And so you can see from this spreadsheet that our work involves more than just trapping, it involves record keeping in order to keep all the partners informed and everything above board.  So often I have read stories about how trapping partners of the past have come to odds over things that probably should not have caused them to split up.  By keeping accurate records and making those records known to all the people involved only makes for good relationships.

More than this record, I have created a “Trespass permission slip” to be signed by the land owner involved for the 2014-2015 trapping season and before the summer is out, signatures will be obtained by those land owners for our trapping next year.  Without going to this degree, those land owners can grant permission to the next trapper that comes along and there is nothing you nor I could do about it.  The biggest thing, is to make sure the land owner feels a part of your trapping success and make it easy for them to “sign on the dotted line”.  In the case of our biggest stake holder, is he wanted some raccoons caught as well as the muskrats and we did a pretty good job for him in that regard…not to count the skunks!

Letters to the various land owners have also been generated and will be dispersed, either through personal contact with the land owners, or through the mail.  Those letters usually explain when we started to set traps on their properties, when we stopped trapping and how many animals we caught.  Also, side notes as to the condition of their property and whether you feel your trapping services are needed or not.  If you feel your services are still needed, make certain to include in your mailing (or in person) an easy to sign trespass permission slip, dated for the next trapping season and include a self addressed stamped envelope.

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2014 MUSKRAT TRAPPING REPORT FOR 41 DUCK CLUB

Thank you once again for allowing me to trap on your great club properties.

My muskrat trapping season began on February 10 this year as the ice was beginning to move away from the heads of the Springs. Both my brother Bob and I had high hopes that this would be a record breaking year for catching rats. However, as the season progressed we found out otherwise. Other trappers in the area were finding out the same thing on their lines.

As it turned out, Spring came early in the swamps.

My normal routine for muskrat trapping is to start on Pete Holmgrens properties and then move out to the Promontory area where I end the season. This year brought a change as Richard Nicholas was holding his bulls in another area while I had time to trap the small seep that crosses through where he usually keeps them. I decided that while I was out on the Promontory mountain I’d trap Steve Peterson’s and the pond at Doris Larson’s. While there, Mr. Nicholas secured my trespass on the property adjacent to Doris’ on the South. The water from Doris’s pond runs down through his place and holds rats that come up stream to populate the pond.

Catch rates for the past few years have been like this:

Doris’ pond: 2013 = 1 rat, 2014 = 12 rats

Adjacent property to Doris’: 2014 = 12 rats

Richard Nicholas place: 2014 = 53 rats

Stephen Peterson’s: 2012 = 29 rats, 2013 = 106 rats, 2014 = 24 rats

The large expanse of Club 41 was a complete surprise. My catch for this area was very low. Historically: 2012 = 139 rats

2013 = 194 rats (with a helper)

2014 = 24 rats

It’s very understandable the downward direction of the catch on Mr. Peterson’s place as it is an isolated spring with little or no rats moving in from other areas. Catching all the rats out of there is totally possible. As is the area where Richard Nicholas keeps his bulls.

Doris’ pond and the downstream area will always have rats coming up from the GLS and the springs found in close proximity.

However, your Club properties have changed so much in the past couple of years what with my catching as many rats as I have, you draining the larger ponds and the fact that there is little for the rats to eat, the problem with rats that you have had is now a thing of the past. I have said all along you can never get rid of all the muskrats, but you can control the population and this is where your club is today.

I can still see a need to trap Mr. Nicholas’ place, at least one more season and of course Doris’ pond should always have traps placed on it to control those little diggers.

As for the rest of your property and Mr. Peterson’s, I don’t think there is a need for my services on those areas for several years to come.

Please keep my name and number handy in case things change and you feel you need me to come back for more control work.

Again, Thank You very much for the opportunity to trap on your club!

Very Sincerely,

Wynn “Bears Butt” Zundel

145 W. 200 N.

Willard, Ut 84340 435-723-6462 Thezundels1974@yahoo.com

P.S.

Check out my website. www.bearsbutt.com

Send to: Bob W. Foxley 708 33^rd St. Ogden Ut 84403

Along with the key he sent (2014)

The key points in all of this is to keep all lines of communication open for everyone involved and do it in writing.  Make sure to be business-like in all your dealings with the landowners and at every chance, make sure you pick up debris you find along your trapping routes.  I even like to fix a fence or two while I’m out and about.  It generally only takes a minute with existing materials found at the sight and makes the landowner know you really care.

Bears Butt

March 22, 2014