Planning out the season

[Josh_D.]

Hello trappers!  I am already getting excited for trapping season.  Starting to work on traps and scouting.  I am still too inexperienced however for me to really know when to start trapping which species.  In my region I think I have pinpointed muskrat, beaver, mink, otter, coon and up at my families cabin, marten.  At what point do y'all start trapping? Right when it begins in november?  I am not catching for quantity or money. I want furs for the experience and to have really high quality articles for the wall and clothing. 

I am thinking November hit rats and some beavers for bait, then target mink and otter in December but I am not sure when marten are prime.  It will probably be Christmas vacation. 

I would love input as to primeness and when your seasons are planned out.

[JakeLand]

Bobcat in January and Marten in February!!

[Josh_D.]

I was really suprised reading that on the other post about marten. To me it just seems like February is already warming up around here.  That does benefit me though cause if the water animals are primed up around December it will allow me to break up animals by months.  Obviously there can be overlap but I like hearing other people's plans too.

[Josh_D.]

This picture applies to Manitoba, does it seem pretty similar to Washington?

[JakeLand]

This is what I do right wrong or otherwise
 November -I don't trap
December -just beaver ( for bait )
January - beaver, bobcat , otter , mink and muskrat
February beaver, bobcat,mink,muskrat and Marten
March- depends on the weather but definitely bobcat and marten to at least the 15th

 This is just what my general guide is and I do trap up in higher elevations
   

[Humptulips]

I would not trap in November but I understand if you are working 5 days a week that Thanksgiving weekend is hard to pass up. I would start with water animals and hold off on cats 'till Christmas, another time when most people have time.
Badger late like February and keep going 'till the end of March on everything except raccoons and mink which I would stop near the start of February.
Where you are at ice is going to come into play for water animals so you may get froze out 'till late. If you notice the rats or beaver are getting bit up you can make a decision to stop on them when you think you should but I have caught them to the last day and they were good.
K9s prime early but we are kind of out of luck on them for trapping. Get a chance to shoot a coyote in November it will be good, probably where you are in December too. Getting into the new year they will go south fast.
A word on Marten. I am not and never have been a marten trapper but I do know guys that do and accessibility is a factor. If you can get to them in December but not later you go a little early.

[Skunk Trapper]

Limited on time and a new trapper, I'd trap from November 1st till end of season. Seems like the best way to get experience and have the most fun for the season. Good luck Josh 

[Turner89]

Limited on time and a new trapper, I'd trap from November 1st till end of season. Seems like the best way to get experience and have the most fun for the season. Good luck Josh 

....good luck

[predatorpro]

If it's in the water I start trapping in November. ...prices suck anyways....lol but that's just me...

[bear hunter]

 

If it's in the water I start trapping in November. ...prices suck anyways....lol but that's just me...

[Skunk Trapper]

If it's in the water I start trapping in November. ...prices suck anyways....lol but that's just me...

Bear hunter, you goin for them lil muskrats again this season? Still never got the template for the loin cloths u make...lemme know   

[hollymaster]

If it's in the water I start trapping in November. ...prices suck anyways....lol but that's just me...

Bear hunter, you goin for them lil muskrats again this season? Still never got the template for the loin cloths u make...lemme know   

[Machias]

This year is soooo going to stink.  I will most likely be moving from the east coast to the west coast either right before or right in the middle of trapping season.  Doubt I'll get much steel put in the ground this season. 

[jasnt]

I'm a still a relatively new trapper and will be starting on the 11/1 as well.  I know some people that are having beaver troubles and others with otter and mink problems so prime isn't an option on those properties. They want them gone

[ouchfoss]

I don't plan to send any of my fur to auction this season so I am going to wait til they are close or at prime so I can have stuff made out of it. Seems like around here most water animals arent prime til at least December anyway so I wont throw any traps out til then. Might do some coon trapping in December but I am going to wait until at least mid January to start on cats and skunks.
I actually sold quite a few traps this last year so I am down to just 4 swim thrus (3 need some repairs) and 3 above ground traps. I was hoping to get a bunch built back in July/August but this has been one the busiest years of my life and I have had no spare time to assemble any. May have to spend some time this month and get a few more built and ready if I get a chance.