Yesterday was a really good day in the field.  I didn’t get too early of a start as it had rained and was raining when I left town to go out west, so I knew the grain field would be soft no matter what time I arrived.  I still hit Bull Run first as it is the Eastern most line out there for me.

Bull Run continues to amaze me…10 rats came to the bag with a couple of other traps set off.  There was also lots of raccoon tracks in the mud in and around my traps.  Those guys need to go.  In a couple of little springs I managed to set 8 more traps, as more water has given way to the snow and ice.  It is for sure Spring out there.  Little shoots of new growth toolies are up about 3 inches and the rats are enjoying the new veggies.  My carrots laced with anise oil is also working very well.

The Trellis line also continues to produce and so those two lines will stay in play until the furs start to slip unless I just don’t have time to check them and work the other lines I have yet to set.  Time will tell on them.

Way out to the west, I checked Little Spring first and only caught one rat…That line has me puzzled.  I have not caught a single rat up stream from the first 11 traps that Wapiti and I set and yet the runs look like they are being used.  There is no fresh sign of rats sitting anywhere however and so it just might be that they are farther out playing under the ice that is still very much present.  I will probably pull that line on Monday.

I purposely left Big Spring for last as I wanted to put a few more traps out on the end of that string.  I was no big surprise to have a few rats in the newly set traps plus several set off traps with nothing in them.  Again, my ability to catch those critters (or not) is beginning to have me doubt myself.  How can they set off a trap that is at eye level with them and not get caught?  Those types of traps should be no brainers.  Ones in the bottoms of runs are another thing, as the rats are usually going balls to the walls swimming in them and trying to get to an air hole, I can see them passing through the trap before it has time to close on anything but their tail.  I guess it’s just part of trapping, but when I have up to 10 traps that way, it really makes me scratch my head.

Bob was able to set 12 traps the day before and was planning on setting more, I was secretly praying that he would begin to catch a few rats.  Checking traps without any success really begins to wear on a trapper, and he not being able to find open water to put traps in was even worse.  He now has all of the interior of Petes to set traps as he pleases…all the snow and ice is gone.

At the skinning shed the rats were all piled up and the work began on that phase of the days activities…I caught 22 and Bob caught 5!  27 total for the day.  Both of us were pleased as we could be.  It really was nice to see Bobs face all smiles as he approached the shed with a bag slung over his back and 5 rats inside.  Great time to be there for sure.

I called the Weasel as I came into town and asked him to notify Conner that there were rats to be skinned if he wanted to make a few bucks.  50 cents per skinned rat if he wanted to play.  I had barely made it to the shed when he arrived ready for the task.  Conner is my 11 year old Grandson and he has a heart as big as big and a desire to learn as much as he can.  I handed him two skinning knives, he donned his rubber pants, apron and rubber gloves and went right to work.  When he was too cold to do any more, he had skinned 4 rats and did them just right.  No nicks in the hides!  The guy has learned it all and now only needs to do more to get faster and better.  His only problem has been around the eyes, but that is something that comes with time.  I’m proud of him.  He went away with $2 in his pocket and a big old smile on his face.  He knows that if he can get away from the house chores tonight he has another job facing him.

Today:

It’s raining and has been pretty much all night.  The temp is 38 right now and it should have been a good night for the rats to run.  I have to hold back until after I get a hair cut to go out to the lines.  I think they open at 9 and I want to be waiting in line when they open.  Before I head up to get the hair deal over with I have to trim my fuzzy face.  It does look a bit scraggly around the edges but it has kept my face warm out there in the freezing temps of the trap line.

You are probably wondering why on earth I would take time out to trim my beard and get a haircut…well I have a cousin who has her 80th birthday tomorrow and we are going to her party…I’ll be taking tomorrow off from the trap line.

Wish me luck today on catching a few more rats.

Bears Butt

March 8, 2013