A. M.  March 6, 2012

Slept in.  I guess as I get older my body just can’t take the stess of setting a few traps and going like gang-busters in the swamp like I could in my younger days.  I wanted to be on the road by 7:30 today, but right now it’s 6:45 and there is no way possible for me to be out of here in 45 minutes.  I have not even had a cup of coffee yet.

The wind blew hard last night, you know what that means to the rats.

Goal of the day:  Pull the traps I have been tending on the Trellis line and get them re-set on Big Spring.  So, I will park on the Trellis, drive to the far end of the line and pull traps as I progress back toward the truck.  Then load up, drive to the Big Spring parking area and check from Stein sets out to the end of the Big Spring line as far as we got yesterday and then begin setting the traps I pulled from the Trellis line.  If there is enough time left, I will check the Goose Club line.  If not, they will get checked tomorrow.

The weather is calling for rain today and snow tonight and tomorrow.  Lots of winds upwards of 35 mph.

Talking with Bob last night, we are planning on pulling out of Petes and setting the Club 41 line no later than next Tuesday March 13.  Between now and then I have to contact them and get a key to the gate.  I also need to call Doris and make sure she leaves the loaded shotgun behind the kitchen door.

Rat catch expected today….20.

Bears Butt

P.M. Report

The day started warm with no breeze as I headed to the end of the Trellis line to start pulling those traps.  An hour later, back at the truck, the wind was blowing about 10 mph and the temp had dropped 10 degrees.  I headed for the west lines.

Wanting to get those traps reset, I checked the Big Spring line out to where Wapiti and I had ended yesterday and then began to set the 21 or so traps I had to put in there.  I could have set 100 easily if the weather had cooperated.  But as it was the wind continued to get stronger and stronger to a point my hat kept blowing off.  The temp also dropped another 20 degrees and by the time I set the last trap I was ready for some warmth.

The three ponds that Stein and I set went like this:  Little pond..2 traps..no rats.  Big pond..2 traps..2 rats.  Stein pond…2 traps…no rats.

I did not get out to the Goose Club line to check any traps today.  The total catch for the day was 12 with 6 other set off traps.

It was blowing snow when I left the line today and the winds must have been 40 or maybe even 50 mph.  I don’t think there will be much rat activity tonight.

Bears Butt