A.M. March 22, 2012

This is the next to the last day of trapping for this year for this kid.  What with 55 traps on Petersons and 21 traps at Doris’ pond, I expect to catch about 15 rats today.

Bob and I figure if we could each catch 30 or more rats each in the next two days, our total rat count would go over 700.  Wouldn’t that be nice?

My thoughts on it are this…I’m tired of trapping and my honey do list is getting longer and longer.  If I want to do any fishing this year I had best get started on that list.

Back to trapping.  Usually a new line will net the trapper 25-50% on the first night.  I caught 20 yesterday on a 54 trap line.  I did set one more colony trap on that line yesterday, so I am checking 55 traps today.  My expectations for that line today is 10.  Half of yesterdays catch.  Any more than that will be bonus rats in my opinion.

As for Doris’ pond.  Well, I figured there were about 10 rats there when I looked it over the day I set it.  I have already caught 12 and so, there couldn’t be more than maybe 3 or 4 left to catch.  If I catch 3 today there I will consider myself very lucky.

So to say a 15 rat day for me today is more than what I really expect to catch.  We will see.

I’m headed out fairly early, but have plans for this afternoon.  Part of the honey do list you know.  When you think about a trap line and take everything into consideration, today is sort of a day of leisure.  Only 76 traps to check on two lines.  No traps to pull.  A beautiful drive out in the country where most people don’t go.  A wonderful spring day ahead.  Weather near 70 degrees, what better day for a trapper?

Bears Butt

P.M. Report

A beautiful day it was.  The only thing that wasn’t what was expected was the catch rate.  I could go into a long story, but then you would just thumb your nose and say, “He don’t know nuttin”!

The 55 traps kicked out a whole 6 rats today and no additional ones set off.  Did I catch all the rats in one night?  Well not quite, but add the six I got today and maybe I have caught them all from Petersons place.

Doris’ pond was a clean “nothing”!  The pond water is nice and clear and so, I think I have caught all the pesky little buggers from there.  She will be happy about that.  I did find a run that had a bit of mud in the bottom of it.  Was it mud made by a rat or a duck?  Tomorrow will tell.

All my traps will be pulled tomorrow.  Bob is going to stretch his season out until Sunday and then pull his.  Speaking of Bob, his catch for the day was 8!

Bears Butt