Married white male seeks old-timer

[Linkslice]

I've always wanted to be a trapper and just recently took and passed the test. So now I'm kind of looking for an experienced trapper that doesn't mind showing a greenhorn how/where to set traps, what kind of traps to buy, preparing furs, and the like. I live in the Black Diamond area.

[dreamunelk]

You may want to change the title.  Does not come across as being platonic................  Just saying.

[bearpaw]

PLEASE keep this on topic!

[Hank]

Start out on the tips and tricks thread, read all of that then start some threads asking some specific questions you may have. Let some of the seasoned guys on the forum see you are serious and you will have people coming out of the woodwork to give you a hand.

Hank

[Miles]

PLEASE keep this on topic!

The topic of this thread is:  MARRIED WHITE MALE SEEKS OLD-TIMER....


  I'm sure it'll stay on topic.    The YAR crowd are warming up their keyboards right now.

[Jonathan_S]

  Alright so I stopped laughing enough that I can type again.

My advice to the OP or anybody in this situation would be to go out and find some places that seem to hold decent numbers of the target species and THEN looking for somebody to help you trap that area.  Just asking for a place to trap is IMHO sillier than asking for a specific good hunting spot    Anywhere that has water year round in ditches, ponds, creeks, seeps etc. is probably going to have mink and muskrat.

Running a trap line of any size is no joke where livetraps are concerned...due to the check laws that require such frequent visits and gas money.  My advice is to trap for muskrat, mink and beaver with drowning sets and to do it as close to home as possible.  This so you don't get burned out on the time commitment.  Also water trapping is much cheaper to get into because trap materials/traps are less expensive than cages for bobcats or other land-dwellers.

I don't live anywhere near you but best of luck.  Oh and congratulations on the marriage 

[Linkslice]

I wasn't so much asking for where to put them in terms of invading someone elses trapping area. What I meant by that was more like under specific types of bushes near specific types of trees or trails. I've been looking at types of traps. Do people just use like the havahart-style traps?

Sorry if it was off-topic.. and I thought the subject was funny.

[JJB11B]

I honestly thought you were a knife collector looking for some quality knives. TAGGING as I think I would really enjoy this and I know of some good places in my area to go.

[Carp Commander]

Linkslice,

Welcome to the thread and to trapping. I will tell you the same thing I tell anyone wanting to get into trapping and that's to start small.

Jonathan_S makes a great point in that water trapping, especially muskrats is a good starting point. Muskrats are a lot of fun to catch, colony traps are cheap and easy to build, muskrats are the easiest to put-up and your chances of success and therefore encouragement to continue to learn is very good.

Spend some time cruising hunt Washington, looking at some of our pictures and read about the animal's habits and sign. You can get a dozen colony traps built in a day for about $50 including the trap tags. If you’re not comfortable in putting up the fur then just get good at skinning them, roll them up and freeze but again start small.

If you’re ever on the east side give me a call and I would be happy to show the muskrat/mink basics and help get you started. If you have any specific questions you can PM me or post it on here. Good luck, don't get discouraged and have fun.

Doug
 

[Turner89]

I agree with Johnathon, and carp. Start with muskrat. Traps are cheap, and easy to build, and in expensive to buy already built. Yutube is a good place to learn some skinning, and stretching techniques. If your ever in the sultan area, I would have no problem showing you what ive learned.  Look through 3nail threads in the trapping topics. He has muskrat country that is similar to your area. Good luck

[Axle]

Trapperman.com would be a great place for you to learn from. http://www.trapperman.com/

It's a good one 

Other than that, you will learn by getting out there and practicing. 

[JJB11B]

Gonna tag this,

[TeacherMan]

First recommendation is to now convince your wife you live in the wrong state  Second get onto Trapperman. You can get lost for days on there.

You are in a great area for water critters and coon. 20 plus years ago I use to chase them along the Green in your area and even down along the little creek that runs right through town. Lots of mink in your area with rats, otter and beaver. Plus like I said coon, tons of them. With coons you will catch skunks lol...

[Linkslice]

First recommendation is to now convince your wife you live in the wrong state  Second get onto Trapperman. You can get lost for days on there.

I've been trying to convince the wife to go to Alaska for years. I've lived there before. Not far from you if your profile is accurate. I lived in Palmer over at the butte.

You are in a great area for water critters and coon. 20 plus years ago I use to chase them along the Green in your area and even down along the little creek that runs right through town. Lots of mink in your area with rats, otter and beaver. Plus like I said coon, tons of them. With coons you will catch skunks lol...

skunk... great. I'm guessing when on the trail the best way to deal with them is to use subsonic .22 and snipe into my own trap from afar?

[Humptulips]

Skunks, IMHO if you shoot a skunk they are bound to spray. I believe CO2 is the way to go.