Flat Tail Line

[Cylvertip]

Here are a few pics of the latest Beaver line I've got out.  Five sets covering about a quarter mile of creek.  I've caught two since they were set on Friday night.  This is all done on a NWCO Permit.

These are all "killer", "instant kill, or Conibear traps.  They are set were the animals are either forced through an area by either a natural neck down or one created by me, or in spots where they are crossing dams.  There are two dam/ obstruction crossing sets shown, and two funnel area sets shown.  The traps are square and set in the water with just a small portion of the trap out of the water.  The animals swim/ crawl through the traps thinking that that is the easiest path ( due to the fencing placed on the sides of the trap) to get to where they want to go .  The sticks over the top of the traps help convince the critter to dive in the water through the trap versus climb over the it.  Beaver naturally want to dive under obstruction vs haul there butts over them.  With the killer traps, the animals are either in them and dead, or not in them.  Typically, a beaver will make it about 30 seconds in a 330 magnum if it is not killed instantly.  The one that was caught here was in a 280, he might of made it the 30 seconds, he did not move much.  I typically use the bigger 330's so that smaller animals like musk rats and ducks can pass through without setting them off.  Generally the triggers are set of to one side to help with this as well.  

The beaver in the pics weighed in at 29.2 lbs

[rasbo]

thats a cool set...do you ever trap down this way.Pierce county

[tlbradford]

Awesome write-up and pictures of your sets.  Thanks for sharing.  I would love to see more trapping stories on here.

[Machias]

Great photos, thanks for sharing them.  I truely miss running a trapline in the fall and winter.  It was awesome back in the 70s, red fox were bringing $95 a piece.  I actually made more money trapping one winter then I did my first year in the Air Force!

[Cylvertip]

Sorry, some of the pics are out.  I'll get some better pics and get them up by Monday. 

I started running traps with my dad when I was three.  I miss those fall lines too. We had all water based lines.  Couple hundred traps out.  Take you all day to run your lines.  Putting up fur at night - ( I knew the girlfriend, now wife, was a keeper cause she could handle the fur room - talk about guts and gore)  Of course on this side, the wet-side, opening day was closely followed by a huge deluge that meant everything had to get reset once you could get to them again a week later - if they were still there.  Most of us don't have the right jobs to allow us to do it like the good old days.  A few guys I know still are able to get the big lines out with foot holds because they are timber company employees or direct contractors on the payroll.  One for sure still puts up big numbers: 100 -140 beaver a  year plus lots of other critters... 


I just saw that beaver are speculated at $8 for a big prime mid-western pelt for 2009-10. Ouch

Rasbo - I am only trapping up in Snohomish county. 

If your having problems with critters try George at Cascade Trappers Supply in Tacoma - 253.537.3277 - I believe he's still in operation.  If he can't help you directly, he can point you to some one who can.  You can also contact the WDFW Regional Office for your area and let them know what type of issue you are having.  They should have a list of all of the NWCO trappers who work in that area and maybe even what they specialize in. 

If your to go along on a line run, I bet George could point you in the right direction.  My trapping hours are real sporadic due to work and family.  I do a lot of mine in the dark, even this time of year.   A good headlight is an invaluable piece of equipment.....

[rasbo]

thanks cylvertip ya I was looking at tagging along...I got my trappers card and was wanting to pick up Ideas on live trapping bobs.Good post thanks again

[Machias]

Rasbo, live trapping bobcats is not a hard deal at all.  For Roberts with a cage location is the most important thing.  Eye appeal and location are everything.  Get the box traps that are tall, 15 inches and up, I like the 18 inch tall traps the best.  Find cat toilets or cat crossings on creeks and set your traps there, Use a feather on a string near your trap, brush your trap in, sides and tops, I like to leave the back open so they can see through.  I always do two things, cover the cage floor with dirt and I always dig a hole and put my bait in the hole and then set the trap over the bait hole and so the bait is under the pan.  That way when you catch one you do not get bait all over his fur.  If you have them in you area you'll also catch the occasional badge with this set.

[rasbo]

Rasbo, live trapping bobcats is not a hard deal at all.  For Roberts with a cage location is the most important thing.  Eye appeal and location are everything.  Get the box traps that are tall, 15 inches and up, I like the 18 inch tall traps the best.  Find cat toilets or cat crossings on creeks and set your traps there, Use a feather on a string near your trap, brush your trap in, sides and tops, I like to leave the back open so they can see through.  I always do two things, cover the cage floor with dirt and I always dig a hole and put my bait in the hole and then set the trap over the bait hole and so the bait is under the pan.  That way when you catch one you do not get bait all over his fur.  If you have them in you area you'll also catch the occasional badge with this set.

thanks fred..I need to get a few of them for winter

[Machias]

Cylvertip you should take the beaver and skin them out and send them to a tannery, the one I send mine to runs me about $35 a pelt.  Then you can turn around and hoop them and sell them for $80-$90.  You can make about $40-$50 a pelt that way.  Even the summer beaver hooped sells pretty good.  Just a thought.  Do you keep and dry your castors?

[rasbo]

Cylvertip you should take the beaver and skin them out and send them to a tannery, the one I send mine to runs me about $35 a pelt.  Then you can turn around and hoop them and sell them for $80-$90.  You can make about $40-$50 a pelt that way.  Even the summer beaver hooped sells pretty good.  Just a thought.  Do you keep and dry your castors?

thats my plan on bobs,,,who do you go through

[Machias]

I take mine to a local Taxidermist who throws them in with his furs and just just charges me what they charge him, since I have the furs all ready for the tanning process when I take them in.  You might check with a couple of your local taxidermy guys and see if they will let you put your furs in with their stuff.  My guy gets a better rate and does bulk tanning, so its a great deal for me.

[rasbo]

I take mine to a local Taxidermist who throws them in with his furs and just just charges me what they charge him, since I have the furs all ready for the tanning process when I take them in.  You might check with a couple of your local taxidermy guys and see if they will let you put your furs in with their stuff.  My guy gets a better rate and does bulk tanning, so its a great deal for me.

I was going to go through moyles,in heyburn.23 dollars but I just looked them up and folks are having problems....I see tanned bobs selling 175

[Cylvertip]

More Pics - 

1st set is at a dam - trap under the horizontal sticks right in the flow.
2nd set is on a side channel - trap under the horizontal sticks
3rd set is just below a dam - again under the horizontal sticks - notice the "fencing" to the right between the dam and the trap forcing the critter to the trap.  There is a crossing on the dam here.
4th set is in mid stream - the main flow runs under a log, but the trap is in the slack water, again with fencing forcing them into the trap.

[Cylvertip]

 

[Cylvertip]

Cylvertip you should take the beaver and skin them out and send them to a tannery, the one I send mine to runs me about $35 a pelt.  Then you can turn around and hoop them and sell them for $80-$90.  You can make about $40-$50 a pelt that way.  Even the summer beaver hooped sells pretty good.  Just a thought.  Do you keep and dry your castors?

Not quite set up at the house to deal with putting up fur.  Got a shed to build after I finally finish the back yard...  Surprised to hear summer fur going that well.  Are you selling on-line or by word of mouth?

I've just been donating the castors to the bears and yoties.  Whats the going rate on dried castor?  what about Oil sacs?