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#232517 - 06/16/07 08:37 PM Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version)
Andy S Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 5931
Loc: IN
Donations Received as of 7/2/07, Thank You All
A.J.-A.J.
Andy S-Andy S
Ed S-Not a T-Man Member
Wayne C-coop
Jacob S-Don't know screen name
Willis R-Trapper Will
Daniel J-Mississippi Posse
Sammy P-Don't know screen name
Karrie-linderbean
James L-J.Lord
Donnie P-Don't know screen name
Trophyhunter
Don F-playin4funami
Nick C-Coon Hangman
Tony J-Don't know screen name
Jason S-Yodog
Richard N-Nelacres
sdavis0321

Total received to date: $490.00 plus a bunch of traps

Here you go! This is the final version and there will be NO more changes! Myself, A.J. CharlesKS, Coon Hangman, and Possum Skinner had a conference PM and decided that this would make it fairer for all contests. Being how some kids aren't good at writing, and we also wanted to give the younger children a chance to compete on an equal level. I apologize for the original confusion, and obviously if you are nine your entry isn't expected to be at the level of the thirteen year olds. That will be taken into consideration by the judges!

Rules
1. The ONLY rule is that your entry MUST be trapping related! Other than that, there are no rules. You can write a story, draw pictures, color pictures, tell trapping stories, submit photos of yourself trapping, talk about your favorite furbearers, talk about why you like trapping, whatever you feel you are good at. You can literally do anything that you can think of to do for your entry as long as it relates to trapping in some way shape or form. Let your imaginations run wild!

2. This is NOT a rule, but we would like for the winners to post what they spent their gift certifactes on just as an act of kindness for those who donated money!

Age Groups
1. 9-13
2. 14-16

Judges
1. CharlesKS
2. Coon Hangman
3. Possum Skinner

Contest End Date
July 14th 2007 @ 8:00 AM

Prizes, Three Winners in Each Age Class
We will adjust the prizes accordingly as more donations come in, this is the MINIMUM.
1. $100 MTP Gift Certficate
2. $75 MTP Gift Certficate
3. $50 MTP Gift Certficate

Please list your age with your entry so we know how old you are!

Kids Start Submitting Your Entries, we hope you enjoy this and it gives you a reason to look forward to the upcoming season. I will mail the gift certficates to you as soon as the judges pick the winners on the 14th.

Adults Please Keep All NEGATIVE Comments To Yourselves!

Thank You,
Andy S, A.J., CharlesKS, Coon Hangman, and Possum Skinner


Edited by Andy S (07/13/07 09:51 AM)

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#232534 - 06/16/07 08:59 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: Andy S]
mink2 Offline
trapper


Registered: 04/30/07
Posts: 1513
Loc: kentucky
I want to be the first to post! there we go
_________________________
as a martian I pick lime green for my country men. even thou we come from a red planet. odd isn't it? o well

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#232551 - 06/16/07 09:24 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: mink2]
mink2 Offline
trapper


Registered: 04/30/07
Posts: 1513
Loc: kentucky
Why did I do that
_________________________
as a martian I pick lime green for my country men. even thou we come from a red planet. odd isn't it? o well

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#232970 - 06/17/07 02:46 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: mink2]
witrapper Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 113
Loc: Medford, WI
should we post them under this topic or send them to you?
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#233028 - 06/17/07 04:13 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: witrapper]
Bean Offline
trapper


Registered: 01/09/07
Posts: 137
Loc: BC, Canada
So for those of us that did the original essay on urbinazation, do we have to redo ours, or can we just keep the ones we already did? I don't mind redoing it, and no matter what, I appreciate the contest, but it would be nice to just keep what I already did. Thanks.
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#233077 - 06/17/07 05:22 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: Bean]
Andy S Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 5931
Loc: IN
You post your entries right here!

You can use the same one or redo it, but either way you have to retype it cause those are all deleted.

Sorry about that!

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#233237 - 06/17/07 09:14 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: Andy S]
Yodog Online   happy
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 703
Loc: Utah
I don't want to clutter up this thread, but thank you to all who are heading up this contest and to all who have donated.
_________________________
Yodog trowels.... the last dirthole trowel you'll ever need!!!

Proud member NTA,FTA,UTA,HFD


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#233350 - 06/17/07 11:03 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: Yodog]
coontrapper81 Offline
trapper


Registered: 01/03/07
Posts: 361
Loc: Pa
Contest
Age:14

For my entry I’m writing about how trapping helps people that most people don’t realize. First of all trapping helps farmers. A family of coon can completely wipe out a cornfield. Foxes, coyotes, and coon can all get into a farmer’s chickens and kill all of them. Skunks, opossums, and coon will all get into eggs of anything. Coyotes will eat baby calves. Without trapping maintaining the population of these animals a farmer’s job would be that much harder. Second, trapping helps fishermen and hunters. Without trapping or the permission to hunt coyotes you could pretty much forget about seeing deer, for most places anyway. Any furbearer other than the muskrat and the beaver will eat any baby animal. Without trapping your small game population would drop tremendously. Your turkey would be extinct, because if the babies even hatched before getting eaten they would get killed while there little and can’t fly. Mink love trout so the trapping of them really helps the fishermen. Also, muskrat and beaver can dam up streams and coves in lakes, which will take fishing area away from the fishermen. Next, trapping helps drivers. If there was no trapping there would be even more animals being hit on the road. The coon or whatever was hit could dent the car or hurt a part of the car (possibly hurt the driver), which would cause the driver to have to pay and get it fixed. Trapping also helps keep people in shape. Even if you only have 15 traps out your still probably going to be walking a pretty long way. Lastly, trapping helps kids. It gets them away from the tv. It gives them a challenge to work hard at to achieve. It teaches responsibility because you can't take a day off of checking, you have to be able to get up every morning 1 or 2 hours before school and check your traps. As you can see, trapping helps a lot more people than some think. There are so many people out there that think trapping and hunting is the cruelest thing to do, but they don’t think of the problems that would happen without them. I love trapping so much and I don’t know what I would do without it. The feeling I have when all of my hard work of scouting and where to place my trap pays off is something I can’t describe. I would love to start fox trapping next year so, if I win the gift certificate I will buy fox urine, new traps, and stretchers.

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#233779 - 06/18/07 05:17 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: coontrapper81]
baker Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 1310
Loc: south central,Nebraska
im in. Evan Blankenbaker, age-16, and i will submit my entry sometime before july 14th lol.
_________________________
~Evan~
"Of all the things I've ever lost, I miss my mind the most"-Mark Twain

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#234602 - 06/19/07 02:26 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: baker]
Bean Offline
trapper


Registered: 01/09/07
Posts: 137
Loc: BC, Canada
Hi. My name is Brett Nason and I am 16. I'm gonna write about how trapping tradition helps society and people.

When you look at the world around you, mostly in big cities, you see so much corruption, violence, probably many things you older folks would never have even thought of back in your day. In lots of places, you can't even walk around outside during the night, scared that you could be mugged or killed. This is what the newer generation, which unfortanutely is mine, is coming to. Fortunately, I see thing much different than a lot of other people my age think. I can't even imagine what it will be like when poeple that are my age now will be the people ruling government. Most people now that are younger have completely lost all old tradition, whether it be hunting, fishing, trapping or just out enjoying the great outdoors. Fortunately, there are a few that try their best to keep that tradition alive. The people with this tradition are generally better people, with reasoning and willing to earn what they get, not just have it all given to them, or steal it. People today complain about everything, but that old tradition helps people to just deal with it, instead of making issues of every little thing. That good ol' tradition also help people to respect nauture by really enjoying it and not destroying it. We do respect nature, by hunting and trapping, but the newer generation thinks that this is all cruel and disrespecting to nature, which is because these people obviously don't go back in the bush and see what the backwoods are really all about. I can see in a way why kids don't usually do any trapping, hunting or fishing, and that is because there are so many laws, at least here in Canada, that restrict way too much, by giving age restrictions, or the government could rip you off with a fishing license or something. Today, I have to pay $90 all together to get my freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses. Still, for the good of me, I stick to trapping, fishing and hunting. So lets try to keep that good ol' tradition and make a good name for it, to help others get the tradition back!

If I did win, I would buy traps and maybe a trapping pack. My first trapping season is coming up and I just took my trapping course, so I'm pretty excited about the upcoming season.

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#234713 - 06/19/07 03:22 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: Bean]
SalinaKSCooner Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 312
Loc: Salina Kansas
Does this have a length limit?
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#234797 - 06/19/07 04:37 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: SalinaKSCooner]
Andy S Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 5931
Loc: IN
 Originally Posted By: SalinaKSCooner
Does this have a length limit?


nope

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#234887 - 06/19/07 06:37 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: Andy S]
hunter2468 Offline
trapper


Registered: 01/18/07
Posts: 67
Loc: Portland, Oregon
Im lucas im 15 and i am writing about m first ever hunting expirience because i am new to trapping i have no trapping expirience!

I was 8 at the time and had never even heard of hunting. Me and my dad fished all the time but never had hunted. So when he suggested we go pheasant hunting i eagerly agreed! The next morning we awoke at 4am and drove to corvallis oregon to hunt. When we arrived we had no idea what we were doing. All we had was a 20 guage over under we borrowed from a friend. Sence i had never fired a gun and it had been years since my dad had fired one, we spent about an hour trying to load the shells into the gun. As we were walking in the field we heard a hunted yell!
"down getty"
"Crack!"
A pheasant dropped about twenty yards from were the hunter stood.
We made sure he saw us and went over to get some tips. He was nice and told us that you had to work very hard for the pheasants in this area because they were hunted alot. He said we should push the pheasant to a spot were they had no cover so they had to fly. He pointed at a fence and told us to work it. We walked over and walked next to it. The su was going down and we had to go soon. Just as we neared the end of the fence we heard a rustle. We both froze and looked at each other. I clicked of the saftey and walked forward. My heart was beating so fast and my fingures were tingling. All of a sudden a colorful streak blurrred my vision. I pointed the gun in the general direction of this blur and fired. The gun kicked very hard into my shoulderer and i almost fell backwards. My dad yelled!
"You got em"
I walked over and picked up my bird. Just then the wave of adreneline really hit me and i was pumped. Hooked for life!
-lucas
_________________________
Lucas

Dropped Him!


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#237155 - 06/21/07 11:00 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: hunter2468]
Geezerman Online   content
trapper


Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 4271
Loc: Allen County, Indiana
Hi, my name is William Heingartner, my dad is known as Geezerman on this site.

My dad introduced me to trapping when I was 8 years old. I rode with him checking traps and he showed me how to set some for raccoons and muskrats. I wanted to trap, so that spring I started to buy traps. I helped my dad with some jobs around the house and made enough money to buy 6 traps, heres a picture of my first trap, a Duke #1 coil spring.



I used that trap that summer to help a friend at the lake, Isaac, trap groundhogs out of his grandfathers apple orchard. I made my first catch, a skunk, but I picked the hole, anchored the trap and set the trap. I was very happy I caught something on my first set the first night even though it smelled kind of bad.




Later that summer I attended the ISTA Trappers Education course. It was very helpful and I got a lot of information, even a free trap.

My dad took me out setting traps that fall, I really enjoyed it as well as spending time with my dad. He's very helpful and doesn't get mad if I mess up making a set. He's showed my how to skin raccoons and muskrats and I've watched him skin coyotes but haven't tried to skin one myself yet, maybe this winter.

I just wanted to thank my dad for being my best friend and best dad, he's got me into the outdoors, not only trapping but fishing and hunting. We even joined a small bass club and fish once a month in tournaments. We go out to have fun, even if it means we don't catch any keepers , we catch a lot of laughs and good times.

I've also hunted for whitetails, rabbits, squirrels and wild turkey.

I am glad to be a trapper and hope to keep the tradition going when I have kids one day.

Thanks for reading,
William
_________________________
I'm just a bitter, small town midwestern , gun in one hand and bible in the other leprechan \:\)

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#237231 - 06/22/07 02:13 AM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: Geezerman]
witrapper Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 113
Loc: Medford, WI
Hi. My name is Riley Johnson; I'm 16 years old and I will be writing about some of the benefits of trapping

“People who hunt, trap, and fish don’t mug little old ladies.” that FTA bumper sticker says it all. Trapping is fundamental, even in our modern, technologically advanced world. When are animal rights activists going to listen to reason? Trapping is a necessary American tradition to, control wildlife populations, reduce the spread of wildlife diseases, create income, outdoor recreation, and to harmlessly restrain a furbearer until a humane dispatch.

Opponents of trapping say that the intense pain caused by all kinds of traps cause the animal to break teeth and legs in its attempts to free itself. They also say that the less fortunate catches will languish for days or even weeks, subjected to thirst, hunger, exposure to extreme temperatures and attacks by predators. Many animal rights activists think that trapping is barbaric and only necessary during the Neanderthalic age.

Trapping is needed to; first and foremost, keep wildlife populations and diseases in check and under control. By lowering overall populations of say, coyotes, it gives the mange less hosts to infect and eventually kill. The mange is a very infectious disease that is transferred from an already infected animal to another animal through water in a puddle or feces. It is a parasite that gets under the skin and makes the animal itch so bad that it scratches off its fur in an attempt to end the itching. It scratches off its skin and flesh, leading to infection and eventually a slow, agonizing death. Nature is a cruel master as it takes care of its own.

The money generated by fur, a renewable resource, is substantial. Thanks to promotional efforts for more natural clothing and fashion the fur industry pumps up to 2 billion dollars into the economy, boosting its stability. Many a mountain man during the late 1700’s and early 1800’s lived only on the meat from his catches and the money made from selling the fur, which was mostly beaver, to buy other supplies for the rest of the year. For most trappers however, the money isn’t the reason they trap, but a perk from their hard earned fur.

Another benefit of trapping is outdoor recreation. One of the main reasons for that is their love for the earth and the creatures that reside there. There is nothing like knowing that you just outsmarted one of mythology’s most clever and sly creatures, the red fox. Trapping teaches respect and admiration for all of God’s animals. Most people who want to get rid of the art of trapping haven’t been beyond the pavement and smog to see the brutality; yet beauty of nature.

Like said previously, most animal rights activists think that trapping is; cruel, barbaric, inhumane…the list goes on and on, but that isn’t the truth. Modern traps, engineered with the animal in mind are the newest choice to trappers. Laminated jaws, offset jaws, in-line springs, and multiple swivels on the chain are some of animal stress reducing improvements on modern leg-holds. If you ask any trapper which one he/she would rather do, slam a finger in a door or set off a #2 fully modified leg-hold on his/her hand, it would be a hands down a trap on the finger.

Trapping is an American tradition that we should never do away with or diminish, so future generations can fully appreciate the beauty of nature and how mostt of this fine nation’s frontiers were discovered and pushed back. It is also needed to promote healthy and flourishing wildlife populations. “Any bad day of trapping beats any good day of work.” Anonymous


If I win this contest I will spend it on some 330's and more fox & coyote lure.


Edited by witrapper (06/25/07 09:30 PM)

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#238775 - 06/23/07 09:34 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: witrapper]
morrilltrapper Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 529
Loc: georgia VT
How I became a Trapper
It was fall of 2006. I was at my best friend’s Kolby’s house, tagging along with him to check his trap line. Kolby, 14, has had his trapping license a little over two years now. I, only 14, still had to get my trapping license.
When we got to the swamp he was trapping in, he loaded all of his gear off the ATV and we started trudging through the swamp. Thank goodness for the waders, otherwise we would’ve been soaked. When we got to the first beaver set, the Duke #330 did it again. Floating from the first trap was about a 45 lb male beaver. So Kolby did what he had to do and said, “Look over there towards that clump of grass.”
Lying dead in the muddy water was another beaver. This one slightly smaller, but still a beautiful animal. I was so excited for him. Since I didn’t have a trapping license, I couldn’t help, but I could supervise. Later on that day when we were back at his trapping hut, he explained to me the step-by-step process to skinning, fleshing, and stretching the beaver. It was getting late now and I told him before I left that I was going to get my license this year one way or another.
The next couple of days went by slowly, and my only thoughts were on trapping and how I couldn’t wait to trap. Well, the next day my buddy Jordan came in and handed me a paper. I looked at it and it was information about when a Trapper Education Course is being held. When I got home that night, too excited to do anything, I called and signed up right away. I got in! The course was on the 13th of January and it was only the beginning of December. The month went by fast and sooner than I thought, the trapping class was finally here. The course was all day and my friend Cylas went with me. When it was time to take to the test, I was nervous, but I passed with a 96% and Cylas with a 98%. Now that I took the course I had to wait until the next weekend to get my actual state license at a sporting/gun show.
When the next weekend came, I was so excited. I paid my way into the show and practically ran to the Vt. Fish and Wildlife display. It took me all of 5 minutes to fill the paper work out and at that very moment the warden gave me my license. I finally got what I’d been hoping to get for two years. Since I didn’t have a car, I had to wait for my father to get finished looking at the gun displays, which took all day. In a way I didn’t mind though because I love hanging out with him. When we left it was dark out, so I figured my water trap line would have to wait until tomorrow.
About 9:00 am the next day the phone rang so I picked it up and it was my friend Kolby. He asked me if I wanted any help for the first day and if course I said yes.
Around 10:00 am we entered my new trapping grounds. There was about 3” of new snow and about 3-5” of ice covering the beaver ponds. Since I did a lot of scouting in the fall, - if iguring I was going to get my trapper's license in the winter- I knew exactly where I wanted the trap to be set. I wanted a trap right near this dead maple tree because I knew by feeling the mud that they were using this run daily. It was only about 2-3’ of water also. I started chopping through the ice while Kolby was chopping limbs to support the #330 conibear. About 10 minutes later I grabbed the #330 and started setting the beast. When I was ready, Kolby taught me the easiest way to put the trap down into the water, without putting my hands down in the black, shivering water. I released the safety latches that held the trap from firing while setting, and slowly let the trap fall between the stabilizers. I felt the trap hit the bottom of the beaver run and was so relieved that it went so smoothly. Since the two sticks used to hold the trap up were thick enough and strong, there were no further sticks used to stabilize the trap. When we were finished we loaded all of the gear back on to the ATV and drove home.
We walked back into the garage to take off the hip boots -in case we were to fall through- and the rest of the winter clothing and started talking about how much we love trapping and our plans for the upcoming trapping season. My mom walked in on us to tell Kolby his mother was here to pick him up. I thanked him for all of his help and he left.
Later on that night I thought about the trap and if I would have anything come morning, and fell asleep in a deep trapping thought.
Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep. The next morning was cold, but I was too excited to do anything but check the trap. I didn’t even stop to have breakfast. I warmed the ATV up and floored it the whole way to the beaver pond. When I got there I hopped off the ATV and looked over towards the trap location and saw an unusual hump in the ice, but didn’t think much of it. I started chopping the ice away, and when I got a hole the size of a football, I stuck a stick down into the water to check the trap. I moved the stick to the front of the trap first. Nothing. I then moved the stick to the back of the trap and felt the stick bounce off the one animal I’ve been waiting to catch for the past two years. IT WAS MY FIRST BEAVER! I threw the stick up onto the ice and finished chopping the hole big enough to take the trap and beaver out. When I finally had a hole big enough, the back end of the beaver floated up. I grabbed the trap and up came the beautiful animal. It was an awesome beaver, about 50lbs. Wow! I set the trap back up and carefully lobbed the beaver on to the back rack of the ATV and hurriedly left.
When I got back to the garage I left the beaver on my bench till I got home from school to do all the rest of the work required to skin, flesh, and stretch the beaver pelt. It was the happiest day of my life yet.
Through this experience I learned that to do all of these wonderful experiences, I have to be very patient, eager to learn, but more importantly, I have to have a great mentor.
Although we trap these furbearers for their pelts, we as trappers are doing more good than bad, assuming were trapping responsibly, ethically, and humanely.
Trapper for Life, Your friend,
Robert Morrill


i'm 14.
i really think trapping is just part of who we are and if it was to go away or banned our roots in history would also be gone. if i was to win i would buy traps because i only have a couple of beaver traps and trapping is one of passions and i don't mind spending money on it. thanks for your time


Edited by morrilltrapper (07/02/07 08:45 PM)
_________________________
trapper4life
IT'S A LIFESTYLE. DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED.

beaver-10
muskrat-6
raccoon-2
otter-1
mink- 1
mice-2
myself-3

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#239146 - 06/24/07 10:18 AM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: morrilltrapper]
bearclaw Offline
trapper


Registered: 03/02/07
Posts: 367
Loc: Kansas
Well you said no length limit \:\) . (Actually, sorry it's so long, I didn't really mean it to be that way but I just kept writing and writing, sorry). (I'm 13)

“Today’s the day” I thought, “I’m going to start a real trapline!”. Let me explain the situation. There’s a kid in my class, Brian that has trapped a couple years or so. He mainly land traps and he hauled in a fair amount of bobcats and coyotes this past season. He does have a mentor who has trapped for quite some time. Now after seeing pictures of his catches and hearing him talk trapping, (which nobody else in class had any clue what he was talking about) I decided I wanted to do that. Since we have been good friends since we’ve known each other, I asked him if he would help me get into trapping. He said yes. (This was all happening around early-mid Feb.)

We have a creek behind our place so I decided to water trap. Before long I had my license and Brian is over at my place getting ready to show me the basics of trapping. So we head down on foot to the creek, which is about a 5 minute walk. Since he just wanted to show me the basics such as baiting, location, etc., we didn’t set many traps that day, only a couple Victor longspring baited sets and some 110 blind and den covering sets. Now those traps caught me my first critter ever, a possum, and my first muskrat later came in a 110 blind set. Now I hope I never forget that, but that’s not what I’m talking about at the start of my post, which is what I’ll get to now.

So while checking those traps every day after school, I noticed coon sign and a bunch of beaver sign, like chewed and debarked sticks, beaver-cut trees, and bottoms of trees where beavers had chewed. I got to thinking that since coon and beaver are here, why don’t I give it a shot at them? The next day at school I told Brian about it and he agreed. He said call him Sunday and he’ll come out and show me some sets for them. By this time I already had some beaver lure and had already bought and set ½ dozen 110’s by myself on the creek.

So…now to my story. (Re-read first sentence of story.) After lunch he came over with a big bag/packbasket full of traps, wire, lure/bait, etc., a five gal. bucket of dry dirt, a small shovel, and an old pump .22 (he wanted to bring his). By this time of the year there was a fair amount of snow on the ground and most of the creek was iced up pretty good, so he was all layered up with lots of clothes and hip waders, and it looked like it was hard for him to move. Now since I had only started trapping, and I didn’t go fishing a whole lot, I had to wear these neoprene waders from about 3 years ago that were about 4 sizes too small. If you’ve ever tried to fit in neoprene waders that are way too small, you know you aren’t going to get able to fit many clothes on underneath. About underwear, long john’s, and some socks is about all you’re going to get, so all you can do is hope the waders themselves will keep you warm (which these didn’t do too well). I took a good 5 minutes to get into these things. So Brian looked like the Michelin tire guy and I looked like a ballerina wearing tights. Great, we’re ready to go.

Usually walking to the creek is a nice, pleasant walk. That changes when you add ice and snow, 50 lbs. of equipment, 15 degrees, really tight waders, and on top of that an iced over, steep bank to get down. Well we eventually made it down and Brian spots a suitable place to make a coon pocket set.

We got over there, got out the shovel, and he starts showing me how to make a pocket set. Not too far in I feel somethings wrong. I ignore it and continue to listen. Then all of a sudden it hit me. I forgot to lock the dog up before we left and she is down here messing around. Dang! Now you’ve got to understand this dog won’t stay out of sets. No matter what you try, or what I try anyway. You just can’t really have her on the trapline. I explained this to Brian and we were really left with no choice but to take her back to the house. I suggested I take her back while he finishes the set.

So not 10 minutes later after getting to the creek I was headed back home. Now getting back up the bank is one thing, but getting this darned dog to follow you is another. Finally getting up there I locked her up in the garage. Then I thought “well since I’m here I mina as well warm up for a minute”. So I emptied the little pocket I had in my waders and went inside. Not too long later I made it back down to the creek and Brian was just finishing up and getting ready to put a trap in. So he pulls out a trap and a roll of 16 ga. Wire to wire the trap to a drag (which was a big long log). He gets the length he wants and asks for the wire cutters. Now before we started out he said he didn’t have any, so I grabbed a pair of ours. I reach for my pocket and nothing is there. Great I left them on the counter in the garage. “Well I’m not going to back to get them” I said. “Neither am I” Brain said.

So being the problem solver he is, Brian suggested that we just bend the wire until it breaks. Sounded good to me. So there we are bending wire back and forth until it breaks. It actually worked faster then I thought. So we set the trap, wired it, and were ready to move on.

Now understand that part of my trapline was on this stretch of the creek about 30 yards long or so, and you had to bug the bank if you were walking in the water. The bank was pretty much vertical, and in most places was about 8 or so feet tall to the top of the water, and about another 3 feet deep in water. Well there were quite a few holes in the stretch that I thought to be muskrat holes, so I thought I couldn’t pass it up so I set some 110’s over some of them and that became part of my trapline.

Anyway, since it had been somewhat snowy that past couple weeks, that stretch was frozen. But it was the frozen that you couldn’t walk on or it would break, but you also couldn’t easily break it with your hand or a club as you walked (especially when you were carrying a gun in one hand). So what you had to do was just kind of part-step up on the ice in front of you with one foot and it’d easily break, usually in a big chunk so you could walk a ways before you had to do it again. I decided this wasn’t that big of a deal so I did it almost every day running the line.

I explained how to do it to Brian, so we went on and attempted it. Well let me just say that the night before must have been a little colder than the previous nights, because that ice sure wasn’t breaking like it had for me before. This ice was sort of cracked when you stepped on it, but usually broke when you got on it with 2 feet. As you can probably guess, we for some weird reason decided to go ahead and go this way, instead of just turning around a short little way and walking up on the bank and going that way.

All I will say is that we probably looked like little rabbits jumping up and down you an observer. We’d climb up on the ice and about a second or so later the ice would break and we’d plop back down. Then walk a little bit, get back up on it, drop back down and so on. I can say that it probably took us 30 minutes to go that little 30 yard stretch, but if we would’ve just went up on the bank, it would’ve taken us 2 minutes. By the time we were done with that we were dog tired and starting to get pretty dang cold, and it was also starting to get dark.

So we made it out of there and we kind of rest for a while, which just made us colder. After that Brian looks around for a while. Now he’s never trapped beaver before but he had an idea. So we found a nearby stump that had been recently chewed down by a beaver. He pulled out 2 Montana #3 baseplated, laminated, 4 coiled traps (biggest he had then I think). Then he said we were going to find a big tree log, place it about the width of the Montana trap away form the stump, take some little sticks, strip them of their bark, and tie them to the stump, put two traps between the log and the stump, and put lure on the sticks/stump. The beaver would smell the lure, walk between the stump and log and get caught.

Well we got it all set up, which included about 5 minutes of bending wire as fast as we could with numb hands. We got the trap all wired up securely and it was now really starting to get dark, so we decide to head home.

Since the ice was already broke in that stretch, we decided to go through the water again. Easy this time, no problem. After we passed that we came by a hollow log that appeared to house a furbearer. He had a 160 so we put that in front of it. Now this time the wire wouldn’t break and if we waited too much longer then we’d be walking home in pitch dark. So instead Brian wired it and left the whole entire roll of wire there, which he later said I could have.

We finally got back, as numb and stiff as a bone, went inside up to my room and talked about the Kansas Furharvester test as we thawed out. My dad later took him home.

Well the beaver and the 160 set never produced, but I caught my first ever coon the pocket set he made. I was really happy. And let me tell you that that coon gained 5 lbs about every 10 seconds I carried it up the bank and back home. I later took it to Brian’s house where he showed me how to skin and flesh it. The coon wasn’t worth much because I accidentally shot it through the side/back where it left two holes in the prime parts, but that doesn’t matter to me.

So there’s my story. Brian’s father passed away from lung cancer that December. This next season I hope to trap some coyotes and maybe even a bobcat.

Trapping is ethical and important in the ecosystem. If I win I would spend it on some coyote trapping videos to help me get started in coyote trapping, as well as a couple coyote lures and urine, etc.

Again, sorry it was so long. I tried to write in it a way to keep you interested. Thank you to everyone who made this contest possible.

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#241509 - 06/26/07 04:20 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: bearclaw]
mink2 Offline
trapper


Registered: 04/30/07
Posts: 1513
Loc: kentucky
(I'm 11)

Mink-Mustela Vison
Order-carnivora
Family-Mustelidae

Most shades of mink are chocolate to almost black with a white patch of fur under the chin. males have a territory of about 20 miles. mink kill a variety of food species including fish, muskrat, crawfish, frogs, rabbits, and many more speceis. muskrats seem to be thier prefered food, because they are preyed with regarlitty. Mink are preyed upon by owls, fox coyotes bobcats and dogs. atractors are fresh fish, fresh Muskrat meat, fresh rabbit, and comercial lures.Good traps are 110 conibears,#1,#1 1/2 in all most foothold traps.110's are the most popular.wild mink pelts make up about 10% of the mink fur trade, 90% is from ranched furs.
other facts:
mink are related to weasels
mink can climb trees
mink have musk wich is also harvested


Edited by mink2 (06/26/07 07:05 PM)
Edit Reason: age
_________________________
as a martian I pick lime green for my country men. even thou we come from a red planet. odd isn't it? o well

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#241511 - 06/26/07 04:23 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: mink2]
mink2 Offline
trapper


Registered: 04/30/07
Posts: 1513
Loc: kentucky
I would like to purchase several footholds and conibears and a packbasket also lures. thankyou for setting up this contest.I hope I win.

Edited by mink2 (07/05/07 08:40 PM)
_________________________
as a martian I pick lime green for my country men. even thou we come from a red planet. odd isn't it? o well

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#241524 - 06/26/07 04:34 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: bearclaw]
cooner girl Offline
trapper


Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 9
Loc: Saline county Mo.
Hi I am 10 years old. I caught my first coon in a live set trap. My bait was a banana peel. When I was on the porch I was so excited when I saw the door was down. I went down to the garden were my trap was. When I was down there I saw the raccoon. I went up to my house to tell my dad I caught a raccoon. After that my dad and me went down to the garden to take some pictures. My dad let the raccoon go after that Because it was a heathy female. He let it go because it could be helpful in the trapping season. Why I trap-I trap to make money to get more traps so I can make more money to get food because we do not have a lot of money to buy a lot of food. People that helped me to get this coon-My dad,my brother,my mom,and my self mostly.



_________________________
daughter of trapper

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#243578 - 06/28/07 01:06 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: cooner girl]
levi Offline
trapper


Registered: 01/27/07
Posts: 15
Loc: vandalia il
hi im 13 im going to write about my coon trapping this last thanksgiving weekend. me and my dad usaly trap together but he was busy this weekend with stuff to get done so i figured i would take my gradpa along. the first night i only got in 4 sets 2 pockets and 2 pvc pipe sets. so next morning we got up and checked them we noticed a slight freeze we got to the first set and nothing. i got to my last set which was a pocket coming out of a small crick and we had a coon a muudy mess. so i remade that set and took him to the four wheeler. i grabed some traps and stakes and head off to put more traps in i ended up putting in a few more traps just pvc sets and lured them up with my homeade lure and headed home. the next day i had a big coon in my pvc set and another in a pvc .i caught these two in my last couple of stets so i pulled my first 4 sets the next day was my last day i caught 3 and that was it for that weekend.my grandpa was really impressed with my work.
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#245872 - 06/30/07 02:56 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: levi]
Eagle eyes Offline
trapper


Registered: 06/17/07
Posts: 3
Loc: Utah
Hi my name is Steven. I am 9 years old. I want to trap a lot..I love to trap and hunt with my Dad. I enjoy trapping , hunting, and scouting. I just got my hunters safety, and can’t wait to start trapping on my own. If I win the money, I will spend it on traps, skinning knives, bait and lure, scraper, and stretching boards. But I would buy cat traps most of all. The animals I want to trap the most are bobcat , fox and coons. I have entered a contest before. I am going to tell a story and tell about a project I did in school about bobcats.

Last year I went to check my Dads fox traps with him. Once we got around the corner, I could see a fox moving around in the trap from pretty far away. I started screaming “Dad look there’s a fox, there’s a fox!” “Dad we caught a fox! We caught a fox!” I was really excited we had a fox , it was the fist fox I had seen. When we got home I watched my Dad skin it.

One day I came home from school and told my dad we are having a project at school about Utah animals, and I chose the bobcat. I told how my Dad traps bobcats and other animals. I told about the habitat, what it eats, how it catches its prey, its predators, what color it is, and that it has a really pretty coat of fur. I got an A on my project. I learned a lot about the bobcat, and it was really fun except the writing part.

Thank for the opportunity to do this, hope I win and thanks again.



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#247821 - 07/02/07 04:29 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: Andy S]
ZachAttack Offline
trapper


Registered: 01/01/07
Posts: 937
Loc: Goodlettsville, Tennessee
Zach Hall: Age: 14

My entry is about the importance of being politicaly envolved with trapping!!


Dear Reader,

Through this post I would like to incourage many trappers to become politcally active with trapping. I would like to exsplain the importance of being active in creating and managing trapping Bill in our Nations legislator.


First off I would like to say that here recently there have been ( at least ) 8 trapping reforms in our legislator. One of them I have posted below.



H.R. 1691: To end the use of conventional steel-jawed leghold traps on animals in the United States
HR 1691 IH


110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1691
To end the use of conventional steel-jawed leghold traps on animals in the United States.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


March 26, 2007

Mrs. LOWEY (for herself, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Ms. BERKLEY, and Mr. MCNULTY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Foreign Affairs, and Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A BILL
To end the use of conventional steel-jawed leghold traps on animals in the United States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Inhumane Trapping Prevention Act'.


SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY.

It is the policy of the United States to end the needless maiming and suffering inflicted upon animals through the use of conventional steel-jawed leghold traps by prohibiting the import or export of, and the shipment in interstate commerce of, such traps and of articles of fur from animals that were trapped in such traps.


SEC. 3. PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES.

(a) Prohibited Acts- It shall be unlawful for any person--

(1) to import, export, or transport in interstate commerce an article of fur, if any part or portion of such article is derived from an animal that was trapped in a conventional steel-jawed leghold trap;

(2) to import, export, deliver, carry, or transport by any means whatever, in interstate commerce, any conventional steel-jawed leghold trap;

(3) to sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any conventional steel-jawed leghold trap that was delivered, carried, or transported in violation of paragraph (2); or

(4) to violate any rule made by the Secretary under this Act.

(b) Penalties- Whoever knowingly violates subsection (a) shall, in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed--

(1) for the first such violation, be imprisoned for not more than 5 days or fined under title 18, United States Code, or both; and

(2) for each subsequent violation, be imprisoned for not more than two years or fined under title 18, United States Code, or both.


SEC. 4. REWARDS.

(a) General Rule- The Secretary shall pay, to any person who furnishes information which leads to a conviction of a violation of any provision of this Act or any rule made under this Act, an amount equal to one-half of the fine paid pursuant to the conviction.

(b) Exception- Any officer or employee of the United States or of any State or local government who furnishes information or renders service in the performance of his or her official duties is not eligible for payment under this section.


SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT.

(a) In General- Except with respect to violations of this Act to which subsection (b) applies, this Act and any rules made under this Act shall be enforced by the Secretary, who may utilize by agreement, with or without reimbursement, the personnel, services, and facilities of any other Federal agency or any State agency for purposes of enforcing this Act and such rules.

(b) Import and Export Violations-

(1) IMPORT VIOLATIONS- The importation of articles in violation of section 3(a) shall be treated as a violation of the customs laws of the United States, and those provisions of law relating to violations of the customs laws of the United States shall apply thereto.

(2) EXPORT VIOLATIONS- The authorities under the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.) (as continued in effect under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act), including penalties, shall be used to enforce the provisions of this Act relating to the export of articles in violation of section 3(a).

(c) Enforcement Authorities- Any person having authority to enforce this Act (except with respect to violations to which subsection (b) applies), may, in exercising such authority--

(1) detain for inspection, search, and seize any package, crate, or other container, including its contents, and all accompanying documents, if such individual has reasonable cause to suspect that in such package, crate, or other container are articles with respect to which a violation of this Act (except with respect to a violation to which subsection (b) applies) has occurred, is occurring, or is about to occur;

(2) make arrests without a warrant for any violation of this Act (except with respect to a violation to which subsection (b) applies) committed in his or her presence or view, or if the individual has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such a violation; and

(3) execute and serve any arrest warrant, search warrant, or other warrant or criminal process issued by any judge or magistrate of any court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of this Act (except with respect to violations to which subsection (b) applies).

(d) Forfeiture-

(1) GENERAL RULE- Except with respect to exports to which the provisions of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2401 et seq.) (as continued in effect under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act) apply, and imports to which the customs laws of the United States apply, pursuant to subsection (b), any article of fur or conventional steel-jawed leghold trap taken, possessed, sold, purchased, offered for sale or purchase, imported, exported, transported, delivered, received, carried, or shipped in violation of this Act or any rule made under this Act, shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States. Those provisions of law relating to--

(A) the seizure, summary and judicial forfeiture, and condemnation of property for violations of the customs laws of the United States,

(B) the disposition of such property or the proceeds from the sale thereof,

(C) the remission or mitigation of such forfeitures, and

(D) the compromise of claims,

shall apply to seizures and forfeitures incurred, or alleged to have been incurred, under the provisions of this subsection, insofar as applicable and not inconsistent with this Act.

(2) ENFORCEMENT- Such duties as are imposed upon the customs officer or any other person with respect to the seizure and forfeiture of property under the customs laws of the United States may be performed with respect to seizures and forfeitures of property under this subsection by the Secretary or such officers and employees as may be authorized or designated for that purpose by the Secretary, or, upon the request of the Secretary, by any other agency that has authority to manage and dispose of seized property.

(e) Injunctions- The Attorney General of the United States may seek to enjoin any person who is alleged to be in violation of this Act or any rule made under this Act.

(f) Cooperation- The Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the head of any other department or agency with enforcement responsibilities under this Act shall cooperate with the Secretary in ensuring that this Act, and rules made under this Act, are enforced in the most effective and efficient manner.


SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) The term `article of fur' means--

(A) any furskin (as such term is used under Note 1 of chapter 43 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States), including any raw furskin classified under heading 4301 of such Schedule; or

(B) any article, however produced, that consists in whole or part of any such furskin.

(2) The term `conventional steel-jawed leghold trap' means any spring-powered pan or sear-activated device with two opposing steel jaws, whether the jaws are smooth, toothed, padded, or offset, which is designed to capture an animal by snapping closed upon the animal's limb or part thereof.

(3) The term `customs laws of the United States' means any other law or regulation enforced or administered by the United States Customs Service.

(4) The term `import' means to land on, bring into, or introduce into, any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, whether or not such landing, bringing, or introduction constitutes an entry into the customs territory of the United States.

(5) The term `interstate commerce' has the meaning given such term in section 10 of title 18, United States Code.

(6) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior.


SEC. 7. RULEMAKING.

The Secretary may make rules to carry out this Act.


SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act shall take effect one year after the date of its enactment.


This Bill thankfully has not past as to my knowledge but just the thought of this Bill and Bills like this being in our Legislator is scary! It is not our right or our privelage but our duty as American citzens to say that Bills like this our against everything America has stood for. We need to insure that the next generation can enjoy trapping as we have done and ( Do it legally CharlesK ) Ha Ha. Fur to many trappers mean food on the table or gas in the car not just a near family picture. For some trappers fur is just another year of long lining. To kids like me fur is a rare but delightful encounter and as the years goes by and we practice more fur becomes more plentiful. How much does fur mean to you?? Is it worth your time to right a few letters, Emails or make a few phone calls or sign wave for an afternoon?? It is to me and I know it is to many others I hope it is worth it to you. Please get involved politically and ensure trapping will be there for the next Generation. Thanks Zach

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#248818 - 07/03/07 03:40 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: Andy S]
J_Williams Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/31/06
Posts: 152
Loc: Smith co. Tennessee
I am Jamie Williams and i am 15 ,and this is why i trap.

I trap for a number reasons and here are a few. The number one reason is because its fun. Out of all the things i do trapping has to be the funnest. Nothing beats getting up on a cold November mourning anticipated to see what i have caught. Only to get there ,and instead of catching a pesky raccoon i see that there is a brown fluffy mink at the bottom of the drowning wire. Or at the end of the season when I see all of my prized pelts lined up at a fur sale waiting to be sold. I get a feeling of completeness inside me.
The second reason I trap is its like a heritage to me. When my dad was my age he trapped during the 80's fur boom. Hearing stories of his adventures is probably what made me want to trap.
My dad quit trapping when he turned 16 or 17 but now that I have started trapping he goes with me on the line and sets traps with me.
The last reason i trap is because i want to play my part in conservation. Conservation is key to the survival of fur bearers. Because I trap a few fur bearing animals out of a said location it gives other animals in that same location a better chance at surviving. and because that habitat is not overrunning with fur bearers there's a less likely chance to spread disease.
Those at the main three reasons i trap.
_________________________
Jamie Williams

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#249711 - 07/04/07 11:37 AM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: Andy S]
SalinaKSCooner Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 312
Loc: Salina Kansas
Well since I already had this written I figured I might as well enter it.


Jake Werner 15
Urban Sprawl

Urban Sprawl has a tremendous affect on all aspects of trapping, From the furbearers to the trapping grounds. Not all trappers are affected by this at the moment, but in the near future we all could be in trouble.

Urban sprawl is the spreading of cities over rural land. Every year around 1 million acres of agricultural land is bulldozed to make way for homes and roadways. That’s 1 million acres taken away from the hundreds of millions of animals that used to call that land home. Where do the animals go? Some stay and adapt to the changes made making houses anywhere possible. But some animals cannot adapt. These animals either die or move. Moving causes many problems. The land that they move to is most likely already populated with other animals and cannot support more. But with no other place to go they are forced to find homes among the other animals. This is dangerous because if an area is overpopulated, it cannot supply the resources needed to provide for all the animals. With all the animals so crowded it also promotes diseases that can be fatal.
Urban Sprawl will also affect the animals that are not living on land that’s being destroyed. It affects them by causing fragmentation, which is breaking up the rural land into smaller disconnected pieces. This makes it difficult for some animals to locate feeding grounds and water sources without coming into contact with humans. Fragmentation also affects some species that need large areas to maintain a steady population.

Urban sprawl also affects the environment around it. Things like runoff water pollution, and air pollution caused by the long commute to work and home.

All of these factors affect trappers in one way or another. Overpopulation of furbearers might produce good numbers for 1 maybe 2 years but after that the population will start to decline due to starvation and disease which will end in little to no profit or catching animals damaged by diseases like mange. For some animals it will have smaller affects to there trappers. Raccoons can adapt to the city life so they would be able to continue living easier than most animals. It might also open up jobs for trappers. With all the new residential areas popping up on top of the animals old homes, some may make refuge in the houses made or maybe a barn or garage. This will cause problems with the house owners and they will want the nuisance animal removed. The animals that moved might have to resort to killing farm animals because of shortage of food, so the farmers would want them gone.

Although urban sprawl does have some benefits, its destruction heavily outweighs all the good things. If we continue to destroy habitat and force the animals to bunch together, it could be the downfall of the common trapper. It’s a horrible thing to think about but it is possible if urban sprawl continues.




Here are the stories of a few of my first catches and some pictures. Along with a satellite image.

First Catches

First Raccoon

It was my first year trapping and I had just gotten permission to trap a creek by my house. The only traps I had were my dads old traps from awhile back. He had a few footholds and a few conibears. The footholds were too rusted to use so I had him show me how to set the conibears. I had seen him set a bucket set before so that was about all I knew how to do with conibears. So I drove down to the creek and found a few spots that I thought were good. I set three by den trees and two on the edge of the wheat field. That night seemed like it lasted forever. When morning finally came I hurried and got dressed to check the traps so I could make the school bus. I drove the four wheeler to the same spot and got off to see what I had caught. The first three sets had nothing. I was a little depressed as I walked up to the fourth set by a den tree. I looked and noticed that the conibear was set off. I couldn’t believe that whatever I had caught had gotten out. I took a closer look and realized that I had left the latches on the springs. I was so mad that I had missed that animal that I almost forgot to check the last trap. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway because it was empty. On the way back to the 4-wheeler, I remembered to make sure all the latches were off. The rest of the day dragged on until school got out and I finely went to bed. The next morning I woke up but I wasn’t quite as excited because I didn’t think I was going to catch anything anyway. So I drove to check the traps and the first two both had possums. I was glad that I had caught something but still mad because they weren’t worth anything. The next two traps were empty and I wasn’t looking forward to making the long walk to check the last sat. Good thing I did because it held my first raccoon. I was so excited that I almost forgot to take a picture.

The rest of that year was successful because I borrowed a few traps from my friend and joined Trapperman and learned some new sets. I ended up taking 9 raccoons and more possums than I can count. It was a great first season and I wasn’t ready for it to end.

First Bobcat

All summer after my first season I was setting goals for myself. I ended up saying that I was going to catch 20 raccoons and a bobcat. I purchased more traps for coon and bobcat and got them all ready for next season.

When November 15 came around I was more than ready to start trapping. I made around 10 coon sets and 3 or 4 cat sets. The first week produced 6 raccoons and I was thrilled that my research over the Internet was paying off. But I still had yet to catch a bobcat. I redid my sets the next day and awaited my catch for the following day. I woke up before my alarm even went off because I was so excited to check my traps that day. I checked the first two cat sets only to find nothing even touched them. Then when I got to the last one I noticed that there was a set of tracks that had to be close to the trap. I took a closer look and they were cat tracks! Then I thought to myself that it had to have stepped almost directly on the pan. So I got a stick and pushed down where the pan was, and nothing happened. So I brushed the dirt off and found out that dirt was under the pan keeping it from firing. That’s when I realized that I forgot to use pan covers on all of my cat sets. Then I spent the next 15 minutes redoing my sets. I was really disappointed but remembered that I still had all my coon sets to check. I walked along and checked my bucket sets along the milo stubble. They were all empty until I got to the last one. POSSUM. I was a little mad because of the possum and went over to reset it when I heard chain rattling. Then I remembered that I had set a pvc set the night before. So I turned around only to see my first bobcat starring at me from about 5 feet behind me. I was stunned that I had caught it in a 1.5, and even more stunned that I had completely missed it. I had to have walked within 3 feet of it. The possum didn’t seem so bad anymore. I was so thrilled with the bobcat that I almost forgot that I had over half of my coon sets still to check. I ended up the day with catching 2 possums 2 coons and a bobcat. That was by far my most productive day this season.

First Coyote

About a month after catching the bobcat I had met both goals I set by catching a bobcat and 21 coon. At that point I was trying to catch another cat and try to get as many coon as I could before I moved all my sets to a new spot on the river that I had gained permission on. At that point in time the thought of catching a coyote had never even crossed my mind. I still had 2 cat sets and 9 coon sets. I had checked the last two days and had caught nothing so I figured that I would move them the next day so that area wouldn’t be over trapped and I could trap it again next year. So I woke up the next morning and pulled all my coon sets, which were empty. Then I went up to pull my 2 cat sets along the milo. As soon as I got up the creek bank I spotted a coyote running through the milo. I was thinking to myself that I had missed it in one of my sets. I began to second guess pulling the 2 cat sets but I dint want to have to drive here every day to check only 2 sets. Then I continued on to pull the sets and that’s when I saw something jumping up and down. It was another coyote! But this one was caught in one of my cat sets. Even though it wasn’t a cat I was still just as excited. Then I realized that I should have made a gang set and I might have caught both of them. But I was happy enough with one.

First Snare Catch

Near the end of the season and I had caught 27 coon, a bobcat, and a coyote and I had pulled all my traps from the river. I wanted to try some new things since the season was almost over. I decided to set a few more traps at the creek by my house in places where I hadn’t trapped yet. So the next day I loaded up a few things on the four-wheeler and drove to the creek. I got off at the bridge and decided to start there. As soon as I got down to the water I knew exactly where my first set was going to be. There was a trail that you couldn’t miss. I thought that it would be a perfect place to set a snare. So I did it exactly how my friend showed me and moved on to make a few more sets. I ended up making 1 more snare set and 2 pockets sets, with a new bait and lure, before I got to familiar ground. I decided to quit and call it a day. I thought that since the season was almost over I wouldn’t be as anxious for the next day, but I was wrong. I could hardly fall asleep. But finally morning came. I could only spare enough time to eat breakfast. Then I left the house to check to see what I had caught. I got there and checked the first one and noticed that it was knocked over. I was happy that I had picked a good location, but a little irritated that I had missed it and it might not come back. But I soon forgot about that when my next pocket set held a nice raccoon. The other two sets were untouched. I was still determined to catch something in a snare before the season ended, so I set two more. The next day I didn’t have school so I stayed up late trying to find info on snaring. I found some and decided that if I didn’t catch anything in the morning I would reset all of them according to the info I found. I finally went to sleep and awaited morning. I woke up ate breakfast and got dressed to go check. That’s when I noticed that we had gotten 6 inches of snow overnight. I was happy that we had gotten snow, but mad that it would make the coon stay denned up. I was really hoping that I had caught something today because if I didn’t I probably would have to pull them before the snow was gone. This time I got on the four-wheeler and made the slow ride to the creek. One because there was a lot of snow on the road, and two because there was quite a wind chill. I got there and started out to check my first snare. I could tell right away that the snare was either knocked over or I had caught something because I couldn’t see it. Then I figured that it was knocked over because if I had caught something I would be able to see it. Then I noticed the tight snare cable leading under snow covered tree roots. I dug through the snow a little with my trowel and found a small raccoon tangled in the tree roots. It took me forever to get it untangled so I could see my prize. Then I went on and pulled the rest of my traps, which were empty.

With this last coon I ended the season with 29 coon, 1 bobcat, and a coyote. It is my best season yet. I will never forget this stretch of creek. It provided me with quality trapping, and hunting for many years. It also provided me with all of my first catches. I am lucky to have permission and lucky to be located so close to this awesome land!




Satellite Image of Trapping Ground



1.This is the location of my first raccoon. It was caught where a well used trail met a wheat field. It was caught in a 220 bucket set baited with a tuna and corn mixture.


2.This is the location of my first cat catch. It was caught where 2 trails cross on a milo field. It was caught by the back foot with a 1.5 cs used in a pvc set. The bait was Red O’Hearns coon bait.


3. This is the location of my first coyote. It was caught on a trail where the milo and wheat border. It was caught in a #2 fully modified Montgomery cs. I was using bobcat urine and Badlands Bob lure.


4. The location of my first snare catch. It was a coon caught on a narrow trail leading under the bridge. It was caught in a snare that I made myself.


The last two years have taught me a lot about trapping and why so many people do it. It’s not about the money you get from the furs, but the time that you spend outdoors and not in front of the TV. You also gain a lot of wisdom through trial and error with sets, lures, baits, traps ect. In addition to wisdom, you learn to greater know and appreciate the brutal, but beautiful outdoors. The last two years have gotten me addicted to trapping for life.

My friend and I are going to try and run a long trapline using all kinds of traps, so I would use the money to buy 500 foot of snare cable, and snare making supplies, and maybe a snaring book or video. Any leftover would go towards lure and a packbasket.

P.S. Thanks to all the people who set this up and donated money. You do not know what this means to us young trappers.



Edited by SalinaKSCooner (07/04/07 11:47 AM)

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#249782 - 07/04/07 01:03 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: SalinaKSCooner]
ZachAttack Offline
trapper


Registered: 01/01/07
Posts: 937
Loc: Goodlettsville, Tennessee
WOW!! Very GOOD!!!!! YOU beat me hands down!!!!
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#252436 - 07/07/07 08:00 AM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: ZachAttack]
ZachAttack Offline
trapper


Registered: 01/01/07
Posts: 937
Loc: Goodlettsville, Tennessee
Noah's first furbearer!

Author: Noah Age:9

Before hand note: My brother wrote this to enter in to the contest. He is 9. He is using my username to enter it if that is ok. THANKS AGAIN.

It was on a cold December afternoon of 2006 when I set a trap in a hollow stump on our 5 acre farm. I used my brothers homeade. I covered the trap with some leaves. A couple trap checks later I found a possom in my trap!!!

What trapping means to me.

Trapping to me is a way to feel like the people in 1800's did!

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#254332 - 07/09/07 11:49 AM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: Andy S]
trapper32 Offline
trapper


Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 24
Loc: NW Iowa
Curtis Hayes, Age 16


Every one of us has encountered the feeling. It’s something in which we wait for so long, but are only able to enjoy for so short of a time. We try to cherish the precious time, but it ticks away before we can register all the joy and pleasure. Then, as waking up the morning after the season, reality pancakes our face and the memories replay over and over again. What could we have done better? Why didn’t I try this set there? Just as a kid after Christmas Day, anticipation starts to build and the countdown begins for the next year. For now all we can do is reflect on the memories, the stories that we only wish could become reality once again.
Yesterday was the first day of the season, the day when the trap setting began. This year my first traps were set at Mr. Moeller’s property. Not only was he overjoyed to see a young man trapping as he did when he was younger, but also those niggling beavers that were destroying his newly planted trees would finally be gone. Walking down to the creek that brisk morning, the cool November air stung the insides of my nostrils with the sweet smell of harvest. The sun was sneaking over the horizon to the east, and the sound of the creek rippling around the cut bank filled my ears. Because of limited time, I scooted down the creek setting traps in the spots that showed signs of furbearers. Eventually it became time to leave paradise and once again face reality. I would have to wait for tomorrow to see what those dozen traps would produce, if anything. I could feel it, the anticipation building, the rush growing, the day was near. These were the memories never to be forgotten.
I awakened early that morning, almost as if I had never fallen asleep and just fallen into a slight daze for the night. When I felt the cool water against my hip boots, I knew I would not go home empty handed for today was the day, the day never to be forgotten. I walked the trap line that morning with my heart pumping and my mind racing. After every catch these emotions became more intense. I reached my truck with three muskrats and two beavers in hand, not bad for a dozen traps I decided. I tried to register every moment, every detail. Why couldn’t this feeling last forever? Tomorrow I would set the rest of my fifty traps at other various properties, but now it was time to go home and show my family what I’d accomplished; how far I had come from a year ago when trapping was a foreign affair to me. Gathering knowledge from books and the internet, I had become a trapper. I had reached success with my emotions at their peak; a feeling like this cannot be described.
The indescribable feeling does not come from how many animals I harvest in general. It comes from how many animals I harvest humanely that otherwise would have died from starvation and disease, how many times ole’ Mr. Moeller will smile when he sees more than just tree stumps around his creek, how many times Mr. Van Ravensway will grin when he doesn’t have to go outside in the dead of winter to scoop the beaver chewed corn stocks from his culvert, or how many times Mr. Denooy will be thankful that the quarter acre of beans along the creek is not eaten by muskrats like last year. It’s wondering what will be in your traps the next morning, and your hearting pounding against your chest when you find out. To simply put it, that is why these are the days never to be forgotten.

A day's catch


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#254392 - 07/09/07 01:08 PM Re: Kids Contest: Rules/Judges/Etc: (Updated Version) [Re: trapper32]
ZachAttack