Horses have been fed, the rig cleaned out “good enough” and loaded up for the beginning of the 2013 trapping season.  Todays temperature is right at 41 degrees and the snow is melting fast…I love it!  Out at the trapping properties it might even be warmer than it is here and I sure hope so.  Yesterdays reconnoiter trip sure didn’t have me feeling all that comfortable about starting trapping tomorrow.

So, what all is involved with getting ready to trap?  First off you have to have some traps.  You have to have a basic plan.  You have to make sure all the vital fluids in your rig(s) are up and ready.  Trespass permission and trap use permission slips have to be signed and on your person.  A few shells for the 22 pistol needs to be on hand, as well as the 22 itself.  Your hip boots need to be inspected for cracks and any holes repaired.  Shoulder length rubber gloves need to be packed and don’t forget the cloth gloves you need to put on before you slip the rubber gloves on.  Plenty of warm layer clothing needs to be at the ready.  Some rain gear at least in the form of a rain jacket.  Maybe some of those instant hand warmers tucked in a coat pocket.  It’s always nice to know you have some cans of kipper snacks and crackers for those days you might forget your lunch, or worse, get stuck or stranded.  In case of emergencies, make sure the first aid kit is packed and a flashlight is handy.  The cell phone needs to be fully charged.  A pack of blank paper and some pens and at least one pencil.  For record keeping you will need a paper dedicated to mark down gallons of gas and the price paid.  And for sure don’t forget your map drawing papers so you can find your traps once they are set.  AND lastly the flag clips.

That is quite a lot when you think about it.  I always toss in a pair of binoculars as well.   Not only are we going to see a lot of wildlife, we are going to wonder who that is way over there in our trapping area.  Are they infringing on your area or is it part of the ranch crew?

And so, just when you thought trapping was a couple of traps tossed over your shoulder, a bucket in one hand and an ax to cut some stakes in the other, along comes “long lining trapping”.  I say if you shoot enough times you are bound to hit your target and it’s the same with trapping…set a trap everywhere your targeted animal is likely to step and you are going to catch him and many others as well.  More is always better in the fur gathering business.

So, here is my rig all ready to go:

All the traps and trapping items belong to brother Bob.  All are marked with his trapping number and I have his permission slip to use his equipment in my wallet.  He likes to put 20 conibear traps and 20 stakes in each of the burlap bags and 10 traps and stakes in the leg hold trap bags.  I have loaded up 3 bags of conibears and 3 bags of leg holds for a total of 90 traps.  I also tossed in two floats which have two traps each on them and two folding colony traps in case I find a good deep run to set them in.

You never know the trapping situation that will present itself when you are out on the line and seeings how it’s an hours drive from home to get there, you might as well be prepared for any situation you might encounter.

When I get to the trapping location, I need to quickly put my wet gear on and head out to set and check traps.  I don’t have too much time and have to make every minute count.  No time to lally-gag around.  And so to expedite donning my boots and cold weather coats etc., I place them right behind the drivers seat.

This year I’m trying something I just read about in the latest Fur-Fish and Game magazine.  I have mixed up an anise oil solution and have one of the bags of chopped carrots soaking in it.  According to the old boy that wrote the story, the licorice smell really attracts muskrats.  I’ll try it and see for myself.

Now don’t think the way I have packed my rig is just an arbitrary jumbled up mess, there is some order to the way I have packed it.  My conibears are on the left, leg holds on the right and the other traps stuck in the middle.  The cooler without the lid is to carry the rats I catch back to the skinning shed and it doubles as a rat carcass carrier back out into the field.  I always like to put the carcasses out where the scavengers can clean them up.  It helps them survive the winter without having to hunt down food.

Next I find my old record books from last season and ready them for this years trapping.   Everything I purchase that is related to the trapping season gets marked down and especially the fuel costs and all costs are paid back to the home account with the fur check.  Even the cost to heat the skinning shed is deducted from the fur check on a 50/50 basis with brother Bob.

So, I found my old records:

My old trap line maps on the left and my fuel records on the right.  Both books are cleaned up, fresh pages inserted and pens (that work) put with each of them.  The trap line map booklet goes with me from the vehicle out into the swamp.  You can read about how I keep track of where my traps are in a post I put on here last year.  Just go to the Daily Trapping Events category and search for trapping map.

So, everything looks like it is ready for the morning to arrive and then its off to the trapping grounds to begin the season.  All that remains to get ready is a hydration pack filled with water and a sandwich for lunch.

Bears Butt

Feb. 19, 2013

(What’s the 139 in the title?  My weight.  Watch what trapping does to that number.)