About three years ago I was water trapping on a Army Corps Of Engineers Management Area, This place is so strict that It doesnt get a lot of Hunting and hardly any trapping pressure. Its located on the headwaters of the Pearl River in Mississippi.This January morning it was about 30 degrees with a little ice in some places My main target animal was Otter, but I was setting for coon,mink and beaver also. I was making a blind set on the high side of a beaver dam where I had found some mink tacks. My #11 was drowner rigged to a stake in about 3 ft. of water. The trap had about 1" water over the pan. It was a beautiful set bound to catch the next critter that came throgh,It was staked strong in case an otter got in it. While admiring this set I notice a small twig inside the jaws and decided to get it out of there, Snap!!!!! The little trap had me by my right three fingers, Of course the drowning lock was slid as far toward the deep stake as it would go. My trusty pliers were in a sheath on my right side. At first I thought I would just man up and break the wire.WRONG. about that time a heard ATV engines, seconds later the only two duck hunters on the whole 6000 acres pulled up for a chat. I quickly bent over and acted quite busy ,The asked what I was trapping and I gave a short answer, They took the hint and said well we hope you catch all them egg eatin b@#$$%s. After they left I manage to twist my utility belt around enough to get my plyers and free myself. The duck hunters would been more than happy to release me,and I would have been the laughing stock of the county. I knew from years of experience that the #11 was a strong trap, This experience served to strengthen my cnfidence in its holding ability.
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Its not the miles that killin me, Its all them stops I made.
