Post by: Humptulips on December 21, 2012, 07:37:32 PM
Anyway I don't feel up to snuff but managed to get a few traps out. Hope to add a few pics throughout the season.
First check made me feel better.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0482_zps915c331b.jpg&hash=d11c12206f891a215d8175c081abe6385786a31d)
5 water sets and 7 cat sets.
Post by: dayn on December 21, 2012, 07:51:19 PM
Post by: lokidog on December 21, 2012, 07:52:44 PM
Post by: 3nails on December 21, 2012, 08:16:35 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on December 21, 2012, 08:24:13 PM
Post by: trapperguy22 on December 21, 2012, 08:29:29 PM
Post by: dayn on December 21, 2012, 09:19:02 PM
Post by: fatslinger on December 21, 2012, 10:31:22 PM
Post by: Humptulips on December 21, 2012, 11:11:21 PM
Very nice! How much did the beaver weigh?
Never weighed it but it stretched 67"
Damned rat traps I modified for civets won't work. Back to tinkering.
Post by: onetrapper on December 22, 2012, 12:29:36 AM
Post by: Humptulips on December 22, 2012, 07:51:27 PM
Bruce I think the answer may lie in two rat traps firing simultaneously...maybe position them vertically too. Was tinkering abit but you might come up with a better way.
I used the one in the picture to check on position of the head. It looks like they need to be able to get into the trap 3 1/2" for the strike to be effective.
I think I can do that but I have to rework the trap.
Post by: trapperguy22 on December 22, 2012, 10:49:48 PM
i do have some routes that i am running for the may sale. for the feb. sale people are dropping it off or making arrangements with me to meet somewhere.
Post by: dayn on December 23, 2012, 01:30:18 AM
Dayn,
i do have some routes that i am running for the may sale. for the feb. sale people are dropping it off or making arrangements with me to meet somewhere.
Thanks for the reply, I was curious how that worked, I'm searching for a 95 through 2000 u-haul truck to do some side jobs (I haul estates) when I get one, I would be interested in doing a route run, my rates would be reasonable....
Post by: bearpaw on December 23, 2012, 05:32:01 AM
Post by: Humptulips on December 23, 2012, 08:55:10 PM
Danger Ahead!
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0485_zps4df6a216.jpg&hash=6ed04b83278c2a07bc882d48ee49d3718b95c013)
Caught a couple of these guys today along with a muskrat.
Several water sets out of commission. Too much water!
Tried to take some pictures of the water sets but all I get is glare off the water. Any suggestions?
Post by: 3nails on December 23, 2012, 09:06:58 PM
Post by: Humptulips on December 23, 2012, 09:27:00 PM
How do you deal with the skunk?
Today I had two. I shot one. He sprayed and I left him behind to air out. I'll get him tomorrow. The other I let out of the trap. I'm trying to make a rat trap work for them. I have a new prototype and I'll set it tomorrow where I let him out. He'll be back and we'll see if it works. If it works right it will kill him which is the ultimate goal. Dead skunk when I show up would be ideal. I think I will put a small hole in my cat traps so the civets can escape so I don't have to let them out.
Then I'll just wait 'till I see sign of one at the cat trap and set a modified rat trap that will kill it. I don't like to deal with live skunks!
The other way is to set a small cage trap to catch the civet. You can fit small ones that I have in a 7 gallon bucket so I have packed in a bucket of water and drowned them in it. This is less then ideal so I'm working on a better method.
They use injection poles on striped skunks pretty successfully I guess but I don't think they would work on civets.
Post by: Humptulips on December 27, 2012, 07:23:16 PM
Anyone that has took a mind to copy my design I'll warn you about the defect.
I built an access door into the top of the trap to assist in setting the trap. You will want to seal that hole up.
The otter I caught managed to bend the access door and get out, 4x4 hole.
I spent the day pulling traps out of the water and sealing the door shut with c rings.
The traps are a little harder to set but that will be better than losing another otter.
Caught two beaver and a rat today so it would have been a good day but losing the otter kind of spoiled it.
Didn't get any pictures. Might take some tonight of the put up and post later.
Post by: lokidog on December 27, 2012, 08:01:30 PM
Well, trap problems today. Lost an otter out of one of my swim throughs.
Anyone that has took a mind to copy my design I'll warn you about the defect.
I built an access door into the top of the trap to assist in setting the trap. You will want to seal that hole up.
The otter I caught managed to bend the access door and get out, 4x4 hole.
I spent the day pulling traps out of the water and sealing the door shut with c rings.
The traps are a little harder to set but that will be better than losing another otter.
Caught two beaver and a rat today so it would have been a good day but losing the otter kind of spoiled it.
Didn't get any pictures. Might take some tonight of the put up and post later.
I had a coon squeeze out the edge of an access hole that stretched to about 1 1/2" X 6", it left a lot of hair and a little skin on the wires. :yike:
Post by: hornhunter1987 on December 27, 2012, 09:32:54 PM
Post by: pnwmtnmn on December 27, 2012, 11:38:26 PM
Post by: bob maier on December 28, 2012, 12:41:33 PM
Post by: Humptulips on December 28, 2012, 06:54:11 PM
Bruce, sorry to here about the lost otter. Could a guy use a piece of snare cable and fishing swivel to sew the access door closed, could make it harder to open.
I suppose. I just closed them up permanent. Yea, the trap is harder to set but it can be done and it isn't worth the worry of losing another otter to have the door.
On another note I had a few traps that sprung to easy. It was a simple fix to file the trigger out a little, not the dog the other part.
I'm not sure if this is like the problem you had with your traps, Bob, but I fixed them easy. I had to take the trigger off to file it.
Post by: Humptulips on December 28, 2012, 07:12:17 PM
Before
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0487_zps328a0276.jpg&hash=f4466e96473218dde6802b3c1dda7d552b9de71c)
After
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0490_zps4009108c.jpg&hash=5156af71ca80be5b1a314611a63e622ee004cdcd)
Post by: Humptulips on December 28, 2012, 07:17:37 PM
A picture of a set. You can just make out an otter in it on the left side.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0491_zpsd1013aa2.jpg&hash=8dddb1f80ad17cb2e757b702271ff5cfb19391df)
Out of the water
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0492_zpsd2c359b2.jpg&hash=0806f2df6af288386279d773aade1ca6fe9c3447)
Lousy picture but look at that nice tail (no jokes please, I've heard them all) Wish there was still a market for them. It'd make a jumbo wallet!
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0493_zps19a5546f.jpg&hash=c1ea36f857249452d3dc36a2455513901fa04ae4)
Post by: carpsniperg2 on December 28, 2012, 07:23:05 PM
Post by: Humptulips on December 28, 2012, 07:32:06 PM
Post by: bearpaw on December 28, 2012, 07:56:32 PM
Post by: onetrapper on December 28, 2012, 09:58:44 PM
Post by: Humptulips on December 29, 2012, 12:14:17 AM
Post by: trapperguy22 on December 29, 2012, 07:19:42 AM
Post by: saylean on December 30, 2012, 08:57:42 AM
Post by: Humptulips on December 30, 2012, 11:41:33 PM
Here's the trap I took it out of. As you can see it's damaged pretty bad but quite patchable. I'm thinking for dryland sets 1x2 wire is not going to cut the mustard. need some 1x1.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0494_zps67c5cf56.jpg&hash=f19af02c40fb49c74d3b7a3025e25ab5c0ebf156)
The guy on the right is the culprit. Want to guess which one is bigger?
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0495_zpsbd9f5af9.jpg&hash=fb75e87408d92f13e4ee8eea201520469711e3d9)
Post by: WSU on January 02, 2013, 01:57:53 PM
Post by: Humptulips on January 02, 2013, 08:37:41 PM
I'm curious what rivers you trap otters in? I see them fairly regularly fishing out your way and am curious if you trap them in bigger rivers? Would info on where I see them be helpful?
Always nice to hear where people see otter but I think they are pretty well distributed. More of them near tidewater I would say.
I trap close to home mostly now. Humptulips, Quinault, Copalis and some of the smaller streams that run direct into saltwater but all north of Grays harbor.
Farthest north I ever got was the Hoh but that was before cage traps. I'm still relearning my line after a 12 year hiatus because of I-713. probably won't get to all that I used to trap.
One thing I have noticed with the cage traps is how much more time consuming it is. I have a hard time taking care of much more then 12 traps in a day. I started out with 7 cat sets out and I had to give up on all but a couple because I just don't have the time. Right now I have 33 swimthroughs out and 2 cat sets.
Beaver are scarse as hens teeth so I'm mostly am setting for otter.
Post by: WSU on January 03, 2013, 12:46:47 PM
Post by: Humptulips on January 03, 2013, 11:39:58 PM
I need to remember to take the camera with me. I keep forgetting it at home. :sry:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0502_zps818f07f5.jpg&hash=b8982efd9a0afd2bb44f662e8a6a80b08f10076b)
Post by: Machias on January 04, 2013, 03:24:37 AM
Post by: onetrapper on January 04, 2013, 09:05:44 AM
I have one cat set out..and two swim throughs out. The one was sprung so I may have to file the knotch a bit. Still didn't find the one trap. Jim built a trap using common rat trap...I think it will definetely work for civits or muskrats.
Darryl
Post by: TheHunt on January 04, 2013, 09:14:27 AM
Post by: Humptulips on January 04, 2013, 07:30:40 PM
Nice Bruce,
I have one cat set out..and two swim throughs out. The one was sprung so I may have to file the knotch a bit. Still didn't find the one trap. Jim built a trap using common rat trap...I think it will definetely work for civits or muskrats.
Darryl
Hey, I have been getting a few sprung too. My diagnosis is two causes, first one is setting in too swift of water. Last year I was more selective with my sets because I didn't have many traps. This year I've been sticking some in some swifter water to get them out. Some have been sprung. Found a few with a stick in them so that is self explanatory. Second thing I have noticed where animals have crawled over them. Last time out for sure a beaver went over one and sprung it because he cut some sticks off to get through. My advice is to make sure the trap is well covered so they are not tempted to climb over.
Been turning a fish or two loose out of them every day also. I think this will get better once the salmon are done coming up which should be soon.
Post by: bearpaw on January 04, 2013, 07:49:41 PM
Post by: Humptulips on January 06, 2013, 09:37:27 PM
I did catch this gal today. Yep, another female but at least this one is a little more spotty than the last one. Still the typical coastal casty bellied cat. Hey, have to be happy with what you have. :IBCOOL:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0506_zpse557a30d.jpg&hash=51e2a032977e85d0ba7706d8e83ab88d8a0c3ae6)
Here's a better picture of the cat plus a couple other cats in the days catch.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0508_zpsb0c00ed9.jpg&hash=09d9dbf3b2dd2d7bc4cf9816ace01d296bfd8d44)
Here's the rest of my catch for the day. I really wanted to get a picture of him swimming away when I turned him out of the trap but he was too fast for me. Honest, I turned it loose. I had a hamburger for dinner.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0503_zps2f0fbad1.jpg&hash=2e35a80c360c1ad919254f1e6b19c4c840f53095)
Post by: Carp Commander on January 07, 2013, 07:39:56 PM
What size is your bobcat traps? I am thinkng about putting a couple out this month.
Post by: Humptulips on January 07, 2013, 08:01:31 PM
This is a really good discussion subject. I think I'll start a thread on it.
Post by: bugs n bones on January 07, 2013, 08:06:18 PM
Post by: bugs n bones on January 07, 2013, 08:10:51 PM
Bruce,You cant go wrong with a set of briarpatch cages your next best bet would be camtrips made by mercer lawing
What size is your bobcat traps? I am thinkng about putting a couple out this month.
Post by: Humptulips on January 07, 2013, 08:31:00 PM
Bruce,You cant go wrong with a set of briarpatch cages your next best bet would be camtrips made by mercer lawing
What size is your bobcat traps? I am thinkng about putting a couple out this month.
That is a camtrip in the picture. I do not like it.
Post by: Humptulips on January 11, 2013, 08:05:03 PM
Beaver seems to be practically non-existant over a lot of the area I used to trap. The otter situation is not that great either. I figured I would catch otter if there were few beaver but otter sign is seriously short. Sad to see what has happened sice I last trapped it hard 12 years ago. I've been pulling traps and will keep at it on a smaller scale but I doubt there will be any big catches.
Caught this today, last one off the Promised Land. Pulled everything there today.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0510_zpsee860be7.jpg&hash=0618b0a8f185d1911db965f57bc407adc9eb9067)
Post by: Humptulips on January 13, 2013, 08:58:51 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0511_zps88c8f983.jpg&hash=3c21000d624d8f711a93254021e3cbce61604113)
Today it was slow. Sometimes it's hard to pay for the gas.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0513_zpsc4f1acd5.jpg&hash=9c82867e809e5106e7d792a4146384db6bf7fa84)
Post by: Bigshooter on January 13, 2013, 09:39:16 PM
Post by: 3nails on January 13, 2013, 09:39:38 PM
Post by: bearpaw on January 13, 2013, 09:49:02 PM
Post by: Machias on January 14, 2013, 04:13:38 AM
What do you think caused the decrease in the beaver population?
Post by: Humptulips on January 14, 2013, 10:13:46 AM
Nice Bruce.
What do you think caused the decrease in the beaver population?
There is no doubt in my mind it is cougar. I see cougar sign everywhere. They are patrolling any beaver ponds with beaver sign. I see their tracks. Since 2000 no one has trapped a lot of this area and the few areas that have had any control work done there have been few beaver removed. I personally used to take 100 to 130 beaver a year out of this area and there were other trappers. I don't see anything else to blame it on.
Elk and deer populations are down to a shadow of there former numbers also. WDFW blames habitat and in some areas that may be a factor but in other areas the habitat is good and still no ungulates. I also hear people blame poachers, indians, and brush pickers for the lack of deer and elk but I doubt if they are out after beaver too so to me that is a red herring. I don't see any hair loss syndrome in the deer or hoof rot in the elk up here. That seems to have all been to the south. I don't think disease is a factor.
Years ago when I saw a cougar track on my trapline it was something to note. Now it is an everyday occurence. Cougar would not ever come to one of my bait sets then. They are in them all the time now. They are hungry and they are eating everything they can catch.
Post by: Machias on January 14, 2013, 10:19:28 AM
Post by: big wood on January 19, 2013, 12:05:32 PM
Post by: Humptulips on January 19, 2013, 08:23:16 PM
bruce , those beaver look awesome. any advice on fleshing them like that. I have put up two know and dont know how good they are?
I mostly clean skin my beaver. I do leave a little on, small bits. You can leave quite a bit around the legs. That seems to flesh off pretty good. Try and get the tail skinned clean as that is particularly hard to skin.
I skin on a table with a couple of cod hooks with the barbs filed off on shoe laces to hook in the beaver to pull against. Skin around 'till you get past the legs then hook the hooks in the legs and keep gentle pressure as you skin.
I use a pretty dull fleshing knife for most of the beaver but I use my beaver knife which is very sharp as a fleshing knife around the neck. The leather is very thick there and I actually thin it a little by scraping with my knife. You don't need to do that especially when starting out.
You will get better with practise. I remember words about putting up beaver from the old fur buyer I used to sell to as a kid, Fred Hjort. "The first hundred are the hardest" :chuckle:
Post by: Humptulips on January 20, 2013, 11:22:32 PM
I did however catch a pretty big otter today, only my 8th. I took the time to weigh him, 26 pounds. Not the biggest I ever saw but a nice big one.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0516_zpsb9f62b8a.jpg&hash=da689417c098cf32aacc1d304fe172d18892755d)
All done for the night.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0519_zpsb1b4af23.jpg&hash=7dcecdee48e68a3244ae505e7af1fcd941377502)
Post by: Bigshooter on January 20, 2013, 11:28:03 PM
Post by: hardkorrhunter on January 20, 2013, 11:54:02 PM
Post by: 3nails on January 21, 2013, 05:22:46 AM
Post by: Humptulips on January 21, 2013, 07:07:50 PM
Second first for me. I had the first ever chew out by a coyote in a cage trap. :cryriver:
Sorry forgot my camera again :violent1: but how big a hole do you think it takes a coyote to get out of a trap?
Answer: 5"x 5"
Post by: onetrapper on January 21, 2013, 07:13:02 PM
Post by: 3nails on January 21, 2013, 08:37:56 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on January 21, 2013, 08:56:33 PM
Post by: Turner89 on January 21, 2013, 09:21:33 PM
Post by: Humptulips on January 21, 2013, 11:04:56 PM
How long have you been using the cage traps? Was that a hard adjustment?
Boy was it ever a hard adjustment. I swore I would never use them when I-713 passed. Was I ever depressed! I went down to OR that year and took my Trapper ED test, next summer I took a trip down scouting and after that I trapped OR until four years ago. Then because of family commitments it became increasingly difficult to get away. I dabbled with the cages for the first couple years with some short breaks to OR. Last year I really got into experimenting and building traps to find something I liked.
I still don't have much figured out but at least I'm able to enjoy it. Catching enough not to get completely discouraged.
To tell the truth if I hadn't been forced into it I would still be going out of state.
Post by: Turner89 on January 24, 2013, 11:08:41 PM
I probably won't do anything this year, but defiantly next year. Do you build all of your traps? I stopped by the feed store on the way home tonite, and almost bought one for $35. (racoon size animals) Not counting, labor how much do you figure it cost you per trap?
Post by: pnwmtnmn on January 25, 2013, 02:29:42 PM
Post by: Humptulips on January 25, 2013, 08:09:21 PM
Cat traps and coon traps should be cheaper and of course small traps a lot cheaper. Takes a lot of time to build them though. Mostly I spend time trying to figure out a design that suits me.
Store bought traps: I have bought several and I don't like any of them. I honestly think if you want a decent trap that will actually catch stuff you have to build them yourself or buy something from one of the smaller cage makers that are actually trappers.
One other thing, it is pretty hard to make much of a catch if you only have a half dozen traps. The economics of buying 2 or 3 dozen cage traps is not there. Pretty hard to run much of a trapline without building your own.
Post by: hardkorrhunter on January 26, 2013, 07:39:04 PM
Post by: Humptulips on January 26, 2013, 07:54:00 PM
BOY IT SURE DOES BURN ALOT OF TIME BUILDING YOUR OWN TRAPS. I JUST BUILT MY FIRST ONE.HOW EASY ARE TRUE HOG RINGS TO INSTALL I IMPROVISED USING STAPLES DESIGNED FOR SPLICING BELTS TOGETHER AND THAT WAS A PAIN. :bdid:
C rings with the pliers made to put them on are pretty fast and easy to apply. Cheaper then hog rings too.
http://klubertanz.com/ (http://klubertanz.com/)
Get the 1" blunt c rings to go around 1/4" round stock and cage wire.
They cost about 1 1/2 cents/ring.
Post by: Humptulips on January 28, 2013, 06:49:53 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0520_zpsbf6f5204.jpg&hash=e7076edca45a6953663bd8c79d7a92f3c982ab1f)
The civets look better after they get dried out. Here's a little tip I use all the time on wet critters. I don't like to skin small animals unless they are dry so it takes a while in front of the fan to dry them out. I carry some old newspapers and roll each wet critter up in a section of the paper. They will be pretty darn dry when you get home with them.
Here's an idea I've been testing and it seems to work on civets. I made a trap out of a plastic newspaper tube. I just cut a piece of cage wire and attached it like you would the door on a colony trap. I drilled three holes in the top of the paper box and attached the cage wire with three c rings.
They go in but they don't come out. I'd like to find some tubes without holes in them. Haven't found them yet though. Without holes I could fill them with water when I had a civet. Be an easy dispatch.
Kind of thinking about trying it on mink.
Post by: 3nails on January 28, 2013, 07:40:57 PM
Post by: onetrapper on January 30, 2013, 10:38:54 AM
Post by: Humptulips on January 31, 2013, 06:01:10 PM
Caught this one yesterday. Did a little damage to the trap.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0522_zpsc5e2ac8f.jpg&hash=a9696a089c9fece4822ac222ca9615300e05fc36)
I managed to take a few pics. Here's the pond he came out of.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0526_zpsd773bfef.jpg&hash=ca0e4355c479f09a18f6e6e9812f30c53bd2def2)
Just below that pond there is this channel.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0523_zps332db675.jpg&hash=eeb5590df1fd090c54c8f29a043199cdfb15feb1)
New trap back in the channel.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0524_zpse2c1276b.jpg&hash=25dd57bbe796b8c3af60e910edc58ebf5154a6ff)
Set finished. Really hoping for an otter. There is zero beaver sign around here.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy137%2Fhumptulips%2FDSCN0525_zps0158bb87.jpg&hash=8281f8b8a464eca0bef6fe9fa69d9985a614aeb5)
Here's the results for the day. I know blurry! I'll never make a photo jounalist.
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Today.
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Post by: 3nails on January 31, 2013, 06:03:47 PM
Post by: Humptulips on January 31, 2013, 06:05:28 PM
Nice Job.sorry I missed you last time you went by Have you pretty much relocated your water line?
Mostly pulled but I have a few closer to town. I have a job I have to do down towards the Elkhorn flats. I'll give you a call when I go down there.
Post by: UrbanTrapper on February 01, 2013, 10:07:00 AM
Post by: seth30 on February 02, 2013, 08:03:31 AM
Post by: lokidog on February 02, 2013, 09:06:54 AM
When I get home from cruise I plan on taking the trapping class. Thank you for all the info on the thread :tup: What lure are you using for the skunks?
Socks from liberals, gets 'em all the time. :chuckle:
Post by: Humptulips on February 02, 2013, 06:46:12 PM
When I get home from cruise I plan on taking the trapping class. Thank you for all the info on the thread :tup: What lure are you using for the skunks?
Tainted beaver meat. I can't keep them out of my cat traps.
Post by: seth30 on February 02, 2013, 07:03:46 PM
Post by: Humptulips on February 02, 2013, 07:26:08 PM
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Post by: jk on February 02, 2013, 07:43:30 PM
Post by: Humptulips on February 02, 2013, 07:55:59 PM
I apologise for my ignorance but what is done with the beaver tails?Mostly nothing. There was a market for them at one time but people flooded them with tails and that ended. They made wallets out of them.
I wish there was a sale for them but not at this time.
Post by: trapperguy22 on February 02, 2013, 08:00:16 PM
Post by: Humptulips on February 02, 2013, 08:14:37 PM
Awesome job Bruce!!! Is that one of the traps you made?
Yep, I built them as a double door trap for cats. Didn't seem to work out. I set that one with just the one door open. They work as a double door swim through also.
Post by: jk on February 02, 2013, 08:17:48 PM
thank youI apologise for my ignorance but what is done with the beaver tails?Mostly nothing. There was a market for them at one time but people flooded them with tails and that ended. They made wallets out of them.
I wish there was a sale for them but not at this time.
Post by: UrbanTrapper on February 04, 2013, 09:29:21 PM
I like that idea! A trap that could be used for both cats and beaver really appeals to me. The cat has to brush up on a conibear-type trigger to fire the trap, right? Do you think gravity alone would be fast enough to drop the doors on a cat? How/where did you bait this trap for cats when you had it in the double door configuration?Awesome job Bruce!!! Is that one of the traps you made?
Yep, I built them as a double door trap for cats. Didn't seem to work out. I set that one with just the one door open. They work as a double door swim through also.
Post by: Humptulips on February 04, 2013, 10:57:38 PM
I thought if they went for the bait they would bump the trigger.
I never caight anything in it but a couple birds (turned loose) and civets. Civets are a real problem in it because I can't drown them. Had to shoot them. Not my idea of fun!
When I built it though I figured if it didn't work out I could tear the bait cage out and it would be ready to go in the water which is what I did.
On the recent cat I just opened one door and threw the bait at the other end.
Love/hate relationship with them though. They work great in a few places that are too wide for my other swim throughs and I have caught stuff in them but they are so big I hate to pack them far. If I catch a few more cats in them the balance will tip to loveing them a little more.
As far as gravity being enough I think that would work with a gillotine stlye door for cats fine. It would then not work as a swim through though.
In water it lays wide way down and for cats narrow way down. Gravity doors would make you choose one or the other but you could not do both.
Post by: Humptulips on February 22, 2013, 11:49:16 PM
Crappy weather finally got some movement. Caught this guy thursday in half rain half snow kind of weather. Lousy picture but a nice cat, 30 pound tom. best colored belly this year after I got the mud washed off.
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Turned a kitten loose but didn't get any pictures. My bad as they say.
All my water sets are pulled. Just a few cat sets out.
Post by: fatslinger on February 23, 2013, 09:18:32 AM
Post by: bearpaw on February 23, 2013, 09:50:02 AM
Post by: Humptulips on February 23, 2013, 12:17:42 PM
Did you move the trap for the picture? Or do you leave the floor of the trap uncovered? I've been spending the time to cover the floor of the trap w/ dirt, maybe that's my problem.
That is where the trap was set. I do always cover the floor of the trap but the cat uncovered it. I also cover the top and sides but I uncovered things a bit to get the picture.
This one I had a piece of bait and no trap in the location for maybe 10 days. A cat came and ate all of the bait except the bones. I then set the trap. I took 5 days for him to comeback and go in the trap.
I had another similar spot where I set a trap but the cat for whatever reason wouldn't co in the cage when it returned. Not sure what the answer is to getting some cats to commit.
Post by: Humptulips on March 02, 2013, 12:16:33 AM
Not happy though.
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Post by: 3nails on March 02, 2013, 06:19:44 AM
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 02, 2013, 07:24:39 AM
Post by: CementFinisher on March 02, 2013, 07:46:53 AM
Post by: UrbanTrapper on March 02, 2013, 08:22:15 AM
Post by: CementFinisher on March 02, 2013, 08:31:55 AM
Post by: Humptulips on March 02, 2013, 10:49:37 AM
Nice! Will you keep your cat sets out right until the end?
Yes, I think I will. I don't have many sets out so I have room to move them around.
Post by: Humptulips on March 02, 2013, 11:09:48 AM
How much for Civets?
Last year I received $18 for all mine to one party, private sale. I thought I would be able to sell to him again but that fell through so a bunch of them will go to NAFA this year and I am not sure what they will bring. I have sold there in the past and received as high as $21 avg and as low as $2. You just can't tell with them. I haven't sold any there in a while as I have had private markets. For a long time I sold them to a guy in MT for $13 avg. That fell through with the wolves :dunno: Hard to figure right. He had a small store that depended on the tourist trade and sold them to hunters mostly as wall hangers. Civets are rare everyplace but the PNW. Any way with wolves no hunters and no sale for civets.
I have also sold them for taxidermy a couple years but it is more work. feet have to be skinned a few measurements made, ears turned also. I sold them for $30 to $50 but it is one at a time sales.
I also sell the skulls and at times the carcasses. I have sold quite a few of the carcasses to the University of Wisconsin for $20. Some years they want them some they don't but I always save the skulls and sell them.
Post by: fatslinger on March 02, 2013, 04:45:27 PM
Post by: onetrapper on March 02, 2013, 06:21:45 PM
Post by: Humptulips on March 07, 2013, 12:04:19 AM
Small beaver, LM and a pretty nice tom bobcat, poor color but they all are here.
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That was a real feisty bobcat. Never had one damage a trap before but this one did. Took a few pictures of the trap damage but this is the only one that wasn't blury. There will be some patching going on tomorrow. Just made the trap this year and it has caught two beaver and otter and now a cat so I guess it has earned a little repair work.
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Another story to tell. I was kind of sweating on this one, worried all night. I went to check a cat set the other day about a quarter mile beyond a locked gate, Forest Service walk in only. Getting close to the trap and I hear a bear cub bauling from the direction of my trap. Momma bear is eating grass along the road about 40 feet from the trap. I was just sure I had that cub in the trap. Even fired my gun and she wouldn't leave, just stood up and looked my way. I was afraid to go close as I only had my 22 pistol, shorts in it to boot. It was late in the day so there was no way I could make it home and back before dark. Went the next day with my rifle, 300 WSM. It was all a false alarm as there was nothing in the trap. What a relief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know what the heck that bear and cub were doing out. It was snowing at the time for Christs sake. Pulled the trap because I didn't want to get in that situation again if she comes out.
Post by: kirkdekalb on March 07, 2013, 01:29:26 AM
That was a good one!
Post by: dbfalls on March 09, 2013, 01:01:12 PM
Post by: Humptulips on March 09, 2013, 08:13:53 PM
Post by: seth30 on March 14, 2013, 09:59:56 AM
Post by: Humptulips on March 15, 2013, 06:33:10 PM
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Post by: 3nails on March 15, 2013, 07:04:05 PM
Post by: hardkorrhunter on March 15, 2013, 07:20:46 PM
Post by: Humptulips on March 15, 2013, 07:42:31 PM
Thats awesome cant wait for my turn. Im movin two up on the mountain and now i got beaver for bait. Are you trappin cats up high or down low?
Pretty low but this one came from the east side of 101 close to Quinault Ridge. Seems like the cats are all better in that area from my experience in the past.
Post by: Humptulips on March 21, 2013, 07:51:47 PM
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I'd almost given up on this set. I put out a bait there and left it for a long time. Finally got tired of checking and didn't look at it for over a week. What do you know a cat came in and ate the bait. It was practically liquified. So I put in a trap and of course my high hopes gradually went lower and lower as days went by with no action. Two weeks went by but today their he was sitting in the trap. I guess he didn't go by that spot very often. Picked a couple civets too. Up to 38 on them.
Post by: bearpaw on March 21, 2013, 07:54:24 PM
Post by: ouchfoss on March 21, 2013, 09:35:22 PM
Post by: NoImpactNoIdea on March 23, 2013, 01:03:30 PM
Post by: UrbanTrapper on March 24, 2013, 04:59:46 AM
Had a little luck today, brought this fella home:How do you determine that it was a cat that ate the bait you had out before you put the trap in?
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I'd almost given up on this set. I put out a bait there and left it for a long time. Finally got tired of checking and didn't look at it for over a week. What do you know a cat came in and ate the bait. It was practically liquified. So I put in a trap and of course my high hopes gradually went lower and lower as days went by with no action. Two weeks went by but today their he was sitting in the trap. I guess he didn't go by that spot very often. Picked a couple civets too. Up to 38 on them.
Post by: Humptulips on March 24, 2013, 08:16:13 PM
Other method I have used is to put up a run pole and hang the bait at least 5 feet up in a tree. That eliminates coyote as they will not climb to get the bait. If I have problems with coyotes I do that.
Post by: Humptulips on March 24, 2013, 08:18:05 PM
Put in 4 new sets in a new area the other day and they paid off in spades.
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Post by: ouchfoss on March 24, 2013, 10:03:19 PM
Post by: trapperguy22 on March 25, 2013, 08:01:35 AM
Post by: Humptulips on March 25, 2013, 07:29:05 PM
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Post by: Boss .300 winmag on March 25, 2013, 07:49:26 PM
Post by: h2ofowlr on March 25, 2013, 08:08:23 PM
Post by: 3nails on March 25, 2013, 08:23:59 PM
Post by: Humptulips on March 25, 2013, 08:55:23 PM
Great pictures. Is this a hobby or are you a state paid nuisance officer?
There is no such animal as a state paid nuisance officer but no I am not employed by any agency to trap.
Have to call it a hobby.
Post by: trapperguy22 on March 25, 2013, 10:05:38 PM
Post by: Bigshooter on March 26, 2013, 07:32:18 AM
Post by: SunnySlopes on March 26, 2013, 07:36:59 AM
Post by: Machias on March 26, 2013, 09:09:03 AM