Ouch's trapping season

[ouchfoss]

From what I've learned (and what I've been told) the last few years, seems like its not worth wasting your time going after cats until February. Thats not to say you won't catch a cat early in the season, its just not as probable until the last two months of season. Next year, I'm not going to set any cat sets until February no matter how much cat sign I see.

    Funny, I was just thinking today that I need to pull my sets because I never catch anything after January unless it's very cold. WAAAY too warm right now.

It was actually really warm here yesterday, probably close to 60. The day before was in the 50s and rainy most of the day. Maybe cats like the warm weather around here. 

[Turner89]

Nice cat foss, glad to see one go in, and shut the door for you . I haven't had any luck with cats, after getting the one.

[ouchfoss]

Got this 21 pound male about mile away from the last one on a trap I set two days ago. The belly doesnt have very good color but its still a decent sized cat at least. All my sets are higher elevation areas locally (between 2000 and 2500 feet) and so far, it seems like the cats have a little less red in the hills than they do down in the low lands. It was kind of a theory  that had me wondering how much the higher elevation (and thus colder temps) would effect the fur color and thickness which is why all my cat sets are in the hills this year. I would assume that the more gray colored cats are worth more than the really red coastal cats 
Or maybe I'm just dead wrong with all of that and just overthinking the whole thing.  Oh well. At least I'm getting fur (and delicious cat meat)!

[Machias]

Nice cat!!

[Cultusman]

 

[ouchfoss]

24 lb male about a half mile down the road from where I got the last one. I found some very fresh poop at this spot and figured I'd give it a try. Only took 5 days. I think I'm going to try driving around until I find a fresh  scrape and poop and then set there. My last cat was   just down the road from fresh cat poop too.

[Machias]

Nice!!

[3nails]

 Very cool, nice looking cat! Picked up another myself today.

[seth30]

That is a nice cat!

[3nails]

 Love the tongue roll! 

[ouchfoss]

That kinda shows how much she enjoys going trapping with me!

[ouchfoss]

I was hoping to get a nice outside  end of season "barn shot" of all my hides before they went to auction but it decided to downpour inches Saturday so the living room floor was the best I could do.
Pretty happy how this season went. Learned new tactics, new territory, and got some more traps built for next season. Plus my trapping buddy got to spend quite a few days with on the line that I actually got some fur!

[Machias]

Great photo and a great season!

[SunnySlopes]

I think your stratagem worked as those look like pretty good cats. Especially for west side cats.
Those heavy, dark beaver will bring you a good return. My heavy brown, dark brown beaver at FHA's sale 2 weeks ago averaged $38. Good Luck.

[ouchfoss]

I actually sold all my beaver and otter at the ronde last Saturday. Wasn't the best prices but they were sold and I had cash in my pocket that day. The cats and coon I sent to NAFA though. I can't imagine I'll get much for the coon but I'm hopeful I'll get decent prices for a coastal cat. We'll see!