Post by: Smossy on February 15, 2014, 06:22:49 PM
Also to add, In this same location we've also found LOTS of damage from recent beaver activity. They're turning this beautiful area that Ive always loved into a waste of downed tree's and Im really wanting to get them out of there asap. Theres 3 large tree's freshly downed and one more half gnawed through that's about the 3 feet across. Pretty big tree to, Seen about 4 or 5 large access points on the shore so I know Ill be able to get one atlesat. If anyone has a beaver trap I can borrow or buy for a bit Id really appreciate it. I may not be able to build/purchase one for the next few weeks and at the rate its/theyre eating through stuff, who knows what else will be destroyed, 6 months ago there was no sign of beaver, now this - I want them out of there.
Ill try to post photos in a bit and if anyone recognizes the area please keep it to yourself :dunno:
Post by: 3nails on February 15, 2014, 06:39:52 PM
Post by: Smossy on February 15, 2014, 06:45:02 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi60.tinypic.com%2F15ed6kj.jpg&hash=63250b5f794b829eaf9c67488446dc5cb565cc02)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi58.tinypic.com%2Fx4rtk8.jpg&hash=d25ccb4a44ecbe99711b13f99d69cdd941831a4a)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi58.tinypic.com%2F1fkdh1.jpg&hash=502dd694470edfc662e52e5ae192e1485aecfd96)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi59.tinypic.com%2F2py56vk.jpg&hash=0aea4a3f03b73f9851289d9b53cb2ac6231e0016)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi57.tinypic.com%2Fot3plz.jpg&hash=dd17c5d192d65df6f31153f023de50bc51dfe069)
Post by: Smossy on February 15, 2014, 06:46:32 PM
And so it begins......... :chuckle: You'll wake up in the middle of the night and be like, "Hmmmm.... I wonder if anything went in. Did I put it in the right spot? What can I sell to get more traps? Do I really need two kidneys?....." Good luck and have fun!Lol Im already wondering, Im debating if I should check them tomorrow or wait until monday, Its about a 40 minute drive from home. Having a hard time really finding any promising area's really.
Post by: pd on February 15, 2014, 09:20:28 PM
Post by: Bigluke1981 on February 15, 2014, 10:11:43 PM
Post by: kramer on February 15, 2014, 11:06:15 PM
Post by: Smossy on February 16, 2014, 01:49:39 PM
Was setting for muskrat in about 2-3 feet of water, was a big surprise to find no muskrat and 1 out of 3 traps had a mink in it. Was super exciting to say the least.
I'm hooked. Only problem is I dont have a fleshing OR stretching board for mink right now :bash: was never expecting to get one just yet.
So now I need to find a way to preserve it until I can place an order for materials.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi57.tinypic.com%2F308xi8k.jpg&hash=a4187b5b07e2951b8c77c69dc682a6b03516de59)
Post by: trapperguy22 on February 16, 2014, 01:57:59 PM
Post by: Smossy on February 16, 2014, 01:59:52 PM
for now just dry it then skin it and then roll it up and put it in a bag and throw it in the freezer it will be fine till you get a mink baord. you can flesh it right on the board with a large spoon not much to flesh on a mink.Ok thanks for the info. :tup: Put in like a plastic bag? leather/skin side in when I roll it up?
Post by: hardkorrhunter on February 16, 2014, 02:09:03 PM
Post by: jackmaster on February 16, 2014, 02:10:43 PM
.
Post by: earlmarne on February 16, 2014, 02:20:41 PM
Post by: 3nails on February 16, 2014, 02:33:34 PM
Post by: bearpaw on February 16, 2014, 02:52:05 PM
Post by: dbfalls on February 16, 2014, 02:59:14 PM
Post by: Cultusman on February 16, 2014, 03:22:11 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on February 16, 2014, 03:56:15 PM
Post by: Smossy on February 16, 2014, 04:36:44 PM
Good job ...your hooked for life until you have to skin a couple dozen in a day .. :chuckle: :tup: :tup: Stinky little buggers ...So for now, I just put him whole into a large garbage back, pulled as much air out as I could and placed him in the freezer door. (I dried him out real well first)
Just until Im order to get my stretching/fleshing boards in.
Post by: PolarBear on February 16, 2014, 04:44:53 PM
Post by: whackmaster on February 16, 2014, 05:07:04 PM
Post by: Machias on February 16, 2014, 05:30:16 PM
Post by: cwbobcathunter on February 16, 2014, 05:38:55 PM
Post by: Turner89 on February 16, 2014, 05:42:26 PM
Post by: Smossy on February 16, 2014, 05:49:17 PM
When I worked at a fur processor we would sometimes get slammed and not have enough time to flesh/prep/salt the animals we bought. In that event we would skin them, roll them up flesh side in so they made a ball. Then wrap them up tight with saran wrap until you could not see the fur through the saran. We would load freezers full of coons/cats/beaver etc. in this manner then when the season slowed down we would pull them out the night before and work them the following day when thawed. Did this many of times and never had a slippage/dry rot issue. Just make sure you skin them out in a timely fashion if you plan on freezing them this way, same day preferred.I just froze it whole. Is that bad?
Post by: Smossy on February 16, 2014, 08:29:40 PM
No, sounds like you dried it so you should be just fine. If you were talking about leaving it in for 6 months then maybe you would see some freezer burn around the nose, eyes and lips. For a week or so no worries, just make sure you let it fully thaw before you go tugging on it so you don't rip out hair that is frozen to itself. Little critters are nice cause they don't take as long to thaw, carcass cougars on the other hand take days...Ok perfect. Thats what I wanted to hear.
Post by: jackmaster on February 16, 2014, 09:00:14 PM
Post by: Smossy on February 16, 2014, 09:12:19 PM
Almost, its always best to skin them either the day you catch them or the next, wether you have stretchers or not, if you want come on over and I will teach you how to make stretchers so you dont have to waist money buying them, thus leaving more money for traps or trap making material, and remember when you catch a beaver save the candies hang them on a wire and dry them, once driedyou grind and mix with glycerine that way you dont gotta buy beaver lure...Ok well you can show me how to do the whole beaver stuff. :tup:
Post by: jackmaster on February 16, 2014, 09:17:32 PM
Post by: MLBowhunting on February 16, 2014, 09:21:04 PM
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on February 16, 2014, 09:38:08 PM
Almost, its always best to skin them either the day you catch them or the next, wether you have stretchers or not, if you want come on over and I will teach you how to make stretchers so you dont have to waist money buying them, thus leaving more money for traps or trap making material, and remember when you catch a beaver save the castors hang them on a wire and dry them, once driedyou grind and mix with glycerine that way you dont gotta buy beaver lure...
I made stretchers for beaver out of round pieces of plywood with circles drawn on them for the different sizes and used small nails to attach them.
Post by: jackmaster on February 16, 2014, 09:42:58 PM
we did that to, its actually easier than sewing them onto a hoop thats for sure, some of the super blankets its the only way to go..Almost, its always best to skin them either the day you catch them or the next, wether you have stretchers or not, if you want come on over and I will teach you how to make stretchers so you dont have to waist money buying them, thus leaving more money for traps or trap making material, and remember when you catch a beaver save the castors hang them on a wire and dry them, once driedyou grind and mix with glycerine that way you dont gotta buy beaver lure...
I made stretchers for beaver out of round pieces of plywood with circles drawn on them for the different sizes and used small nails to attach them.
Post by: Smossy on February 16, 2014, 09:46:50 PM
I dont have the room for multiple big boards really.we did that to, its actually easier than sewing them onto a hoop thats for sure, some of the super blankets its the only way to go..Almost, its always best to skin them either the day you catch them or the next, wether you have stretchers or not, if you want come on over and I will teach you how to make stretchers so you dont have to waist money buying them, thus leaving more money for traps or trap making material, and remember when you catch a beaver save the castors hang them on a wire and dry them, once driedyou grind and mix with glycerine that way you dont gotta buy beaver lure...
I made stretchers for beaver out of round pieces of plywood with circles drawn on them for the different sizes and used small nails to attach them.
Post by: jackmaster on February 16, 2014, 09:49:17 PM
Post by: Smossy on February 16, 2014, 09:49:41 PM
They dont take up any more room than a beaver on a hoop :tup:YOUR a beaver on a hoop.
Post by: Becky on February 16, 2014, 10:02:13 PM
Post by: RadSav on February 16, 2014, 10:22:30 PM
But I have to ask. Have you gone Amish?
Post by: Smossy on February 16, 2014, 10:24:15 PM
I just got back into town and saw the thread. Congrats on the Mink. Pretty cool!Welcome back brother, And NO Ive gone cave man :chuckle:
But I have to ask. Have you gone Amish?
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on February 16, 2014, 11:55:22 PM
When I worked at a fur processor we would sometimes get slammed and not have enough time to flesh/prep/salt the animals we bought. In that event we would skin them, roll them up flesh side in so they made a ball. Then wrap them up tight with saran wrap until you could not see the fur through the saran. We would load freezers full of coons/cats/beaver etc. in this manner then when the season slowed down we would pull them out the night before and work them the following day when thawed. Did this many of times and never had a slippage/dry rot issue. Just make sure you skin them out in a timely fashion if you plan on freezing them this way, same day preferred.I just froze it whole. Is that bad?
A lot of times in Alaska, the animals are frozen in the trap (if using body grip traps) or freeze on the way back to camp. This is handy actually if you are catching multiple animals and have time constraints for working them in the evening. You just thaw out as many as you figure you can work on that evening, and save the rest for whenever you have more time.
The best furs I ever saw came from a couple of Polish refugees who jumped ship in Kodiak when I lived there. One of them had worked on a fur farm in Poland and man did he know fur and was he ever handy. They lived (camped) in a camper out of town and didn't have much money to buy traps and gear, but that didn't matter. Alex built all their traps from spring steel they got at the wrecking yard. (He welded and fabricated too) They also bought cable and toggles and made their own snares. Alex also built a large (100 gallon) tumbler out of scrap wood they found and they filled it full of wood chips. The final step of their fur care, they'd put a little white gas on the wood chips, then tumble the hides in it. Alex explained that this was to get any remaining grease off the fur. Then they'd hang them and brush them out nicely before marketing them.
Post by: bearpaw on February 17, 2014, 12:34:08 AM
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,147666.msg1958344/topicseen.html#new (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,147666.msg1958344/topicseen.html#new)
Post by: Smossy on February 18, 2014, 08:37:08 PM
So I went out to check my traps right, I set them in about 2-3 feet of water..
With all this rain weve been having I knew flooding was gonna be bad but wow. There was an additional 3-4 feet :yike: noo chance to even reach my traps If I even knew exactly where they were... I managed to luckily hook ONE with my pole and there was nothing in it..
Ive got a 7 foot pole with a small hook on the end and everythings out of reach...so depressing, specially if there's anything in any of the traps. Im gonna feel really bad because at this point I dont think theyre gonna be salvagable for atleast a few days. Not sure how long the furs will even be good for.
Learned a few things already. Flag where your traps are, get a bigger pole/hook for retreival, and bring garbage bags.
Post by: 3nails on February 18, 2014, 08:56:43 PM
Post by: Smossy on February 18, 2014, 09:01:52 PM
Wait for the water to go down and then retrieve them. THEY ARE NOT WORTH GAMMBLING YOUR SAFETY!!! If there is anything in them they'll be fine for a couple of days.Ok man hopefully your right. I dont think the waters gonna recide that much within a few days but Im hopeful. The water was extremely deep even on the edge of the drop off (same place I stood 2 days ago that was completely dry) everything looks different so I can barely determine whats what or where.
Definetly creepy wading a creek edge at night though with limited light. Seen 2 muskrats swim by though so the area's real promising.
Post by: Humptulips on February 18, 2014, 09:54:17 PM
Post by: Smossy on February 18, 2014, 10:04:47 PM
If there is something in the trap it should keep for up to a week. Just get to it as soon as the water receeds and you will be allright.Ok bruce thanks man. Just what I needed to hear, Id feel like a d-bag if I pulled a trap with something in it and it was worthless. I don't like taking lives for no reason.
Post by: Smossy on February 19, 2014, 11:33:12 PM
Post by: mrmoskillz on February 20, 2014, 08:41:27 AM
Post by: h20hunter on February 20, 2014, 08:46:13 AM
Post by: jackelope on February 20, 2014, 08:48:50 AM
Ok Smossy....time to up this to a new level......I'm thinking GoPro in a trap....I know of course the chances of getting a "trap" on film are slim due to recording lenght and battery life but hey...if you don't try it will never work. Keep the pics and updates coming.
Trail cam in video mode.
:dunno:
Post by: h20hunter on February 20, 2014, 08:51:32 AM
Post by: Becky on February 20, 2014, 08:58:50 AM
Ok Smossy....time to up this to a new level......I'm thinking GoPro in a trap....I know of course the chances of getting a "trap" on film are slim due to recording lenght and battery life but hey...if you don't try it will never work. Keep the pics and updates coming.
We were talking about this the other day.. biggest issues are - 1) thieves getting a nice $200+ camera after thinking they're only getting a trap and 2) it's very dark water, probably couldn't see a dang thing. Would be cool to set the traps with the camera and stay there for a hangout session and then pull the camera before we left though.
Post by: Smossy on February 20, 2014, 08:21:58 PM
Ok Smossy....time to up this to a new level......I'm thinking GoPro in a trap....I know of course the chances of getting a "trap" on film are slim due to recording lenght and battery life but hey...if you don't try it will never work. Keep the pics and updates coming.If there was some super extended battery pack I could get setup. Totally.
Almost wondering if there is some type of converter you could bring that hooks straight to a car battery. Hide the car battery with a long extension/converter to the gopro, then run the gopro off aux power. It would run until the camera's full!
Post by: Smossy on February 22, 2014, 08:45:35 PM
My Nemesis! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Me7cOHFqE#ws)
Post by: 3nails on February 22, 2014, 08:57:39 PM
Post by: Smossy on February 22, 2014, 09:04:21 PM
Find his channel Smossy and you'll get your first beaver! :oHard to find, everythings flooded and hard to access, Some of the water is probably 10 feet deep. I did find a small channel on the side of though that looks like it may have been used, hard to explain what it looks like though.
Post by: Moss Back on February 22, 2014, 10:14:39 PM
Post by: Smossy on February 22, 2014, 10:37:09 PM
I have a 12 aluminum boat i can loan you.. i would need it back for opening day of fishing. Last Saturday of April. P.M. if your interested.Does it have a trailer? If not its a no go :( We have a 14 foot alum also but it has a problem with holding water out :chuckle: and we have no trailer.
Post by: Moss Back on February 22, 2014, 10:50:07 PM
Post by: Smossy on March 08, 2014, 01:37:36 PM
But I did finally skin my mink last night and let me tell ya, That was a learning experience for sure. Wound up ripping the last 2 inches or so of the tail completely off :bash: Took me probably an hour just to skin that thing but I must say other then the tail it came out great, No holes, Got the full lip, ears, eyes cut perfect.
Definetly cut through the scent glands in the back :puke: Still not completely sure where they are or what they look like but let me tell ya, That's one heck of a smell lol. Goodthing I was outside.
Gonna just keep the pelt for myself since its my first one so not too concerned about how good/bad I did but I do want to get it tanned..
Anyone know the going price for that and where to get it done? Im in the Spanaway/Graham/Roy/Yelm area.
Also, If Im not mistaken, It was a pretty big mink. I bought all the assorted mink board sizes from FNT post and out of the biggest board, He almost stretches the whole thing and probably could fit a wider board. :dunno: Ill try to get a length later.
Post by: Smossy on March 08, 2014, 07:30:41 PM
Post by: big wood on March 08, 2014, 07:34:33 PM
Post by: Smossy on March 08, 2014, 07:39:32 PM
nice buck mink. pretty lucky catching him in a colony trap bottom edge set. congratsYeah thanks man, I think it was basically a fluke. Put there but someone higher just to keep me interested because I haven't caught a thing since. :chuckle:
Post by: big wood on March 08, 2014, 08:33:02 PM
Post by: Smossy on March 08, 2014, 08:38:56 PM
keep at it. It's harder and a lot more work than people think. get geared up for next year and get an earlier start. usually after hunting season for me which is around 12/1 (fur is starting to prime up anyway) I know you started pretty late. pm me if you have any questionsSounds good man, Yeah I started in the end of feb, When I got that mink was literally my first trap set which was only a few weeks ago.
Post by: Humptulips on March 08, 2014, 08:46:08 PM
So still nothing to add to the collection..
But I did finally skin my mink last night and let me tell ya, That was a learning experience for sure. Wound up ripping the last 2 inches or so of the tail completely off :bash: Took me probably an hour just to skin that thing but I must say other then the tail it came out great, No holes, Got the full lip, ears, eyes cut perfect.
Definetly cut through the scent glands in the back :puke: Still not completely sure where they are or what they look like but let me tell ya, That's one heck of a smell lol. Goodthing I was outside.
Gonna just keep the pelt for myself since its my first one so not too concerned about how good/bad I did but I do want to get it tanned..
Anyone know the going price for that and where to get it done? Im in the Spanaway/Graham/Roy/Yelm area.
Also, If Im not mistaken, It was a pretty big mink. I bought all the assorted mink board sizes from FNT post and out of the biggest board, He almost stretches the whole thing and probably could fit a wider board. :dunno: Ill try to get a length later.
Look at Moyle Mink and Tanneries website if you want it tanned. www.moytown.com (http://www.moytown.com)
They do a good job at a low price. With shipping probably less then $25.