What a day!

[Humptulips]

Last day for me yesterday. I would have been better off quitting a few days ago.
I picked one set and the PU broke down 14 miles from the highway. No cell service on that side of 101 so a long way from anything. The rear end came loose from the spring on one side and was back against the wheel well. Not getting a tow with that.
Luckily I only walked 2 1/2 miles and a couple guys came along and gave me a ride to 101. I spent most of the day getting someone with a trailer to haul the PU.
 Finally about 4:30 back on the trap line in another rig. Pretty much nothing happening until I get to the set directly after that one I had a cougar in a few days ago. Trap is gone but this time it's a bear. I was a little nervous tracking it through the dog hair. It was 6:30 and very poor light. No gun but I did have my one handed pruning shears in my pocket.
Followed sign for about 300' before I found the trap. I am not so sure the bear was ever in the trap. I think it just stole the trap trying to get the bait. Trap didn't fare too bad considering. I will have to do a little repair on the cage wire. Working parts are still OK.
Second to the last set I had a bobcat but looked like a female so I turned her loose. I was more interested in testing my new traps on cats then putting fur on the board with current prices anyway. Had a devil of a time getting her to leave the trap. Finally had to turn the trap up and dump her out. No pictures it was zero dark thirty by then and I was wanting to get home. Finally got home at just after 10:00.
Results of my last line were 19 cat sets and 1 otter set out for 11 days. I caught 5 bobcat, three of which I turned loose plus one civet.

[winslow]

Bruce, call any time, my friend. I may be far away but I will drop everything and show up if needed.

Thanks to your mentoring, I was finally able to connect with a 45# beaver, a very fat muskrat, and a big, beautiful otter in the last few days of this season.

The beaver became stew, the muskrat is marinating in red wine, and the otter is back in the stream terrorizing fish. He convinced me to let him go. It wasn't that hard, i knew the season, and his fur quality, was waning and I couldn't find any great recipes or recommendations to eat him.

We'll be back at it in the fall and better than ever. Thanks again for all your help in my first ever trapping season.

Winslow

[Badhabit]

Winslow, look for the LL Bean Wildgame Cook Book. It's out of print but can be found at Powells in Portland. Many recipes for what your trapping. If you need me too I can get the ISB no.

http://www.amazon.com/L-L-Bean-Game-Fish-Cookbook/dp/0394511913

[winslow]

Winslow, look for the LL Bean Wildgame Cook Book. It's out of print but can be found at Powells in Portland. Many recipes for what your trapping. If you need me too I can get the ISB no.

http://www.amazon.com/L-L-Bean-Game-Fish-Cookbook/dp/0394511913

Just ordered the cookbook...the next otter is toast. Or roast, or stew, or whatever that cookbook says to do with it!

Thanks.
Winslow

[Humptulips]

You are braver then I. No way am I cooking up an otter.
Nothing I know will eat them except birds and I have seen them eat the rear end out of a skunk so I don't think they are that particular.

Maybe that old recipe where you cook it on a cedar plank. Throw the otter away and eat the plank.

[winslow]

You are braver then I. No way am I cooking up an otter.
Nothing I know will eat them except birds and I have seen them eat the rear end out of a skunk so I don't think they are that particular.

Maybe that old recipe where you cook it on a cedar plank. Throw the otter away and eat the plank.

Wise words...but I have always been a little foolish. I'll let you all know how bad it is.   

[h20hunter]

Here is some pics of otter meat. If the kids are in the room don't read the comments below the blog out loud. 

http://cannundrum.blogspot.com/2013/03/fried-river-otter-stew-meat.html

[JimmyHoffa]

If you don't eat anything else for a while leading up to the feast, it might taste pretty good for the first few bites.  I can't imagine otter being worse than ducks that eat fish.

[-Trap_addicT-]

Here is some pics of otter meat. If the kids are in the room don't read the comments below the blog out loud. 

http://cannundrum.blogspot.com/2013/03/fried-river-otter-stew-meat.html

The comments were very entertaining. Thanks for posting though, might have to give it a shot.