resources office has brought out a "task force" from Winnipeg. We currently have 50 more DNR officers out in the area right now, aswell as 2 Cessna planes and a helicopter. The RCMP have also teamed up with the DNR due to the sudden increase in robberies in the area.
On a better note, in the few traps i've had out I have picked up two skunks, a beaver and a muskrat. Also shot a coon up a tree 10 feet from my set. I know it's not much but I don't have much set.
and there was another skunk besides this guy that I didn't get a picture of. Both we're caught in Bridger 220's with sardines for bait. One in a wooden cubby box, the other in a 5 gallon plastic pail.
Mr.Raccoon:
And the beaver and muskrat. The beaver is caught in an LDL 330 conibear on a dam cross over. The rat in a den entrance.
In the inbetween trap checks I took the tractor and brush mower out and cleaned the ski-doo trail up on a couple mile stretch of what I will be trapping this year, about 1 3/4 of a mile of it is the only land splitting a very large swamp, which is FULL of muskrat and of course beavers. It has a great little approach to the swamp and I will take pictures on my next trip out there to look at things.
The remaining trapping season opened up here yesterday (Nov. 1) and now i'd like some ice and a couple inches of snow to get the trapline moving well. Got all my traps ready to go aside from the 6 MB-750's I just got which need the 6 feet of chain and drag added aswell as a swivel on each. So thing's are pretty well good to go. Going to make up a good supply of Power Snare replacement snares tomorrow night. All is well up here. How is your season going?
But I guess this weekend i'm off hunting deer with some friends. Muzzle loader season now, and rifle opens up the 14th of Nov.
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 11/03/1103:42 AM
Originally Posted By: Family Trapper
Curious did the skunk let go when he was caught in a coni?
Nope, I find if you keep your springs strong they don't often spray if you catch them around the neck * shoulder area. Had a few spray but neither one of these two did.
Yes, I skinned both of them, only because they had very nice white stripes. I don't have forming boards for them though, I will need to get some of those.
SnoStorm - yea I go to the NAFA open house, and i've picked up forming boards from there before.
Depending on what it is, yea it gets frozen until I take it in. If I get an over abundance of fur sitting around I just take it to a local fur salesman out here, that or we have a pick up route from FHA that comes through.
First of all, sorry I haven't posted for so long. It's been a bit un eventful around here for the last couple weeks. But heres the update:
Went around investigating a beaver colony with the neighbor, this particular colony has been left in a swamp on my property for about 3 years now. I've never even attempted to trap it. But we went for a walk out there the other day and counted 6 beaver at once, some in the water, some on the ice. There are two lodges on site, and one very large feed pile. I didn't have my camera with me unfortunatly, but the neighbor did. How great the pictures turned out I don't know. But if I get my hands on them i'll be sure to post.
So since the last post we've gotten a fair bit of snow on the ground and about 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch of ice on most of the water ways here. The forecast is calling for snow still every other day so it's starting to add up. Temperatures are well below 0 C, this morning as I write this it is -18 C ( 3F ) and it's very good that it's freezing things up first before we get too much snow.
Here's the first weasel of the season in a cubby with a few good gobs of beaver meat as bait:
Also did some exploring of another beaver colony in which I ADC trapped a bit this summer, here too is a large dam (down the road) and two lodge's:
and here's the smaller of the two lodges on this particular colony:
Also earlier before the snow started I brush mowed a 3/4 mile long trail on the split of two swamps. You'll see more pictures this season from the snowmobile, but here's the very start of the trail:
And to end of the post, it's currently General Rifle season for deer here in Manitoba. And I ended up seeing 2 little 3 points yesterday at two different places on my own property... and no rifle either time. This guy stopped on the road right in front of the truck and then slowly walked in to the field...
Also fired up the snowmobile the other night, so that's good to go when we get a couple more inches of snow.
*Post's will be closer together now that there is snow and it's easier to trap*
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 11/30/1102:53 AM
November 26 - 29 2011:
Well, we've had some mixed cold weather and snow and some mixed above 0 weather here. It's not that great! It's melted 80% of the snow on me again. On the bright side its going to be a good season for muskrats! I set a few traps a few nights ago in some houses because of the warmer weather right now, and was walking on about 1 3/4" to 2 inches of ice. Here's a shot off of the one small side of a swamp I trap, quite a few rat houses and a beaver lodge.
Also put up some pelts, Snostorm@home had mentioned wanting to see some put up pictures. And I am by NO means a professional fur handler
And the next night went back to check the couple rat traps I had set and pulled out a half decent muskrat, and shot a squirrel on the way home.
Got them on the stretchers and the squirrel is shown above, the rat will most likely be in the next post when it's done. Got a call to remove some beaver tonight, so I went out and set a 330 under ice, never thought to snap a picture. But the trap is between the lodge and the feedbed in the main run. So I should have good luck! On the way home also set a trap for mink, and caught the following.
A big muskrat, it didn't go down and drown which isn't un common, so I pulled him out and he met my shovel.
and another red squirrel, this one in a live trap at the neighbors. There outdoor cat ended up eating it when I went inside, but needless to say he won't be giving them any more problems!
But, now that we have got alot of good ice up here, I wouldn't mind about 6 inches of snow to start the snowmobile trapping! It'll come one day I suppose!
I've forgot to mention that I also have a YouTube channel in which I upload almost all of my trapping videos too. If there was video that goes along with the post I will now post the link at the bottom. Here's the muskrat video:
And a bit of video on the squirrel
And a little video of the few pelts I sent to Fur Harvesters yesterday
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 11/30/1103:06 AM
Thanks, the most common animal i've put up is what you see there. So they probably look alot better then a coon would! But anyways, yes I use #1 wire stretchers for muskrat. I leave a bit of the tail on them to hook the stretcher clips too. I use forming board for every other species.
I have a few non producing power snares set, a couple mink sets and 2 beaver sets out right now.
On my drowning set rat traps it's the full length of chain that comes with the trap, plus about 10" of wire. The wire is wrapped up about 2 inches worth to the stake and about an inch worth to the trap chain.
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 12/10/1102:16 AM
Early December:
Unfortuantly were still stuck with basically no snow here in Manitoba. We're having some cold weather how ever which is helping to freeze up the ice. I'm told that the ice fisherman are laying nets 2 1/2 miles out on Lake Manitoba. Here was the temperature December 4, around 10:00 pm.
Don't have much for pictures this time around. But if the weather stays nice as it has I will set a few dozen rat houses on Sunday. This Saturday (tomorrow) is the open house at NAFA in Winnipeg. So my day will consist of talking with other trappers and watching demo's to add to my knowledge of trapping and fur handling (sounds pretty terrible eh!)
The beaver lodge in which I caught this beaver in was well.... uh. For lack of a better explanation the farmer was nice enough to grab my trap before COMPLETELY leveling the lodge with the ice. . . How ever he let me in on where another good sized house was, which I will be setting some traps in soon.
Here's the other lodge with the feed pile out front. The lodge it's self is only about 2 feet off the edge of this dug outs side. :
More Beavers... took a walk out on another slough the other day and looked at another nice beaver house from a distance. Hope the photo worked out well for here. someone else also tried snowmobiling on this slough already and it didn't work so well for them. Lodge is the small dark thing right below the clump of tree's. Looks small from here but it's quite large lodge in reality.
Was out walking around and found this mink trail through the reeds on a frozen up beaver run.
As I said not alot of pictures this week and not alot of stuff to tell you, unless for some odd reason your wanting to know that my neighbor is my new bus driver
Will take a bunch of pictures Sunday, and i'm not sure if I can post pictures from the NAFA open house tomorrow or not. Last year there was a lock on the picture taking deal.
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 12/11/1104:01 AM
7th Annual North American Fur Auctions Open House in Winnipeg:
Well here's the pictures I am able to post from the 7th Annual NAFA open house today.
The day included pelting demonstrations, aswell as using Ram Power Snares for raccoon, fisher and coyote. Youth muskrat skinning demonstrations went on nearly all day with Myself and Another Man. There was also a relatively detailed presentation on Wolf Trapping and Predator Calling from two different people. Here's a picture from the wolf demo showing how he makes his dirt hole sets using 750s.
and a picture from the Power Snare demos (top is coyote bottom is fisher and coon)
a photo of a youth skinning a rat (couldn't show many of this because the face of them is in most of them and I don't have full permission to post the kids. So here's one I cropped.
and some beaver stretching using an Electric Air Nailer.
and to give you one last picture for this post:
You Know Your a Redneck When (your car has these)
I'll be going out tomorrow to set some muskrat traps and a beaver set or two. Will take some good pictures for you all.
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 12/11/1104:41 AM
Good see some pictures. I called Dave today when you guys were chowing down on lunch (10:30 my time) Dave was really pleased with the turn out, demonstration program, and the enthusiasm of the group. Bet those kids had fun with the muskrats, that would be one of the highlights for sure.
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 12/12/1101:12 AM
Originally Posted By: alaska viking
Where is the snow? Let's make those sets realistic. Thanks for helping the young guys!
The snow? haha yea right. The most snow we have is about 8" right by Lake Manitoba! The snow is still holding off. It's a bit irratating actually, your right. None of these set are realistic. I'm currently trapping like a Southerner.
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 12/12/1102:46 AM
Sunday December 11,2011:
Well like I said, went out and set a few traps today. How ever today was a little rougher then usual... if your interested keep reading.
Got out there today, and figured i'd follow the mink trail through the reeds, see if I could find an open hole to set by. So I tootled around all the little curves and found where the mink had gone around by a rat house tore in to the rat house and then 30 feet further found where he was snacking on a pool if minnows:
I will add video yet of that open hole showing where the mink had chewed up the fish. But continuing on, heres the hole in the side of the rat house:
I put in a couple sets for mink, which you will see next entry (hopefully with a catch) and then went on to set for muskrats. For those of you that don't know, here's the inside dome of an average sized rat house:
and inside a push up (I basically cut the whole top off the ice becaue the inside is all water)
Walked over to this here beaver house and had a look at the runs and feed bed:
So the rough part of the trip can be summed up in these short word: Bloody Fingers, Sharp Knives, Barbed Wire Fence and a Hurt Knee.
While I was making a rat set, the stopper on my pocket knife gave out, slid around and sliced my finger up pretty good. Enough to nauseate me enough to puke. So back to the vehicle we went to break out the First Aid kit... first time i've had to use it on the trapline, so I guess I owe it to the mentors that have taught me who handed them out at Trapper Workshops here.
So after I was all bundled up, he climbed over a barbed wire fence, barb caught his boot laces and he fell over and seriously damaged his left knee. My trapping partner is also my bus driver, so his response to his own fall was as follows: Son of a that hurt! Your just lucky our bus isn't a standard!
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 12/19/1103:25 AM
Well it's December 18th and the Christmas tree is up! Which is one load off of the shoulders. Went out today and had a look at a 2 armed lake on my property. The definition of lake in my area is a swamp with an open body of water. Just to let you know ahead of time. Located 7 beaver lodges on the 2 arms and all 7 were dead due to low water. Here's one with a furry creature nesting inside. Right at the entrance the creature is urinating often. Whats your best guess as to what it is?
Then went over to another swamp to these two very active lodges. During the start of freeze up there was 5 or 6 beaver here at once. Here's the two of them together.
The smaller house with the feed bed:
Here you can see blood in the snow. It's from a mink going in the hole and bringing up minnows and eating them there.
Then I took the bike around through a poachers brush trail, which lead up to a long beaver dam, in the middle of the trail was dam over flow and a few fallen trees. So that stopped all poaching in there, so I scaled the dam around a circle. And found the lodge. I noticed multiple open mink holes along side the dam. Here's one.
but before getting to lodge, I decided to take a better look at this mink hole, so I paced down the dam 10 or 15 feet and tried to walk across and found that the dam spillage was somewhere below the ice line very quickly. Because between the animals swimming through and the water running there was only about a half inch of ice. Needless to say, curiosity drown the trapper:
once I dried off in the snow. I walked towards the house. Fairly large lodge and a good feed pile.
so I guess the last picture is a tad depressing. Even out here in the brambles, people STILL manage to litter. Here's 3 ~ 50 gallon oil drums frozen in to the ice on this pond.
and heres the short video I took in the bush today.
That area is HORRID to acess unless your doing it with a helicopter. I will be back at some point this winter for both beaver and mink. Perhaps on Christmas holidays.
cool I also have a lot of areas that are great for mink and beaver only problem is you cant get there without a helicopter like you said might make some trails to get there with the snowmobile next winter
Re: TheFurTrapper - Trapping Journal 2011-12 - 12/20/1101:21 AM
December 19,2011
Put out a couple of fox/coyote/fisher sets tonight. Snapped a few pictures for the sake of it.
Here's a box set at the edge of a field, with some cow bones not far off. Show's that there are both coyote and fox coming to the bones. 220 Belisle and Some wrotten Partridge for bait
and here's the cow bones that the fur bearers are attending
so there is no lure at that box. Just the bait. But the coyotes go over a ditch bank behind that regularly aswell as sign of a fisher. So I tied a stinky striped skunk up in a tree a few hundred feet down the trail and set a #3 soft catch with a drag on the trail. Probably didn't need it, but I put a few drops of Caven's Gusto on a tree a few feet behind the skunk just to try out that smelly stuff.
TheFurTrapper's Trapline Journal (Update Dec.23) - 12/24/1101:09 AM
December 23,2011:
Well two days until Christmas time. Went out today for a 5 1/2 hour trip on to one arm of a large swamp I trap. Was disappointed in the number of rat houses on that arm of the slough, but the other arm is usually better for rats anyways. Didn't count, but maybe 30 rat houses and pushups on that arm.
Main thing I was looking for was beavers as well as fisher and marten. Well, in the end of the first arm I counted 20 beaver lodges. 15 of which were still live. Most lodges were loaners, there was a few double lodge scenarios and one triple lodge scenario. Keep in mind this is all in about 2 1/2 - 3 miles of slough.
Managed to dump the back end of the bike through some thin ice at un seen springs a couple times and managed to have alot of fun in the cold. Will check out the other arm another day with a full tank of gasoline. Here's a few pictures of what was out there today:
Even managed to put the bike through the ice on a spring (above)
more lodges
Here's one of the largest lodges on this arm of the slough:
So once I got to the big lodge above, I turned on to the Sleeve Lake Wildlife Management Area cut line, went down about 300 yards toward my best marten and fisher territory and saw something horrible. Flag tape with a 220 Belisle in a cubby below it! I wanted to check out further down the trail so I kept going and found 3 or 4 more boxes. One holding a weasel. Was a bit disappointed that the are was taken. But unlike certain people I know the trappers sets are the way they left them. So I made a left on the management line and found this. Two beaver lodges, not much more then a 100 feet from eachother. Dead square in the middle of the trail. The feed bed on the first one is the largest I have ever seen.
The feed bed does not look nearly as big in the picture.
But anyways, alot of the houses I won't be able to trap because it's too long to drive by ATV after school. I will how ever get a bunch of beaver snares made up to hit the closer houses pretty hard.
Your probably all sick of seeing stuff about beavers but, there is not shortage. Catch pictures soon ( I pray )
TheFurTrapper's Trapline Journal (Update Dec.24) - 12/25/1103:07 AM
December 24,2011 (Christmas Eve):
Went for a trip to the bush today to set up some beaver and mink traps at the large lodge and dam from a couple posts back. When I got to the end of the trail where I have to walk, I looked up in the opposite direction and noticed another smaller beaver lodge through the bush. Now keep in mind, this is only a hundred yard or hundred-fifty yards north of the other lodge.
I walked over and couldn't help but notice all the mink tracks in the snow, leading up to a hole in the top of the house.
they come from 3 different directions up to this hole. I placed a 120 over the hole in hopes for the best.
Then I noticed something strange along side the mink trails. Some large slightly un clear tracks in the snow. At first I thought it was a fisher, then closer inspection showed that it was no fisher, no coyote and definatly no wolf. Now the only other thing it could be is a wolverine, In high hopes I took a picture of the tracks and shared with the rest of Trapperman and got positive remarks. That it was most definatly a wolverine:
But anyways I was walking away thinking to myself: There's no way it could be a wolverine here?....
You must understand, though I am further north then some of you I don't have wolverine and lynx. This is the first wolverine sign I have ever found, and I see the odd bit of sign from a passing lynx.
But I walked back to the trail and over to my original destination which was the large beaver colony, got over and put a set in by the feed pile. There was no sign of a run underneath the ice in this pool of ice so I walked over to where I thought looked good for a set, one swing with the axe and it went through and all the air from underneath the ice shot water out for a minute or so.
Snostorm@home requested pictures
Here's one of my favorite beaver sets, a 330 set up on a long pole in the run, with some green poplar peeled a bit and wired to the lower jaw:
and this picture isn't the best, but the top of my hand represents where the ice is, and my jacket blends the trap in some, but thats how far I place my trap below the ice:
and this is what the finished set up looks like, I like to use a pretty long stick so if we ever get a good snow storm it's still poking out above all:
so after that was in I saw a bunch more of the weird tracks on the ice that turned out to be that of a wolverine. So here's my poor attempt on a natural cubby with a 330 and muskrat/squirrel for bait. All I had with me.
and yes I know that a wolverine will probably just tear this cubby apart, but when I was out there all I knew was that I had to try something in case he happend to be back that night. It is illegal to trap wolverine in Manitoba this season in my area. For that reason I will not be targeting the wolverine and this above set has also been removed
and put in a few more mink sets, and example of a hole in the ice from mink with a new present hanging there for them tomorrow morning
and on the way home I put a few weasel boxes in aswell as another beaver set:
This set is just another way of suspending the 330 in the run, if the water is deeper you can turn this into a ladder set by adding a second trap and nailing sticks between each pole to make it look like a ladder. Once again, green poplar peeled a bit and wired on. The trap is about 8 inches below the ice here in 6 feet of water: and the finished set is below ( I fill the hole with snow so it doesn't freeze as hard )
that concludes the trapping for this post. Thanks for viewing.
Wishing you all aMerry Christmas and aHappy New Year!
thanks for the pictures hope you get that wolverine do you get better results when the conibear is at the bottom near the mud or up high near the ice
If it's a set with two trap I put one nearer the bottom and one nearer the top. If it's a single trap I like to have it about 'center' where I think the beavers will be swimming when they come out of the lodge. Regardless if they spot the partly peeled stick they usually work the set pretty good.
Remember if you disturb anything under there the beavers may not come out of the house for a few days. Leave the trap checks to atleast 2 days, longer is better though.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/06/1204:45 AM
January 1 - 5 2012:
Well, 2012 is here now. Everyone ready to die next December? (Kidding)
So the first few days of 2012 were non productive, ended up setting a dozen or so rat huts, and got freezing cold temperatures for the next 3 days afterwards which does a number on the huts no matter how good I seal them. So on the 3rd day I checked the sets irregardless of the temperature outside which is still warm for this time of the year by the way. And pulled up 1 lone muskrat out of the 12 sets, and had 3 houses frozen, that was January 1. January 3rd I checked again because I was in the area, no more frozen houses. But I had a pesky mink take care of 1 rat completely and then he drug another one till the chain was tight under the ice, and chewed the back end up on him. No pictures of that for you tonight.
January 4 was a great day, checked another line I have set, and got a weasel which I didn't take a close up picture of because of how close he got to the bloody bait before expiring, and then went over to the beaver lodge, and pulled up a real nice beaver. Probably i'd say a 35 pounder, but you tell me what you think he weighs. Caught in a 330, in the set shown below with a green piece of poplar wired to the lower jaws:
here's the beaver:
But we continued on, past that beaver pond a whole 500 yards across a swamp to another place I suspected to have a house, and sure enough there was a half decent sized lodge (with double feed bed) and a dam in the bush.
and one of two feed beds (remember the position my dog is walking in for next part)
Alright, so because I knew there was breach in the dam and water was running we never brought the bike and sled on to the ice till we knew it was safe to walk, I take my dog with me trapping and as soon as we got on the ice he started sniffing around and suddenly he basically B-Lined it for a clump of cat tails right beside the running water.(he is shown above with the tail straight out) I heard a few barks from him then a bunch of growling, and he steps back out of the water, and out rolls this little raccoon. and seeing the little guy just sitting there made me kick in to over drive! I got my partner to grab a "kill stick" off the dam while I took a picture. He dispatched that coon, and a few seconds later two more came running out in different directions. My dog circled one and tree'd it. and #3
So anyway, after he dispatched the first coon, it rolled over in to the running water, and I held it there upside down to wash the blood off. And he went back to get the bike and sled, while he was gone, the coon the dog tree'd tried to come down. I chased it back up, and when I heard the bike get hung up on something and the throttle go up I turned around. When I turned back the coon was coming down the tree again, I yelled my dogs name, and he jumped up and put his paws on the tree and started barking, the coon bit him on the top of the nose, and I saw some blood drip down his face, so I guess you could say my "motherly insticts" kicked in, and I dispatched that coon with more force then was probably needed..
The bite was just a slight flesh wound, so I washed it out and let him take it easy for awhile. as for the 3rd coon he crawled down the tree and ran off. Which is alright, i'll get him in traps next time I go out.
So here was the fur from the end of that day.
The weasel is in rough shape, but the beaver and coon have AWESOME pelts on them. Mounted the fleshing beam today in a better position so i'm ready to go. Thanks for reading this post.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/11/1201:33 AM
January 8 2012 (back post):
Went out and checked the lines today, ended up with a nice fisher and a small beaver. The fisher being only the 2nd one i've caught in my life time.
I caught him in a 220 Belisle in a cubby box on the ground, for bait I used fresh beaver meat and grouse feathers.
Once we got to another beaver pond and set a trap up there (same place the raccoons were) I thought we would go a little further past across some tall weeds and when we did we found 6 new beaver lodges on one side of this small lake. Lake was oddly shaped and keep in mind I use the term lake pretty flex, it was a swamp with out reeds in the middle. The water was running all along the edge of it on one side.
Also, there are side ponds on this lake, with beaver lodges on them too:
the three houses side by side and these two above are all with in 700 yards of eachother.... and our DNR here says we don't have a high population of beaver! LOL
on the way home nailed this young beaver in a 330 right at the house.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/12/1202:25 AM
Great post Fur trapper! You have great insight to the trapping game for your age and can look forward to a long, enjoyable career as a successful fur harvester! I also admire your literary skills and computer savvy. My fur hat is off to you!
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/12/1204:13 AM
Originally Posted By: coyote stalker
Great post Fur trapper! You have great insight to the trapping game for your age and can look forward to a long, enjoyable career as a successful fur harvester! I also admire your literary skills and computer savvy. My fur hat is off to you!
Thank's, I enjoy reading comments such as yours immensely. As for my literary skills, I just know that I can't stand to try and read something and words aren't spelled correct, grammar is put into places it should never be and stuff like that. So I try my best to keep my posts in good condition. Typing with out capitals is one thing, typing lik dis all da time 'bout trappen and stuf IS A COMPLETELY different thing. I hope to keep trapping successfully for a while anyways. Thank you very much for your comment of kind comments.
Well looks like mother nature has finally delivered us a bit of cold weather here. It's about -25 Celsius here right now. With a 30 km/h wind. Were not supposed to get any snow till Friday and when we get it, not supposed to be a whole lot. Last year this time we had close anywhere between 3-4 feet of snow in most places. Deeper in others, and right now (I measure) we have just a hair over 3 inches in the deep spots....
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/14/1212:46 AM
January 13,2012:
Ended up with a weasel and a shrew on tonight's trap check. Pulled the traps on that line, going to set on my main line now in the next couple days.
all for this post. Insulating a roof tomorrow and adding a few new lights in the fur shed. Hopefully will be done and then go and set like crazy on Sunday.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/14/1204:14 AM
snostorm - mostly beaver. But will put sets out for fisher, marten, mink and weasel I hope. No guarantee on how many sets, as there is no guarantee on the amount of animal sign.
Alaska Viking- I normally stretch them on an split shrew stretcher (constructed out of two Popsicle sticks). But if i'm out I put them on a solid (2 popsicle stick) board. But then I end up having to add the tooth pick belly board.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/14/1209:37 AM
Great posts FurTrapper, Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed your video. I think I may start carrying the camera also. Awesome job young man and keep it up.
Great posts FurTrapper, Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed your video. I think I may start carrying the camera also. Awesome job young man and keep it up.
Yea, carrying a camera saves alot of good memories, and can help give pointers to alot of people.
Alaska Viking- I normally stretch them on an split shrew stretcher (constructed out of two Popsicle sticks). But if i'm out I put them on a solid (2 popsicle stick) board. But then I end up having to add the tooth pick belly board. [/quote]LOL
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/15/1205:06 AM
January 14, 2012:
Has been an interesting day, worked on insulating the fur shed all day. And should have it finished. The joys of fiberglass insulation on bare skin!
Had to go and feed some cattle a few bales of hay, happened to come across a couple coyotes in the bush. They couldn't care that I was there. I had a .22 magnum in the tractor. So I shut it off, stepped out of the tractor. And plucked the first one, it dropped in it's tracks. The larger one made a pathetic run for a thicket 50 yards away. Didn't expect to get him. So I unloaded the gun, got back in. By the time I passed where he was, he ran on to the trail in front of me a short ways. And then stopped dead center in the trail and watched me. So just to humor myself I got out with the gun, stepped down off the tractor. Walked to the very front of it, and rested on the top of the grapple, and shot him as well. Believe I harvested two of THE dumbest coyotes in the bush today. But irregardless, they have a nice hide!
Providing I finish the insulating tomorrow I should be able to go out and check my main trapline. Don't know how much more setting of traps will get done tomorrow with the possible lack of time. Will update tomorrow evening anyways.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/15/1206:44 AM
No, thats why I said, just to humor myself I got out of the tractor and walked all the way to the front end. That coyote should have been long gone after I dropped it's buddy.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/23/1212:38 AM
January 22, 2012:
I went out on the trapline today, with what seems to be the last time by ATV. The snow is piling up and will start to move around with the snowmobile. Went out today at the crack of dawn to check sets and look over the rest of my main line (looking at sign) and the first catch of the day was a muskrat in a 330 beaver set:
then went onward on the line, pulled up a few sets in places I would not be returning too and wasn't having luck at. Rolled up on a weasel box and had a long tail caught. I didn't take a catch photo of it because of the state I found it in, it was too close to the bait unfortunately and then a mouse chewed the leg up sometime not long after death. Fur is in rough shape but will still bring a buck or two. Went on too the last few sets, and nabbed this real nice long tail in a rat trap. Grouse Feathers, Beaver Meat, and a bit of Caven's "Just Mice" for bait. Biggest and Best Looking Weasel this season.
and finally got over to Fur Trappers Lake. Snapped a few pictures of some lodges along the way aswell:
TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/26/1202:41 AM
Was out for the first time (of the year) with the snowmobile to Fur Trappers Lake this evening. Set a few more sets out, but all I can say is. How can anyone say this isn't beautiful?
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/28/1201:59 AM
January 27, 2012:
I know it's a little off topic for Trapperman. But a pretty good friend of mine committed suicide by hanging last night in her home... by the time EMS arrived there was no chance of revival. First time dealing with a friend doing something like this, so I may not have posts for a couple days... I'm not sure if I can handle going to the bush tomorrow. Just thought i'd let people know.
Thanks.
I'm not trying to make this out to be any kind of sob story, but, unfortunately bullying has taken it's tole, I just found out she was bullied quite a bit by a few select students in my school. That with a mix of abuse at home led to the death of a simple girl who just loved her family and friends.
Rest In Peace and Good Luck Where Ever You Are Now.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/28/1202:25 AM
My dad did the same when I was 5 years old. I feel your pain, so many unansawred questions. Stay focused on the good times and the person they were. Your in my thoughts and prayers.
Decided that i'll head out to the bush today, get my mind off of things and enjoy the scenery a bit. Will be accompanied by the girlfriend so things won't be so bad, pictures when I get back tonight
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/30/1202:14 AM
Would like to send out a BIG thank you to everyone who has given nice words here as well as in Private Message.
As hard as death is, life must go on. The way she committed suicide, was to say the least one of the worst parts of it all.. she showed no emotion that anything was bothering her, was just her usual Shy Yet happy-go-lucky self. Then one night everything suddenly changed..
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 02/03/1201:17 AM
February 2 2012:
Look's like Manitoba's groundhog is predicting spring to be on the way. Which I can understand but dislike, we haven't seen winter here yet.
Things should start to perk up for trapline photo's. My friends funeral was today, it was tough for sure... especially since her step dad had beaten her before she committed suicide. But the worst is over, stay tuned for pictures.
Today proved to be a great day! It got up to +1 Celsius.
Ran the trapline with the partner, I must say it's sure beautiful looking at all the frosty tree's along the narrow bush trails. Punched in a few more fisher sets along the way like this one below. Trap is set about 8" of the ground with Caven's Gusto as bait, with some bad squirrel meat and chunks of fur for some "add to"
Then continued on about checking set, when I turned off to pull a coon set that had been sitting empty for a couple of weeks. When I got up to what should have been an empty set I saw that the bucket cubby was facing the opposite way, and at the end of the chain in a big bowl something with dark fur was poking up. I was waiting for the partner to reach me on the other machine first before walking to it. When he arrived I told him we caught another fisher. I couldn't see anymore then some dark guard hairs and assumed thats what it was. To my surprise it was a little pine marten. Caught in a 160, plastic pail with Sardines as bait. Yea I know it's not a huge marten. But it's my first one so I think it's awesome!
that concludes this entry. It was a nice first day back out on the line after all this drama.
Been a slow couple of weeks... but today it seems I have discovered the need to pay better attention. Just noticed this massive beaver lodge just off the trail a few hundred feet from where I turn around on the end of my trapline.
clearly visible breather holes on top:
then there was this hole in the ice in front of the lodge:
Then caught this little weasel in a 160 in a pail. Of course he wouldn't commit to the same bait/lure in a weasel box 100 feet away, instead just run around it. Squirrel Meat and Grouse Feather - Caven's Just Mice.
Had a look at these two little beaver huts while out for a joy ride.
There was a mound of dirt, or an old collapsed beaver house on the edge of the swamp. Something is living inside. Scratch marks on sticks entering the hole and it's big enough around for a fat house cat or a small fisher to enter the hole.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 02/12/1212:19 AM
Furtrapper I just finished your entire journal. I am very impressed. You and snostorm@home will accomplish more before you guys are 20 years old than most young people I know around here will accomplish in an entre lifetime. Keep it up young man! I am very sorry to read about your friend and I will add you and her family to my prayer list. God Bless you and stay safe. Thanks for posting your adventures.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 02/12/1201:09 AM
Snostorm - I was thinking the same thing, just wanted other opinions.
Flyman41- Thank you kindly! Trapping is a big part of both of our lives, and I for one do not intend on quitting for any reason short of a request from above..
Today was -1 Celsius and BEAUTIFUL! Left the house at 9:30 this morning on the ski-doo and headed to the swamp for some muskrat trapping. Managed to get around 20 sets out today, not alot. But alot of huts were covered over by snow as they were built along the edges. Here's a green reed I pulled out of a push up:
and look, look there! Another beaver hut...
Finished set all flagged, only thing left to do was drive away!
Do I need to add another caption for this?
Someone had dumped this deer carcass here earlier in the season, not alot left now:
and unfortunately, someone didn't collect a cow this fall. As I found it's remains on the ice today... If it's not a cow, tell me what deer, elk or moose has black and white hide..
But, the most interesting part of today's trip is this. I found it on the edge of a field, what ever it was many years ago it got the rocks VERY hot as they are snow white and crumbling to dust. Maybe an outdoor stove or an old kiln or something similar? There was a grown in trench leading away from it about 30 feet long and a foot across, can anyone teach me something about this?
All thanks to my curiosity:
Should have taken more pictures, maybe a video. But if i'm there again I will.
Thanks for looking, check traps Wednesday after school. Hope to catch something....
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 02/23/1202:34 AM
February 22, 2012:
Today's trapline check produced 7 nice muskrats out of the close to 20 sets out on the lake.
Even got a bit of a smile in this one! LOL
Was a good day, had a couple of front feet in the traps. A rat by both front feet in the house, one in a 110 caught real nice by the neck. Gotta check them again Saturday and will really cover the houses well with snow as cold weather is here again Sunday..
I'm attending the 2012 Manitoba Trapper's AGM this weekend. It's over tonight, will throw some pictures up tomorrow most likely, will be a late night tonight.
March 2nd & 3rd, 2012: Manitoba Trappers Association AGM & Convention:
This weekend was the 2012 MTA AGM and Convention in Eriksdale. I would say the event was a very good turn out, I went down to the convention center at 9:00 on Friday, and gave a hand to multiple people to set up there booth's and displays. And the local schools showed up there around 1:00 to tour the convention. Helped to set up the Whiteshell Trapper's Council fur bearer Museum and ended up doing an educational demonstration for the school with it. Here's a few pictures.
all Animals were of course dead, but were only semi-frozen so they were set up in to positions to make them look as life like or natural as possible.
Like this mangy coyote positioned to look like it was going back to gnaw on the bad case of sarcoptic mange on the back.
The School Showed Up, and Showed Some Great Interest:
Afterwards there was a series of Skinning Demonstrations for Coyote, Mink, Fisher and Beaver:
Youth Squirrel Skinning:
Whiteshell Trapper's Council also brought in there "White Beaver"
Followed by Live Auction:
and our local fur council drew the winner of the fur bearing statue of a man:
Then North American Fur Auctions put on a "Fur Fashion Show" right after dinner, I video'd most of it, but here are my pictures:
Pictured With Dave Bewick (Vice President of NAFA)
That concludes our 2012 Annual General Meeting and Convention. Hope you enjoyed the picture's!
Thank you for sharing the pictures. Looks like another successful convention. I see that I will have to tease Dave a bit for posing with all those pretty ladies.
Keep on doing those squirrels. When they have been in the freezer the tail dries , so you should flex the tail back and forth several times before you try to stipe them off. Sorry about the bad weather last weekend and not getting to your areas sponsoring the Annual meeting of the Manitoba trappers Association. Hear you guys feed 150 people for dinner. I did up 20 weasel boxes to be nailed together, so sorry could not make it. Get out there and go after those rats now with this warm weather.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 03/14/1202:14 AM
Spring Muskrat and Beaver Trapping is just around the corner. The water is running here in Manitoba due to the highs of +13 Celsius in the day time and lows of -1 Celsius at night. Crazy March weather, the Canada Geese are already back as well.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 03/16/1201:04 AM
March 15, 2012:
Went out to pull a couple under ice beaver sets today, and the ice has surface water........ everywhere!
Pulled this trap up and had a young beaver in it. It's the first one of spring. I have set a personal goal of 50 beaver in 3 weeks once they start moving alot. They aren't quite in the ditches yet. But I'm expecting with in the next week I will start seeing rats anyways.
Well we know spring is definatly here now! Forecast isn't calling for much more below 0 temperatures here either. You getting many more rats? Will have to check your journal tonight, how about beaver?
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 04/05/1201:47 AM
April 4, 2012:
3 Rats today and a small beaver at a toilet set.
So I come up on the last trap and the stake was gone. Couldn't see it anywhere, then all of a sudden something brown moves under a patch of reeds. It was too large to be a rat and I automatically assumed it was a beaver. Catching a beaver in a stoploss and holding it isn't un heard of. So I grabbed the gun, got around to him and shot him from 4 feet away. Pulled him out of the water and then pulled the trap up with him. Didn't even bother to try and chew the stake!
Got 38 so far out of the swamp. I think alot of them must have froze out early in the winter, normally there are alot more rats moving around this time of year. Only able to run a dozen or so traps, then I run out of places to set. Having fun doing it though.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 04/10/1211:27 AM
April 9, 2012:
Only caught one rat yesterday as were getting a thin layer of ice on the swamp and they don't have to go in the water quite as much. I was dissapointed to find mink crap and tracks right next to a muskrat set. Shame I couldn't trap it this time of year... will do damage to my rats if he finds any.
And took a beaver in the channel set I had made to stop any more "Stoploss Beaver". Fairly half decent sized male.
Try to clean up and dig deeper areas around you rock catch area, and the rats will sink and be out of sight and the next none will not bite them for sweet justice. Just a little showing is all it takes. Get those clothes pins on the sides of the stretchers. You should look at changing so you can pin on those stretchers,with some add-on ply wood and plumers strapping. Keep on them once this weather warms up there will be a big movement.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 04/12/1203:19 AM
I was ready to pull trap's next check. Only 1 muskrat today. I like the wire stretchers for the rats that aren't bit up. Anything with bites goes on a wood board.
Pulled all of my muskrat sets yesterday as i've been getting nothing for the last couple trips out there. Seen a cow moose while I was on my way out there which isn't something we normally see around this area. Beautiful animal, couldn't care less that I was there.
Hope she smartens up before the poachers start heading out there again.
I trap beaver all summer long for the RM (Rural Municipality - Same thing as a County) and keep busy with that when i'm not after pelts. And for now, If I see the odd rat or beaver in the ditch I guess i'll lay a trap for him.
Anyhow, thank's for reading my journal this season. And I hope you continue to read through the "off season" and right into the 2012- 2013 trapping season.
Well I didn't have such a bad season. Better then last winter anyway, didn't do so well on the rats because of cold weather early in the winter which froze many houses out. But here's what I can remember of this seasons totals:
Beaver: 13 Muskrat: 43 in Spring Season and 12 from the Fall 55 total Raccoon: 3 Skunk: 4 Squirrel: 8 Weasel: 8 Coyote: 4 Fisher: 1 Marten: 1 Mink: 2 (One given & one found dead) Total: Roughly 96 Animals Were Harvested Special thank you's to all of those that shot me some tips and tricks, to those who supported me when my friend passed, to those who told me it was definatly a wolverine that walked through my trap line. And to those who will continue to watch my posts.
I'll be heading down to the National Trapper's Convention in Owatonna, Mn this August, hope to pick up a bunch of good traps that won't be as expensive as they are up here so I can expand my line better this winter.
man you did good I cant wait to see your journal pop up next winter looks like you should have a good season next winter now lets pray that manitoba gets snow this winter
But on the way out there, I was pulling a couple sets and caught one of my trap shy beaver. It's clear that they are fighting now and unfortunately this beaver pelt will not go for sale. How ever, i'll still take castors and tail. Aswell as cut the pelt up into strips for marten,fisher and weasel this winter. The meat will go for bait. I like to waste as little as possible.
and this was basically what all the sets looked like, some under a bit more water then others, some on a steeper cross over, etc.:
All are lured with Beaver Barnes. It works like a charm.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 04/26/1212:59 AM
April 25, 2012: 2 Beavers today, one big female and one smaller male. Fur is starting to slip on them, so fur trapping is officially over for the year. Going in tomorrow to hopefully get signed up for the beaver removal program. Easy money really.
Once again, thanks to everyone who followed this season. And I will post pictures of animal removal pictures over the summer.
Today was -1 Celsius and BEAUTIFUL! Left the house at 9:30 this morning on the ski-doo and headed to the swamp for some muskrat trapping. Managed to get around 20 sets out today, not alot. But alot of huts were covered over by snow as they were built along the edges. Here's a green reed I pulled out of a push up:
and look, look there! Another beaver hut...
Finished set all flagged, only thing left to do was drive away!
Do I need to add another caption for this?
Someone had dumped this deer carcass here earlier in the season, not alot left now:
and unfortunately, someone didn't collect a cow this fall. As I found it's remains on the ice today... If it's not a cow, tell me what deer, elk or moose has black and white hide..
But, the most interesting part of today's trip is this. I found it on the edge of a field, what ever it was many years ago it got the rocks VERY hot as they are snow white and crumbling to dust. Maybe an outdoor stove or an old kiln or something similar? There was a grown in trench leading away from it about 30 feet long and a foot across, can anyone teach me something about this?
All thanks to my curiosity:
Should have taken more pictures, maybe a video. But if i'm there again I will.
Thanks for looking, check traps Wednesday after school. Hope to catch something....
nice journal you have put together, and good season, congrats!
that could be an old lime kiln if it's near fields.
My first thought on it was that it was a kiln, but it wasn't very tall and had no roof as you can see? And yes it was on the edge of a field, it's swampy now but 60 years ago it wouldn't have been wet.
The farmer I work with made hay on that lake I trap muskrats on 35 years ago.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 04/29/1206:25 AM
February 28, 2012:
2 Beavers Today, ended up tearing a fuel line on the bike and had quite the fun time to get it home. The full story I will not share.
And here's a family photo from the last few days. (not including today's beavers)
In other news
Some moron decided to go and light some grass on fire, and it has escalated so bad that the water bombers as well as a special fire team of some kind from up north has been called in. As well as Fire Trucks from 2 townships and possibly 3. Not positive but someone told us that they had D6 caterpillars building up a dirt to try and fence the fire in. As far as I know this is the biggest fire in the area since the province was on fire in 1989. As of now, the fire is burning 3 miles from town and has burned to the point where it is with in a 10 mile radius of my home, and if it's not out soon it will be burning on my trapping territory. The town is with out question more important, but I would just love to get my hands on the person that lit this fire.
No, i'm hoping it doesn't either. But i'm much more concerned about my property and my neighbors property then I am about that section of trapline. I don't think it will burn much more then the edge of it now that I think about it.
But fire crews were fighting at 6:30 this morning.
Also... I enjoy posting these trips to the trapline no matter what happens on them. Thanks for reading them and giving me feed back. I saw a nice little black bear yesterday as well, couldn't get a picture fast enough.
Quite often the spring fires are mostly confined to ground fires with the odd flare up into the trees (canadling). These fires can move quite briskly as it the grass and understory is quite dry, has not yet had time to "green up" Those early fires quite often do more good than harm. Observing your pictures it appears to me that it is mostly a ground fire.
They are good practice for the air tankers for when it really gets hot and the hazard gets way up there.
Today was most definatly a good day. Started the day by pulling 2 more beavers from the water and then heading for a nice long and rough ride over the country side towards the fire. When we got there, all we saw was some burnt off grass and a couple toppled tree's. This was the very edge of the fire.
On the way home we seen a sow and 2 cubs in a small clearing.
From there myself and my trapping partner went into this little clearing and started one of two bait piles for this winter. Here's the clearing:
and here's the start of the bait pile: PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THESE BEAVER ARE NOT SKINNED BECAUSE THERE UNDERFUR IS FALLING OUT, I DO NOT WASTE PELTS. MANY WILL BE CUT TO STRIPS FOR BAITING BOXES THIS WINTER.
Yes we have bounty on beaver here, that's why I'm harvesting them. And the pelts lost there prime early, the under fur is either falling or fallen out.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 05/02/1212:50 AM
April 29,May 1, 2012:
Caught beavers #12,13 and 14 yesterday and today. Getting smaller ones now so i'm thinking that i'm probably starting to get down to the last few in that colony.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 05/03/1201:59 AM
Originally Posted By: Boco
Those beaver would average 30 to 35 dollars at auction in todays market.
Spring beaver always have a bit of loose hair and fur. With last auction prices on the rise that would be my opinion also. Looking at the size of them my guess would be minimum $25 average.
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 05/03/1203:55 AM
Please explain to me how a beaver with bald patches all over the pelt would average that? The underfur comes out then then the guard hairs all slip in different areas so it's nothing but leather.
And also, i've caught a few that get a white puss comes out of the mouth and nose? I haven't touched it but is it something I should worry about? Or something I should talk to the DNR officer about?
No I said the same thing when I saw the puss around the mouth, i'll see if I can get a picture of it with any of these last beaver I got at home and take that to DNR. I have trapped and skun many spring beaver before and this year every colony i'm trapping in the fur is falling out like crazy. April 30th last year I was pulling prime beaver up.
Maybe it has to do with the very early spring break up this year?
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 05/05/1206:50 AM
Nice stuff! I've got some starting to lose some fur as well, starting to get bit up and the odd bald patch. Its getting to be that time here as well I think.
Next check out i'll be pulling beaver sets out of that big colony. Had a little otter in a beaver set today and no sign of beavers anywhere else around. 15 out of the house is the most yet I have pulled out of one colony, and the quickest too.
I've mentioned before that were heading down to the NTA convention in Owatonna this August. I put together a supplies list on what i'll be purchasing to bring home which includes: 2 doz. Belisle 120 1 doz. Belisle 220 6 Belisle 160 2 Dozen Stoploss Traps 2 Dozen 110s 10 330s
Me and Art went out with the ATV yesterday and had a good look over the trail that were adding to our trapline this coming season. Looks promising. So far looking like alot of higher ground with some swamp at the far end which we did not attempt yesterday (started to run low on fuel). He is doing a longer distance school bus route today so won't be home for a little while yet, but were heading out from there to pull up beaver sets in the big pond where we've been trapping. Will post pictures if we happen to have a final catch or two, although I don't count on it anything is possible!
Re: TheFurTrapper's 2011-12 Manitoba Trapline Journal - 05/10/1212:32 AM
Trapper Ron - it's OA. And i'm not worried about anyone trapping there. People don't skidoo out that way much in winter. Too rough of country and there aren't many trapper's around here anyways. I can name 4 in the entire area off hand.
they're real easy to make too! and cheap, made 8 for about 20$ just get a roll of 1x1 wire at the length of your choice, a ten foot roll makes 4 plus some spare parts for the future, some J clips, and you can use a pliers to bend them. If you want more info on how to make them pm me! I can also send you a picture of one if you want.
TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 07/16/1204:48 AM
July 15, 2012:
Just thought i'd throw a quick update on here. It's been a very busy summer so far this year. I'm employed at a different farm operation, and with poorer crops then usual we have been haying non stop. I have made as many bales in the last 6 days as I would have in 2 weeks last summer. Been very busy. Just waiting now for 6 days vacation for the National Trapper's Convention!
On the side I've been doing a little nuisance beaver removal on, and on the edge of my property. Got asked by a landowner to remove some more tonight, checked things out and there is two big dams and a lot of water. No pictures of that yet, but check out this big male I took in a 330 the other night. The picture doesn't do his size justice.
i was just checking your posts again to see if you figured out what the stone formation was, and saw where your from. turns out that my only trip to manitoba was this same area! i hired a guide from poplarfield and hunted the area near stewart lake. my mind is slipping some, but i remember them calling it something of an indian name? very nice area and we crossed alot of beaver dams. i asked about trapping and he told me of the bounty, 25 dollars at that time. he was a trapper but had slowed because of guiding, time just wasn't there as before he said.
you had quite the season, full of the highest of highs and lowest of lows. thanks for taking us along for the ride! every year i think of coming back for another hunt, i loved the place.
i was just checking your posts again to see if you figured out what the stone formation was, and saw where your from. turns out that my only trip to manitoba was this same area! i hired a guide from poplarfield and hunted the area near stewart lake. my mind is slipping some, but i remember them calling it something of an indian name? very nice area and we crossed alot of beaver dams. i asked about trapping and he told me of the bounty, 25 dollars at that time. he was a trapper but had slowed because of guiding, time just wasn't there as before he said.
you had quite the season, full of the highest of highs and lowest of lows. thanks for taking us along for the ride! every year i think of coming back for another hunt, i loved the place.
thanks again! hippie
Super neat story! If you can arrange the time to come up here, I'd love to set you up for some bear or deer in the area. And take as many beaver as you like! I'm sure there is quite a few more since you were last here. And the lake has changed very little. Other then more water.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 07/26/1203:41 AM
To the people with different restrictions then my area of Manitoba. Here are the basic trap restrictions here. I am in an Open Area Zone, not RTL (Registered Trapline)
Best deals are just everywhere. Stoploss appear to be non existent at a good price. Got 10 at a good price and the rest I will purchase from Kris back in Canada.
Went to a couple demonstrations today at NTA, bought a couple more traps, some dye, wax etc. and went through what life would have somewhat been like in the mid to late 1800's for the little town of Owatonna when we visited "The Village of YesterYear"
Some of it wasn't bad, but our tour guide was kind of... well not the best.
The village included (to name a few) Black Smith Shop General Store Cabins School Fire Hall and of course the shop of horrors (Dentist, Barber, Doctor)
Today was the last day of the convention for me, tomorrow is just a few trap sales and what not.
All I can say is Wow, I sure am glad I went to the convention. I'm told today, that it was the biggest National Convention since a previous one in Wisconsin. Someone had said including the dealers and tailgaters there was around 10,000 in attendance.
Ended up coming out of it all with 4 dozen 110's a few 330's 8 different muskrat traps (#1 jump, #1, #1 coil etc.) dozen Victor Rat Traps for weasel 2 dozen Belisle 120 Super X 1 dozen Belisle 220 Super X 1/2 dozen Belisle 160 Super X 3 dozen under ice beaver snares 1/2 dozen colony traps (will make more) 10 stoploss (could not find any worth buying or any for a good price) and some various forming boards, lures and bait and other odds and ends. Will post pictures and probably a little video when I get back to Manitoba and get things sorted out.
Approx. 137 traps total, and then the snares. So bring on Trapping Season!
Watched a few demo's the rest of the day and had a good time, despite the heat!
Definatly recommend you check out the NTA convention if it's near you!
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 08/08/1201:38 AM
August 7,2012; The Day After:
Well today is the day after we got home from Minnesota (at 12:00 am). And here's a little video I uploaded showing all of the stuff I purchased down there.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 08/08/1204:00 AM
I skun a beaver with it tonight, and was really surprised how long it stayed sharp. I remember you had mentioned it before and that's the reason I bought it. The black one is a piece of garbage compared to this.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 08/09/1212:14 AM
Looks like you got some good supplies. It was good to sit in a couple of demo's with you. TOO BAD YOU FORGOT THE TMAN FEED but you at least meet the Boss of this forum.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 08/23/1202:25 AM
August 22, 2012:
I'm currently on a 7 day vacation in Drumheller, Alta for a family reunion. Went for a drive today (well I was a passenger) over to Bass Pro Shops near Airdrie, Alta and picked up a new Remington 870 for a bit cheaper then what I can get in Winnipeg at Cabelas. But then what isn't expensive at Cabelas.
On windy days like this they will not soar but fly back and forth to fields. Just find their flight paths and wait one flock will follow another. The brown birds are the young of the year and the most tender to eat
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 09/09/1201:41 AM
September 8, 2012:
Went out to have a look for geese tonight, so I could hunt tomorrow morning. Saw none unfortunately. Guess I gotta wait for the rest to come from the north.
Shot two skunks and some mallards though.
That time of the year they are starting to move around and I do not need any more in my yard then what there is.
Went to hunt some ducks today and came up on this big girl in a half drained beaver pond. Not alot of them around and this is the second one I've seen this year.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 09/10/1206:47 AM
With those skunks take a loop of baler twine and make a cinch and put it on the back foot,put a nail through the back tendon, tie a stout stick 2 feet from the end, then throw another cord over a tree limb and hoist the skunk 6 feet above the ground.... close to the marten/fisher set youwant to make on season opener. The ground predators and ravins will leave it alone, and the decomposition will perfume the area as the best attractant you can get. Wear some skinning gloves for non-contact with possiable rabies. The dropping fly larvae will have the essence on and in them and their crawling on the ground, will keep many a predator interested.
Now you see the value of keeping a few beaver around, and a pond or two and the benifits of other wildlife.
Yea, I take a needle and syringe and take out the essence on the skunks. And yes, that is about the only good thing I have seen of those beaver. Unfortunately the moose probably will not survive for long, too many poachers here.
Use the whole carcuss and that will be a perminately perfumed site. Your sets go some 20 yards away so you do not walk through them and get "peppy la pue" on your boots.
Got up early this morning for muskrat opener and set I guess about 20 sets out. They aren't super far from home so I figured i'd give a quick check tonight and this is what I had.
Also went and had a look at a beaver colony in a ditch. This lodge and feed bed is new. Only had one 330 with me, so till tomorrow night just one good chance to take a beaver there.
That's what I'm saying! I'm putting a few more rat sets out here and there as I go but nothing crazy, one day soon the weather is gonna decide too get cold and when that day comes I will be pulling traps through ice. I don't mind 6 or so rats a day right now anyways.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 10/17/1202:06 AM
The fur is so flat it isn't even funny. This guy was just removed from a farmers yard. Was coming into the yard and he was worried about losing barn cats. I am not trapping coyote's yet otherwise.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 10/17/1203:27 AM
Well that sucks I was really hoping to start on yotes this weekend. The Oct. 27 weekend I will start. It will only be a few days earlier than I usually start. I gues I will focus on ducks, deer and rats this weekend. These next couple weeks will be some of the best mallard hunting we get all year. Its funny after the first few days of Nov. all the birds leave even thought there is still open water and lots of food. I see them migrate over, but they just keep going.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 10/23/1212:25 AM
October 21,2012 (Back Post):
6 more from last night that I didn't get posted. That makes 42 of them since October 14th. Only had two that aren't market worthy because of those ugly little swamp beetles. For those who don't know what I am referring too they look like this: I would rather jump into a pool of leeches and other water insects then into a pool with these little devils.
They've been here for as long as I've known, and if they weren't native too this area please direct me too the person who accidentally or not brought them in. Perhaps the transporter and the beetles can meet up again..
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 10/27/1212:13 AM
October 26, 2012: Had about an inch or so of snow fall here since 1:00 this afternoon. We normally get snow Oct. 31. The question is will this stay and keep piling up or melt in a few days? They are calling for high's of -2 Celsius so it should stick around for a few days.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 10/27/1201:54 AM
Pulling rat sets tomorrow or the following day. Gonna take a few beaver before freeze up but other then that I'm pretty much done muskrat trapping till March.
keep those subs going, you can really slay them in the runs., use some leaves on the ice to slow freezing down. Make sure you even process those chewed up ones they went for 5.50 $ in the last auction.
The weather is deciding too stay relatively nice. I noticed a rat in the pond across the road, and ended up catching this fellow this morning.
Also, got a Step-by-Step video of Making those Tapered marten boxes up on YouTube. Not everyone knows where too get instruction so I did my best too make a really simple video.
It's total whiteout here in Manitoba right now. We have about 6 inches of snow accumulated on the ground so far. Forecast is calling for all below 0 degree's for next week so this should hopefully stick around.
Today is a Remembrance Day. I'd just like to say Lest We Forget all those who fought, died, survived and are still fighting for the freedom of us and others. My grandpa who is since passed was a soldier in WWII. Thank you.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Since yesterday we have gotten another 5 or so inches of snow. Which is rougly about 16 inches on the ground. I am almost positive it's here to stay for the season now.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/14/1202:18 AM
November 13, 2012:
Am hard at work right now hauling hay, and cutting wood for the garage at work:
Will be hauling wood out of the bush for myself this weekend with the work tractor. Quite a bit of snow, need the extra horse power to relocate some of it.
On another note, I had a weasel dig into a bag of bait on my back step. He had a mini-highway coming out from under my step:
Set traps like crazy for him last night, 4 of 5 traps were sprung with no weasel. Set #5 was a beautiful site.
On my way out to set marten sets, I checked a couple of weasel traps I had out. Ended up catching two of them. Making 4 in the last week.
And then went out trapping. Quite a bit of marten tracks in the woods. I am expecting good results when I go out to check. TONS of red squirrels and rabbit tracks also.
With 5 days remaining of rifle season, I dropped a doe this morning at first light. Perfect heart shot, she ran maybe 200 yards.
Happy to also say that I get to fill my neighbors tag, so I still have 5 days left to take a buck that's in the area. All the insides will make good coyote bait, much like what this bald eagle was snacking on this morning.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/21/1203:27 AM
Originally Posted By: TheFurTrapper
And yea, when the bear is coming at you. I imagine a scope isn't a great plan lol.
I think he means you should remove the scope and file the sites off so it hurts less when the bear shoves the gun up your [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot].
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/21/1203:42 AM
Originally Posted By: POWER SNARER
Originally Posted By: TheFurTrapper
And yea, when the bear is coming at you. I imagine a scope isn't a great plan lol.
I think he means you should remove the scope and file the sites off so it hurts less when the bear shoves the gun up your [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot].
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/21/1205:21 AM
[/quote] I think he means you should remove the scope and file the sites off so it hurts less when the bear shoves the gun up your [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot]. [/quote]
And yea, when the bear is coming at you. I imagine a scope isn't a great plan lol.
I think he means you should remove the scope and file the sites off so it hurts less when the bear shoves the gun up your [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot].
It makes the surgical extraction much more pleasant as well... lol! Seriously, some of the bears here have become conditioned to respond to the smell of a fresh gut pile and some folks believe they respond to the rifle shot as well. A lot of deer have been taken and several hunters mauled in the last ten years. It's a good idea to carry a little more umph and keep your head on a swivel here. I use my .243 on beach hunts primarily but carry it in bear country once in a while when hunting with backup. It is a deer slayer for sure.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/22/1203:16 AM
Yea, you gotta kind of take it easy with them if you want them to turn out. So far I caught 4 mediums, 1 small and this last one should be a large. The marten also should grade out to a large.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/24/1212:47 AM
November 23, 2012:
Put some more marten, fisher and weasel sets out today. A couple mink sets at a running ditch aswell. Hopefully it's a good check next time out. Probably a dozen sets out for the fisher and marten now. Here's a fisher set on a downed spruce tree.
one of many squirrels in tree's.
Going to go out tomorrow and add some weasel boxes, will check at the same time. Hoping for the best. Going to take some Power Snares to I think, the coyote trails are crazy. Have also seen sign of lynx and timber wolf.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/24/1204:33 AM
Not sure if it;s the picture but your marten looks a little wide and short. You may be loosing in length if the neck is too wide. What is your length measurement and width at the shoulders? It is a nice dark one alright.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/24/1204:58 AM
I believe I probably could have gotten a little more length, but not enough to get it into the XL size. So I aimed to put it just into the large category.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/25/1201:48 AM
No Stu does not make the boards. Another individual does and he should stand behind his product and replace them with properly cut and dried boards, especially for the price he charges. Manitoba is not noted for good basswood production, Good journal keep it up
When you are. Down for the OPEN HOUSE AT NAFA ask to check your stretcher against one of the cardboard cut outs for references
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/25/1202:42 AM
wow just looked at your whole journal..how long is that trapline you got..your luckey its hard to find a place to trap anymore in Vermont.impressed with your whole operation.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/25/1203:30 AM
Thanks kindly 17HMR.
My Main Line where I caught the Fisher and Marten and the brunt of the beavers last year is 11 1/2 Miles once you get off of the road and into the bush.
Have a couple of other 3- 3 1/2 mile long traplines to trap this season.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/25/1205:33 AM
Just like any bike, you have to watch where you drive is all. The farm I work at. The farmers son who is to say the least a holy TERROR on all equipment. There 2010 Honda had managed to survive two years of abuse from him chasing cattle, hitting stumps, ramping beaver chewed stumps, etc. Watch where you drive and you will be okay.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/26/1212:01 AM
November 25, 2012:
Went out today and did a check on a trapline I will be setting early September. Now that I have ice enough to cross small sloughs with the snow machine I was able to get further then I was able to in Summer.
Cut numerous wolf tracks. As well as a few sets of Wolverine prints. Lots of Fisher/Marten and weasel sign. And am pleased to report I did not come across one beaver colony.
Upon nearing the end of the trail, I came upon a hunting cabin in the bush.
Did a quick trap check on the way back, had a weasel (#9).
And as I mentioned before, there was no ice I couldn't drive on today. Still will check certain places before driving though.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/26/1212:38 AM
Yes, the bikes at work have mudlites, bear claws and Swamplites I believe. They go through mud well. But of course there is very little that will go through Loon*hit, once you start going down in that stuff you might as well quit while your ahead.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/26/1201:55 AM
Originally Posted By: TheFurTrapper
Yes, the bikes at work have mudlites, bear claws and Swamplites I believe. They go through mud well. But of course there is very little that will go through Loon*hit, once you start going down in that stuff you might as well quit while your ahead.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 11/26/1202:39 AM
Originally Posted By: TheFurTrapper
November 25, 2012:
Went out today and did a check on a trapline I will be setting early September. Now that I have ice enough to cross small sloughs with the snow machine I was able to get further then I was able to in Summer.
Cut numerous wolf tracks. As well as a few sets of Wolverine prints. Lots of Fisher/Marten and weasel sign. And am pleased to report I did not come across one beaver colony.
Well last check on the line today, pulled all the sets in preparation to set all marten/fisher sets on a longer line tomorrow. Caught a marten, a weasel, a (#3) flying squirrel, and only the second mouse in a weasel box this year.
Gonna finish making up the last of the marten and fisher boxes this afternoon. Will post some picture either tonight or tomorrow of all of them.
Went out today and got about 2 dozen sets out for Marten, Fisher and Weasel. Hoping for a good check on Wednesday. Didn't take any photo's of sets, but here's one of us all packed up to go:
and a little owl who watched us pack up and get ready to go:
Got this from the neighbors yard this morning, #11:
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 12/09/1201:48 AM
8th Annual North American Fur Auctions Open House in Winnipeg:
Well the Open House is over for another year.
Myself, Snostorm@home and POWER SNARER are going to do a write up type deal on the event so we will just add some pictures and a few captions here. Our plan is to send it to The Canadian Trapper, will most likely take the first edited copy and make a new post here.
Here's a look at our Youth Squirrel, Muskrat and Weasel Skinning area. Myself, Snostorm and POWER SNARER instructed, as well as Northof50.
all of us pictured here:
Some finished pelts:
also featured through out the day was Submarine Trap Building and Weasel Box Building. Demo's were given on pelting larger animals like fox, coyote and raccoon. As well as demo's like Muskrat Trapping(Wrangler Hamm),Wolf Trapping (Pete Wise).
Hav,e you lanched that submarine trap in a beaver run that you made at the Open House yet ? Good pics of the event, you even got Wrangler in the small pic. Sure glad there was no knife cuts, was a chaallenge in tyhe skinning.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 12/11/1201:44 AM
Northof50 - When I got back from the rat demo with Wrangler there were no more sliders left. Neither I or POWER SNARER left with a colony trap. The one that was all rolled up was the start of ours.
I was quite happy with the results of the skinning considering how the animals held together for the kids.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 12/11/1202:07 AM
What you could not pick up a kids slider at the dollar store? It was such a success that they will be made at the annual MTA in The Pas this year. The submarine traps were sponsored by MTA. I have your wire at home. That event was sure more quiet than the weasel box making.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 12/11/1203:21 AM
Yes it was, and the kids will definitely benefit from the rat's they catch in those sub traps. Thinking I will make a few up between now and spring to drop in the few culverts around home
Took a few quick picture's of some pelts, thought i'd share. As of now the pelt's I have finished and ready for auction are: 20 weasels, 5 marten, 2 squirrels and 30 or so muskrats. I don't normally put up squirrels, just interested to see what they sell for at NAFA.
The largest of the marten I have caught so far is above the XXL line, measuring to 27" from nose to base of tail
Checking set's tonight and can't wait to get out there.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 12/13/1202:27 AM
December 12, 2012 *2*:
Went out and checked the sets, I really need to start carrying the shotgun, I see a few grouse every time out there.
Was a slow trip out today, up to about 3/4 of the way up the line all I had caught as a hunk of bait in a 120. Finally got into the spruce and connected with a marten, and a little further down a weasel (#21)
Your having a very good season FurTrapper. I'm new to the forums and I just read your journal. It was a super good read and thank's for posting it! what are your season total's as of now?
Aknative - yea not too shabby for a non producing couple of sets eh?
FTT - I'm not complaining about this season's results, leaving soon to check the line and move a few sets around. Thank you for reading. My total's are: Beaver 1 Coyote 4 Fisher Fox Marten 6 Mink 1 Muskrat 51 Otter Raccoon Skunk 2 Squirrel 5 Weasel 21 Wolf Rabbit: 4
Went out and checked the line today, no marten but caught 7 weasels and a red squirrel.
Got on some wolf tracks on the way home coming off of a beaver pond. Picture is hard to see, but I can guarantee they belong to a wolf. No coyote around here has paws that big, not even those caught from around the Meat Processing plant north of me.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 12/16/1207:03 AM
TFT, also coyotes around here don't normally leave a claw mark between their tracks like that, pretty common for wolves though. Nice addition to that pile of ermine hides. Enjoying you guy's journals.
The largest of the marten I have caught so far is above the XXL line, measuring to 27" from nose to base of tail
I'm looking at your measurement here and it looks like your marten is 26" long. It is real hard to tell by the picture. The measurement not only goes to the base of the tail but the back must all come down to that point also. If the base of the tail is beyond where the back comes down to then the measurement is farther up. Again perhaps it is just the picture but I see daylight still at the 26" mark.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 12/19/1202:05 AM
December 18, 2012:
Not a bad check out today at all. Caught 2 marten (making 8), 2 weasels (making 30) and 2 snowshoe hare (making 6 total)
Christmas Holiday's start Friday. Have to finish some Christmas shopping in Winnipeg on Saturday (that will be fun) and then Sunday I will go check the traps again and perhaps set some beaver sets.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 12/23/1201:03 AM
December 22,2012:
Christmas shopping is finally done for the year, what a fruit basket of a day it was in the city as well!
Will check all of the sets tomorrow and put some beaver sets out, some rat sets and some mink sets. As soon as the coyote's start hitting a gut pile I will be setting snares up.
A Canadian Trapline: Part 3 is also online, a few marten and a bunch of weasels in this video and some "side line" video.
Went out to the bush today to try and set up a new line. Much shorter then the one I had planned to go on, but competition took over there. There was a decent amount of marten sign out there, got a half dozen sets out that I believe will produce.
That's providing I can catch any marten with all the squirrels around, here is one of many highways in the bush. If anyone knows what the Deerfoot Trail is like in Calgary-Airdrie, AB this is much the same!
Next off there was a wolf peeing on a beaver hut. An MB-750 awaits the return.
And finally the catch of the day, the most random mink I am yet to find, finally.
(Post two)
Went out tonight just before dark and set up a couple rams, easily have a place for another half dozen or so.
Also thanks for the 100 730 views on this journal!
Wishing everyone who reads my journal a Happy New Year!
A little trapline update, Skidoo currently has a frozen gas line, thinking it's at the Carbs. Gotta get it into the heated garage today and drain that all out and get some extra anti freeze into it.
Got out last night to pull what was left of the line I was trapping the last 2+ weeks, had to take the old bike and to say the least it was a frosty ride at -20 C. Skidoo should be back operating today though, will be able to make a run and check a few sets and hopefully pick up another marten. Other then that it's given me a chance to get caught up on the back log of fur handling which was about the only upside to the whole deal. Getting antsy for the auction in February.
If I manage to get out on the trapline later today I will throw an update on here. If not, Happy New Year and stay safe!
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/02/1302:49 AM
January 1, 2013 (2):
Ended up catching one weasel today. Also a squirrel in a mink set, the mink lunched on it. Put a few more good blind mink sets out. Should result well.
Got home late last night and didn't get a chance to post.
On the way to Winnipeg taking furs in yesterday I checked the half dozen coyote rams I had out. I haven't been out to check them since the 6-7" of snow we got the other morning. Needless to say they weren't the right height for coyotes but the perfect height for jack rabbits...
So anyways today I gotta get back out and re set those two rams and lift the rest to the proper height. Then the plan is to head out and get some more traps set. See how she goes.
More bait for the marten boxes. One of the researchers on mink found the winter diet of mink one the prarie's was these, hard to believe they could take down a 8 pound rabbit
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/06/1301:41 AM
With jack rabbits some of them have high odours, and if these go into the pot...well nothing smells worst let alone the potluck dinner. If you see the stains from the urine they are red...high food content with nitrogen, these rabbits have a odour when you skin them. Did you find any intermuscular water sacks... these are a tapeworm cyst and cycle through the dog family when they eat them... throw them out and burn to stop the cycle....when in doubt..throw out When there was a high population there wa 75 % infection a couple of years ago
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/15/1301:45 AM
Yea I didn't want to be rude, 2 wrong's don't make a right. Mind what you say on here, there are some that don't take kindly to such comments and one day you will suddenly see that you've been wiped off of Tman.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 01/24/1304:35 AM
I'm thinking it should have some good results. Some trails are run so often now that they are smooth. Should be able to get in some sets tomorrow after school.
Forgot to post, but snared this little coyote on a bait set the other day. There are fresher foods for them not far away so they have somewhat abandoned it.
thats very nice of the old fella he will be happy to see his boards full of fur again . one time a old guy gave me a pile of boards some of his beaver boards were made of 1x4 cuz in the early days you couldn get plywood in the north . one mistake i did was i never matched up the mink marten and otter boards to modern specs untill after i noticed my fur didn look uniform to each other . pays to just check them with a modern board to make sure . some of the old timers never had templates to follow.. you make sure you share a pic with the old boy once you have fur on his boards it will prob make his day ..
As many of you know, NAFA got lotting letter's out today. Here are mine, at the moment missing from the lot is mink.
Castor is carry over from the May sale. I am pleased with the results of the grading and can't wait for the auctioning to start on these. Will keep an update on what they sell for.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 02/17/1302:56 AM
Originally Posted By: TheFurTrapper
Yes, can't wait for the auction! Let's hope for high dollar on pelts eh Saskhunter?
trappinghardcore - what are you trying to say, spit it out!
sorry. You have to scroll down on your pictures to the white tail rat. I was saying that I caught one that had all white feet and white tip of tail like the one you showed. Only had it happen once. But keep the pics coming I enjoy them!
Got home late last night and didn't get a chance to post.
On the way to Winnipeg taking furs in yesterday I checked the half dozen coyote rams I had out. I haven't been out to check them since the 6-7" of snow we got the other morning. Needless to say they weren't the right height for coyotes but the perfect height for jack rabbits...
So anyways today I gotta get back out and re set those two rams and lift the rest to the proper height. Then the plan is to head out and get some more traps set. See how she goes.
those are some pitch white rabbits! Ours have a grayish tint to them.
And yea, when the bear is coming at you. I imagine a scope isn't a great plan lol.
I think he means you should remove the scope and file the sites off so it hurts less when the bear shoves the gun up your [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot].
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 02/18/1303:42 AM
Yea, Just got in on a board. And pulling the front legs through they were actually grabbing the pelt and wouldn't come through. Finally just broke the nails off.
Yea, Just got in on a board. And pulling the front legs through they were actually grabbing the pelt and wouldn't come through. Finally just broke the nails off.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 02/21/1301:59 AM
February 20, 2013:
Wild Fur started to finally sell at NAFA today. So far 1 of the two mink that I caught sold for $30.00, and 28 rats for $275.00 at a $9.82 average. Happy with the price of the mink definitely. And the rats, well I can't say I don't like that either. Could be higher, but sure could be a lot worse!
Excited to see how marten sell tomorrow, considering a buddies fisher from the 2nd day of the season sold for $170.00!
Well all of my fur has sold, minus a few buy backs in Weasel and Squirrel. I am more then pleased with the results from this sale. High hopes that the May Sale will be similar, at least for muskrat/beaver.
I missed a good year for marten by the looks of things, I usually caught 20 or more per year because I didnt have a snowmobile. That's it I'm going to try setting for rats around Lake St. Martin or pineimuta lake lol
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 02/24/1306:32 AM
Awsome Journal man. Read all 35 pages of post. Man when you get you a realy long line you going to slay the criters. Great job on the pitures and video's. Way cool keep up the good work. Carson
take him on the board to the convention to enter into the youth competion.you got to 1pm Saturday to dry it. I'm sure your mom will let you hold onto it in the back of the truck for 500 km drive so it will not blow away. Did you see any ptarmigin on the cross-over road at Easterville...last day of the season was today.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 03/03/1306:47 AM
March 2, 2013:
AGM & Convention are over for another year. Overall I feel it was somewhat of a bust. Definitely better attendance in area's around my home town where the schools come in. I believe there was at one time 60 in attendance. Myself and Power Snarer built Muskrat Submarine traps, which I believe 5 of the 15 or so went home with youth. The Youth attendance I have to say was much much lower then I had expected. How ever the adults enjoyed our presentation's just the same.
To end the post off, here is my latest trapline video. The last 9 minutes if a demonstration from today on the construction of the traps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdI5OWeR54E Tomorrow, we do the 4.5 hour drive back home! Nice country for sure. But sometimes..... you can only drive past so many tree's before you get bored.
Your on a great path Fur Trapper. Don't get caught up in the quest of the all mighty dollar when you get out of school, you need to be happy with what your doing or it is worthless. I haven't had a trapline in many years and getting out there this year and hitting the wolves hard brought back some great memories from my youth chasing weasels, rats and beavers along the creek by the farm. Just wondering if your submarine trap is a colony trap or something diferent. Good luck in the future and will be looking for next seasons posts. If I can get permision for all critters on my line I might start one too.
SK-Trapper - The submarine trap is a colony trap. Works the same as the square ones, only it holds quite a few more rats then even the 7x7 traps. Thank's for following my journal, and for the feedback. How ever my post's are not over yet! Still have spring trapping.
This weekend's plans are full of trapper training.
The local fur council is doing the MTA Trapper Training course today and tomorrow. Unfortunately of the 26 signed up, only 6 have showed up to take the course (what can ya do?)
Ended off the trapper education course today with 6 graduates. As well as some awards to a member of our fur council and long time member of the trapping world.
Although low attendance was a factor, the course was a success, again.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 03/11/1303:29 AM
Yes, our fur council is responsible for either the first or second highest amount of Trapper Ed. course put on in Manitoba. Our guys just did one in Grand Rapids.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 03/18/1301:57 AM
March 11 - 17, 2013:
Gonna be very honest here. I am bored!
Since my last post the highlights have been warm temperatures, which are now delayed to not start till the 25 of March...
When it warmed up to around 0, I walked over between fur shed and dead pile of skinned animals. Found out I had a skunk munching... Shot it the next night.
And now as patiently as I can I wait for the weather to warm up so I can hopefully get some spring muskrat and beaver trapping in.. Yesterday at work I found out how deep the snow really was trying to haul bales out of a hay field. For comparison, the grill guard on the tractor is about 4-5" over the top of my head on flat ground. At the far left of the picture the snow was up to the top of that. Really wish the melting would start.
I just read the wolf story, more than a little strange. If It's true that is definitely isn't a healthy wolf. She would be very lucky, I have seen what wolf jaws can do and been bit on the throut you shouldn't be around to tell the tale. Glad she's ok, whatever happened.
CBC interviewed another person that was at the scene, seems there was some potatoe chips offered,for food. Interesting there are always two sides to a story
Took the day off school today and went and picked up a 2013 Honda Foreman. Complete with four wheel drive, power steering and power shift. Really nice bike, I have experience driving the same model 3 years older and love the bike.
As for trapping with it, I'm afraid it won't be used for that till this fall. The road to my main rat area has 3 1/2 feet of snow on it still, the large bodies of water all still have ice on it, there are only open water spots where the springs are. The ditches... well this one has 18" of water or so and normally it has 3 1/2 feet bare minimum in the deep spot at the culvert mouth. Rats and Beaver aren't moving.
Nice bike ft, This is a spring to remember for years alright, Yesterday was the first day we had water really moving here in NE SK. We should be pulling into the fields to seed in the next few days and the fields still have snow. I should be able to get the beaver traps out this week now that the water is moving.
Yea there's no sign of beaver or rats moving here at all anywhere. And as for farming, 4 weeks ago last year we were already breaking land getting ready to seed.
Here's to hoping we don't get a repeat of this crap next year!
and secondly, here's to hoping for a good fall season to make up for this spring.
February 28, 2013: Ice all went in the ditches yesterday, seen one muskrat, checked all ditches and my big swamp for area's to set up. Found one area for beaver and it's a long ways from home.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 05/01/1301:42 AM
April 30, 2013:
Well to end off April and welcome the month of May we have gotten another 6" of wet heavy snow. Thinking school should be cancelled tomorrow? It is everywhere else in our division.
Went out tonight and came home with these two:
One is just a kit and the other is maybe 25 pounds. Not a lot of action and definitely not a lot of big action for beaver in the ditches.
Was out this weekend with the PFRA doing a count on the number of beaver lodges on the local community pasture. In total we covered about 75 KM of the pasture round trip and took down a count of 58 beaver huts, keep in mind that not all swamps and lakes could be covered.
The big drain that lets all the water go south is blocked by a beaver dam about 15 feet high and 500 yards wide. There's hardly any water going through the natural flow, even after it has been trenched out.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 08/17/1305:00 AM
August 16, 2013:
Received some top lot awards in the mail today. Kind of expected the one for ermine, but was a little surprised to see the one for the marten in there!
Hunting season starts in a couple weeks, starting to get wound up for that. And less then two months till I can start taking rats. Started to get a little excited!
Been blowing the summer away making hay otherwise.
Re: TheFurTrapper's Manitoba Trapline Journal - 08/18/1303:45 AM
NO50 - I may have to do that!
Trapper of Fur - We're just about finished 1st cut now, won't be getting much 2nd cut this year cause everything is late. No elk in the hay usually till we do 2nd cut and usually not till they get piled in the hay yards. There is always elk in them though.