2017-2018 season

Hey lets use this one to talk about whats goin on in our season and post pics and all the talk n stuff.
Ill start
I had one heck of a first say. Ran 99 traps and got 15 coons. Atleast a dozen pullouts. We had some snow sleet stuff last night so it shut em down a little. But 120 sets out now and tonight should be good

I wish everyone the best of luck this season!! I’m jealous of you all, I’ve been outta the season for the past couple years and I was really looking forward to participating this year but the military pulled me to the Middle East!! So good luck and catch some for me!!

Kinda the same thing happend to me, my season started out well the first week. Three coyotes in four days plus some nice fox and some coon. The past week as been really rainy and not many critters are moving, but by the end of this weekend I should be into some more fur. Rats and mink come in a few weeks, and I have some good area to trap them so I am hoping to pick up 25-50 rats and a few mink.

Man this is fun but im really feelin the workout. All our creekbanks are near vertical and youd be better off throwin a rope down and climbin up. I am sore. But i had a good day. 17 coons and 2 rats. Lota of pullouts but i think it is because these traps are really old.




Also found out that my drowners i made out of swivels work. I had a 30lb boar try it out.

Had a break in the rain and caught a nice gray today.

Heck ya man! The full moon kinda screwed things up lastnight. Onky got 6. Got some clouds out tonight so manybe they will run

All thes pictures are getting me fired up! Season starts this Friday and I can’t wait to get out and set some steel! Good luck everyone

Another bad check. And tomarrow will prob be worse. Tbe moon is full and there is alot of light

I experience the same thing every time there’s a full moon. Why does this slow their movements? Any opinions?

I haven't been having much luck either, it's been raining again for the past couple days. The forecast is saying that it's not going to stop anytime soon. Funny how it doesn't rain all summer, then when season hits it rains almost every day.

No idea why it slows em down. At least I havent been competly skunked. I finally got a yote today and a few coons.Ill post pics later. ya it is typical here for it to not rain all summer and then rain now. It did last year

Awesome let's see it!

Dont ya love it when mice do that? lol

Lol Thats a first for me hahaha

coyote #4

Heck ya man! Im at 61 coons and pulled the line. Threw out a smaller line because our deer season starts saturday. After that ill be back up and goin

Season opens today! No, I didn’t get any sleep last night lol. Woke up this morning and the thermometer says 23 degrees and says it feels like 11 with the wind. The last few years it has been around 50s or low 60s. A little cold, but I still plan on getting a few dozen sets out. Good luck everyone

Just went out and put out 16 Muskrat sets. Can't wait to see what I got tomorrow. I bet there is already one in one of my traps.

#5

Our rat season starts on saturday, if the weather is ok I am planning on setting every muskrat trap I own

Nice man!! I done have much out right now because its deer season. My sis just got a 4x4. It was her first. Im holdin out for a bigger un

Went and staked in traps on 2 different places and got a tour of the third from the farmer. I'll stake in traps on the 3rd place in a day or two. I can start setting Wednesday.

On one farm I got out and looked at 3 different places I wanted to set a trap or two at. At each one there was 1-4 piles of coyote or fox crap. Kinda made me feel good to be that dead on location.

You guys better get ready for the pic overload from me and my good buddy gage next month after Christmas. If all goes as planned we’re gonna be putting the hammer down on the coyotes and coons.

Nice! Had five rats yesterday, I was expecting more, but some of the huts froze because I didn't seal them well enough. Taught a friend how to put up rats though.

Left the first fisher of the year go today, hoping I can catch one of these buggers during season this year!

Awesome man! I hope we have a season soon. West Virginia has a season, but we still have a "continuously closed" season on them. I hope they keep expanding.

Keep these wonderful pictures coming. I enjoy seeing them. I was planning to set a few traps myself but I have been busy with other projects that take up most of my time. I am ready and waiting for the opening of muskrat season.

I'll be sure to post some muskrat pics today, am going to check it as soon as it is light.

That fisher is awesome. I saw one once when I was grouse huntin in Wisconsin, but thats it. We dont have em around here. Good luck on the rat line today! hope you have a bunch. Im checkin mine after school. Had a nice coon yesterday

Only got 4 sets in today. Less than half of what I hoped. This morning I got a later than ideal start, and had to leave earlier than normal to get to school, so I only got two canine sets in. This evening it was cloudy and got dark early so I didn't have much time, only got another two done. Tomorrow though I'll have all day so I can get my skunk traps out and another farm set up. Plus finish the ones I started today.

I cant wait to check today. I made a really sweet yote set on a bank in a creek. There were tracks everywhere, so Im hopin I find one bouncin around. Should have a coon or 2 in dps too.

I had an active but depressing night. One place I missed a fox, he stepped right next to the pan of one trap, and dug up another. And on the next farm a leaf managed to blow right over the pan, and I had 3 fox tracks and a pile of crap in the bed.

I know that feeling. Saturday morning I can set rat and mink traps! I pulled half of the coyote line today, weather permitting I am going to be setting all day. Any other PA people setting on Saturday?

Caught the fox that crapped all over my sets. He was a little red, also caught a pretty coon. The coons foot wasn't messed up at all, so I just turned him loose. Ill set some cages in a week or so after they've primed up a bit more.

I'll be setting muskrat traps Saturday morning. I brought the cart down and loaded my stakes, stabilizing sticks, wire, wire cutter and traps. All I have to do yet is run up to the garden and pull out a few turnips for bait. In the morning I'll hook the cart to the John Deere and I'll be off.

Got a skunk last night. Have 17 sets out now. A few more skunk traps and some coon sets next week and that'll probably be all I can handle while in school. I also picked up 3 new properties today, one of which has a beaver colony.

I set rat and mink traps today, got two while we were setting. I should have a pretty good day tomorrow if it doesn't freeze up tonight.

It rained all day in my part of Pennsylvania. I was out there most of the day getting my line out. I came home late in the afternoon soaked all the way through to the skin. Dad said I looked like a drowned muskrat. I am now recovered and dry. I am waiting for morning to see what is waiting for me.

Sounds like you had fun! For the better part of last season I checked traps in tennis shoes, and the ice wasn't thick enough to walk on, so I would walk through the marsh. Crash! Crash! Thankfully I avoided frostbite that season, but now I have learned my lesson. Christmas I got some waterproof boots.

Pulled my line today. My total so far for 'rats is 19, and unless I get an incidental while trying for some other animal that is my season total.

It rained all day where I was too, I was lucky though because I was wearing waders and arm length gloves so I wasn't soaked to terrible. It poured last night so I am hoping my sets aren't to flooded.

We got a ton of rain here too. I literally had to fish out my dog proofs under 6 inches of water next to a pond. Maybe a muskrat or beaver will find my dirt holes lol

Despite all the rain I did ok today, I had 8 rats, and one of them had a white tipped tail. Got my first rat in a top edge set too.

Some of my sets in the big stream were kind of flooded but we had a lot of terrible wind last night and I think that kept the muskrats in their dens. I only got 5 out of 26 traps. It was terrible out there this morning checking. To keep warm I was actually running some of my line. I was really moving. lol I just finished my skinning.

I only got 8 out of 70 traps, but I knew most of sets would be empty because there is a lot of baited sets and like you said I think they were staying in their dens.

I had a lot of baited sets too. They were mostly in our pond. The dens are way too deep for me to get to even wearing my hip boots. I found baited sets work best there. I think maybe I want to get more foot hold traps. Feed bed sets work in the pond too.

Got another red fox last night. Had a cow and a deer set off two others, then somehow some sorta critter managed to pull out of a brand new mb550 offset. It looked like a bomb had gone off at the set, the dirt hole was dug all up, the chain and swivels were just a ball of grass. I'm thinking I had a small coon that managed to slip out of the offests after rolling around for awhile.

Rifle seasons over and i started setting a line tonight. Didnt get too much out cuz its dark so dang early. Should have a few coon though. This is new ground that hasnt been trapped in my life at least

Had a trap flipped up, unsprung so that was probably a fox, had one sprung and coon tracks around it so he probably set that one off. But I got coyote number two in my last set, real pretty male.

Heres my mixed bag so far although I did get another opossum that i didnt get a pic of although I kept it.

Got coyote #3 and a pretty good sized coon last night. Of course Mr coon walked right past the trap I set for him and got in my bobcat/gray fox set. Might try to get some pictures up tonight.

It’s been a pretty good season for me. 16 muskrats, 21 coon and a red fox so far. Unfortunately, I had what I think was red fox stolen from my set this morning. Luckily I had the quick link really tight and they didn’t make off with the trap too. Besides the thieves and cold weather, it’s been pretty good here.

I've been having a good season too, 5 coyotes, 1 red, 3 greys, 6 coon, 1 fisher, and 24 muskrats. I am working on pulling rat traps for deer season, but I have a nasty cold that laid me up pretty bad. Hoping I can still go deer hunting on Monday.

I can't wait to start... still waiting till deer season ends.

Things are goin awesome for me so far. Im back at it. Up to 79 coons and got another yote today. Tryin to make it to 100 coons before the end of the month





Them tracyor tracks were from wenesday. They put on anhydrous and that was thrusday when i set it. Them yote tracks were fresh. They dug uo my traps ladt night but i got em fixed and beded solid. Hoping to connect in the next few days

You got a heckuva coon population possumcatcher. My mom saw a guy on Facebook who is buying green coon for $4 a hide. I have school tomorrow but Tuesday I might get all my coon traps back out. If I can pick up 20 or 30 with minimal effort that's several tanks of gas.

Pulled the rest of the traps today for deer season, finally caught the first mink of the year.

Nice mink and hat. Id love to wear my coon hat but its just a little warm for it here. And ya coontrapper i got a heck of a population. Most of these places that ive hit havent been trapped in 20+ years. Trappin is a thing of the past here. I know coons are 2 a piece on the carcass but i had a buyer tell me 10 for good finished ones so im goin that route. It might take me a while tho...

I was gonna ask if your putting up the skins or selling green. Are you skinning and then freezing? Or just freezing the whole animal? I can't imagine how much freezer space you'd need to hold 70+ coon.

I'm gonna go ahead and start stringing out a small coon line. It's been 3 or 4 years since I trapped any coons for the live market so hopefully the population is pretty strong.

I skin and freeze. I got a big freezer and its filled to the top. Very thankful for a friend letting me use his freezer right now lol.

Got my first double on yotes today. They were about 300 yds apart.

Awesome keep them coming!

Is that just a livetrap that you used for rats?

Live trap and a potato for appeal. Land sets same thing with the addition of lure. They don't trap for big numbers, we only trap what they will utilize for fur garments, crafts and wall hangers.

Havent checked yet today. So far Im up to 93 coons, and I want to have 100 by tomarrows check. When i have more time I have a bunch of pics to post. Ive been doin really good on catchin yotes latley

First cat of the year today and another yote. Ill get the pics up sometime in the next couple of days

Did you hit 100 coon?

Made it to 95. I tried my hardest but it didnt work. I should be able to pick the rest up in cat or yote sets

I'm going to start setting tomorrow... Can't wait!

Caught my first mink yesterday being in PA they seem few and far between compared to thoes of you up north had a dozen traps in a section of creek about 250 yards long for a month till I caught one. Two things I learned from this experience is persistance pays and LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!!!
I hope everyone is having a great season so far. Plan on putting in my land sets next week. since deer season is over here tommorow.

Nice mink, I am planning on pulling my little mink line, and setting yote sets this weekend.

How long has your mink line been in? Longer you leave it the better

About 2 weeks, I would've liked to leave it in longer, but we are supposed to get some cold weather soon. I love trapping coyotes when it's cold, and so when it gets harder to maintain water sets, I usually switch back over. Plus I've been seeing some sign and can't take passing up red tracks anymore!

Thats cool. Mink are rare here too and i snagged one last year. They are def pretty animals. I got a double on yotes tonight. Ill get pics up sometime. And set a bunch of cat sets. Hoping to get a few cats

First cat of the year, but didn't keep it. Season starts on Saturday. A nice pad catch in a K9 extreme Jr

could catch those critters left and right here if I tried but theyre illegal to trap here. Lol we have 5 different cats on trail camera

Nice. I want to get a Lynx sometime. I think the season opened yesterday for them, but it could be the 20th.

Nice cat pa!
I got my second for the year tonight. Other than that its been real slow latley

Thanks and same to you!

How are you catchin your cats? Like what set and what for bait? Mine have been in dirtholes. The first one was for coons and had a fish bait. But this one was a specific cat set and i used my own bait and feline fix and cat man do lure

That cat was in an oversized dirt-hole, that had a lot of eye appeal. It was lured with Paul's Cherry red promotional lure and one of my baits I make myself. One of my cats from last year was in a scent post, all the rest were in dirt-holes with some eye appeal.

Made it to 100 coons yesterday. Thats a record for me, my old one was 78 for the entire season. I got some pics ill post later. Hows everyone else been comin along?

I only trap muskrats. I'm stuck on 29 now but I will get my traps out again before the season ends.

Heck ya! thats cool. We dont have big populations of rats around here. I have only gotten 4 so far, and thats my best. I have herd people saying that some of the chemicals have killed off our rats but im not sure.

I had three reds in five days then things have just about stopped for a week other than a mink

the rat population would be good around me if I left them alone but I trap every last one of them when more move in. my best year was 28 though although my best day was 15 with 9 in 1 colony trap.

Things have been kind of slow here, but fisher and bobcat come in tomorrow and I am going to put some extra sets in.

Things have been really slow here too. We’ve got about 6 inches of snow on the ground right now. All I’ve caught in the last week was a red fox. We are supposed to get a warm up tomorrow so maybe I’ll get things back in buisness.

I'm finally done with school for 3 weeks and getting going again. I got 4 properties set up now, will get another two today and a few more next week.

Stuff has been really really slow here latley. I think its the weather cuz its not supposed to be 50 degrees in december. We got a front movin through tomarrow and the highs are only going to be the low 30s so this should make the critters move. Has the weather been like this in your guys areas??

In the 30s here over the weekend.The bottom is going to drop out-coldest Christmas in 20 years.Close to 20 below.
I don't need snow or cold for Christmas.
Tom

Possumcatcher, yep weather has been warm in PA but stuff is moveing had a trap dug out this morning and the same trap was set off 2 days ago by a bear that lucily got himself out!! Hope all have a merry Christmas and a Happy new year!

They're moving here but not working my sets. I'm going to change and move some sets here over Christmas, hopefully it will pick back up again. Cable restraints and beaver come in the day after Christmas too.

Last couple of days I've caught 4 more foxes, a coyote and skunk and a couple of coons. Last night I had two reds, both in snares. First time I've caught something in a snare. I got a couple of beaver traps on a big swamp at my uncle's farm. Gonna go check those now and set a few more.

This coooooold snap has kinda shut things down. But with the full moon i hope i have something tomarrow. Saw a yodel dog when i was checkin and almost took a shot but i didnt. He was prob 450 yds

The cold has got them moving here. They just started working sets this week, although I've been missing some, still managed to snag two. The one was very big and I found 4 shotgun pellets in it while I was skinning. Hows everyone else doing?

Too cold to be trapping here lol. We have a lot of Domestic pets running around and it’s been around -15 with the wind chill every night here. Only thing I’ve been catching lately is beaver.

It’s really cold here too last night it was -6 canines are definitely moving. Had a coyote break a the wire on a log crossing set made for coon and fox.

I've been done muskrat trapping for over a week now. I got 31.

Thats more than our entire county lol. Our rat populations took a dump and we dont have any anymore. I am starting to think that our animals are moving here but just not on land. Theres alot of tracks on the ice in the creeks. And their notwanting to work sets

First coyote of 2018

How cold is it there pa k9 trapper?

-2 this morning

Send me a pm if you don’t mind. Thanks

Congrats on your first dog of 2018. I have yet to do so. Hoping things change with this little warm up. Its gone from -20 to 10 in 2 days

Where is everyone? Anyone catching stuff still?

Caught a few coyotes the past few weeks but temps skyrocketed and everything seemed to stop. Temps dropped back down so hope things are on the move again!

Temps went up here and I took a break for a week. Temps droped and 4.5 in of snow. Lots of wind making drifts too. Back at it again and got 2 dogs so far. Busted a big drift with my truck today and almost got stuck, but made it out.

It kinda stalled out with this warm spell here, I am going to pull traps this weekend. I need two more yotes to make my goal, and I might give it another shot later. If it stays thawed here I am going to set some beaver traps.

I wish I knew where there were some beaver and I had a way to get there.

Whats your goal?

10, and we don't have that many beaver either, I only know of a few colonies that aren't already trapped and they all have a good walk to get to them.

That good walk,is probably why those beaver are available to trap.
The harder one is willing to work--the more beaver you are able to trap.
Good luck and enjoy.
Tom

I hope you make your goal! Good luck to ya. Im at 17 dogs right now. Got an awesome one today and sold it for $50. Someone wants to mount it. We got some beavers, but not like up in minnesota or up north. I know some colonies, but am too lazy to go after them lol. I will probably do it to keep permission tho. Our farmers HATE them

First one is the taxi yote

Wow! 17 dogs is impressive, plus all the coon. Are you putting up all of them?

Def not all the coon. Im going through pullin out the bigger and nice boars. Think ive put of around 50. Our dogs got some bad mange. Threw 3 out already. Some of them have mange just bad enough to where the crotch is pink but the fur is fine. I skin them and sell them green. Then the rest of the good yotes i finish. My totals so far is 102 coons 17 yotes 2 cats 3 rats 2 skunks and 18 possums

Heres one my friend got the other day. I havent got one that bad yet this year, but its a nasty disease. Saw one last year that didnt have a trace of hair on it. It was way worse than this one

Wow nice job on the coyotes possum catcher! How do you trap them in deep snow? Do they shy away from your prints? We’ve got about 5 inches here with more on the way

we just got a foot of snow over night, going to be an interesting check.

Most of them were before the snow but we got about 5 in right now too. If my sets were in before the snow i leave them sit for a few days. If nothing hits then i clear the snow infront of it and over the set. Im in the process of adding more sets now and i just clear the snow from where im setting. Sometimes if its going to stay cold i will sift the snow over my trap, but i usually dont

Turned out to be a great day. Got a bunch of sets punched in and got my 3rd cat for the year

Nice cat, all my sets were frozen. It went from 60 pouring down rain to 9 degrees with 6 inches of snow over night. Pulled all of my sets today.

I was looking over and updating my log, and I'm up to 20 canines. 15 reds, 1 grey, and 4 coyote. Not bad considering before this season I had never caught a coyote or fox. I had an original goal of 25 canines. If Im able to really roll and pick up some more properties I'm gonna shoot for 40. I'm gonna have to spend at least a week or so hammering beaver, and coons will start rutting soon and I'll have a bunch of conibears along river banks to keep working so 40 canines may be a bit over confident. But I definitely won't get there if I don't try.

Awesome on the cats possum, I'm still waiting to have one show up at a set. I started setting traps on a really catty looking property yesterday so hopefully I'll have some soon.

Patience is key on they. They make big loops so it is hit and miss. But i know that as soon as you get your first cat youll want another one. They are the most rewarding to catch

Was a great night. Hiked up to a set to find a cat and little did i know it was my best cat yet. Nice big tom with good spots. Cat #4 for the year and i have now broke my records


And the set... a walkthrough where i followed his tracks. I made a rub set with andys lure and my friends caster lure.

I had a good day considering how few traps I have set. Ended up with a good sized yote, a nice red and a juvenile beaver. At least two more beaver in this colony. Got another beaver colony I need to set up tomorrow, and a dozen clean foot holds to get in the ground. Gotta get a few dozen cleaned up and rewaxed.

Another good day. Cat #5 and the first beaver of the year on my lure

Way to go.
Tom

Nice. Hopefully will be back trapping here in a few days. Was trying to find a land trapping area, but never found one. Back to the muskrat marshes! Hopefully I can bring my total from 20 to 50, but I will have to see.

Good luck to ya billy! Got cat number 6 today.

Nice cats possumcatcher!

Thanks pa. Hows your line coming along?

Haven't had a line out of darn near a month, got a german shorthaired pointer pup, and I haven't had time to mess around with traps. I would still like to get out some k-9 traps before the end of the season. I am going to set some beaver traps for sure, when we either get safe ice or open water.

Got out to set a couple sets yesterday, 1st flat tail of the year this morning

Nice! Looks like a good sized one

Yep he was 37lbs, not huge but I knew these beavers weren't going to be. These were the first beavers to move back into this pond for a while, probably only two in there.

I got a badger and a couple coons the past few days. If I get bored ill post the pics.

Hi! I'm new here. I've been trapping for 2 years. This year I caught 15 coyotes, 8 coon, 2 bobcats, and 1 gray.

Welome Mo,glad you are joining us.
Tom

Welcome aboard! Feel free to add any pics

This is one of my coyotes I caught in a MB450. My Dad has been trapping coyotes for 35 years. He's taught me a lot, and I hope to learn more from this site and make new friends. I am homeschooled and that gives me extra time to trap.

Nice yote, welcome to T-man

Thanks! Here's some more pictures. I like seeing everyone's pictures. These are me and my sister's catches. This next coyote is one of the lightest I have caught.



This is my second bobcat.

Nice, keep up the good work! I bet one day soon you'll be giving your dad a run for his money!

Thanks! Yes he said that too! Lol

Dang! Nice job bud. Looks like youve been havin a great season

Thanks! Looks like you did too.

Thanks mojr. Its been a heck of a year for me. 108 coons (32 in 2 days) 22 possums 19 yotes 6 cats 3 skunks a badger (i could catch way more but i dont want to mess with them) a beaver and a mouse lol. Best season yet for me. Excited for what is instore for next season

thats amazing!
Do you trap with annother person, or by yourself?

Wow! What lures and baits do you use?

Wow! What lures and baits do you use?

Lydia, i trap by myself. I have a friend that traps, and i help him check and stuff but i dont get any help back lol. But he does make lures and bait. Its good stuff. He started a couple years ago and isnt real herd of. But ill tell ya. He makes good stuff. All my cats were off his lures and probably half of my yotes were. The best bait that yall have herd of is haiwatha valley. And the lures is probably weoser lures

I have Hiawatha valley. And what are your friend's lures and baits called?

Westbranch lures

Ok.what lures and baits do you have?

And what is your favorite lure?

I have a bit of everything. Lots of weiser lures as they work good. But my favorite is my friends cat gland and caster lure

Ok. My favorite's are Fox hollow and Cavens lures. And I caught a lot with bounty hunter, sweetwater flattail,and Hiawatha valley.

Cavens is some good stuff. Are you using sweetwater flattail for beavers or on yotes and cats?? i havent ever used any of the commercial beaver lure because I came up with a recipe using casters out of a beaver and its hammers the beavers in these little creeks. Even caught a 57lb beaver and a mink off of it last year.

I use sweetwater flattail on coyotes and bobcats because we don't trap beaver or mink. And I have three MB450 and I like them. And I like seeing your pictures if you are going to put more on?

Ill have to see what I got. Its been slow lately. I hate posting them cuz I have to resize them all and its a pain.

Ok no problem

Got a few yotes and a badger
Then i sold the last half of my fur last weekend. I sold 50 coons amd 12 yotes earlier in the season

That's definitely a lot of work. I like those pics!

Congrats on the fur. Good lot of pics.