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Author Topic: Planning your Trap Line  (Read 1818 times)

Offline Uncle Juju

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Planning your Trap Line
« on: September 04, 2019, 12:06:52 PM »
Just curios as to how you guys plan your season.
Do you just randomly pic an area?
Once you catch critters, how many do you take from an area?
How long will you leave traps in an area before you take them to a new area?

This will be my second year! I have some ground picked out, found a few beaver ponds! Super excited for Nov.
Every day is a new day to prove how awesome you are!

The impossible just takes a little longer!

Offline Trapper John

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Re: Planning your Trap Line
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2019, 07:02:02 PM »

Howdy   :hello:
Well when it comes to beaver, I estimate how many are in the pond ............ if you're trapping a small pond.
My first check should tell me what is there.  If I catch one two year old (30#-40#) than I will stay and get the other one.
* Remember: you want the surplus beaver not the breading stock or the kits.
 Almost the same for rivers too except some of these big rivers have not been trapped for a few years due to fur prices so you can grab a few big boys here.
** Don't Start Early **  Beaver don't prime up until late December, first of the year and then their good until the first or middle of March.

Muskrat trapping I would start the first of November.  What I do is set one day, check the next and pull on the third day.  Reason is that you will have most 50-60% of the muskrats the first check, second check maybe another 15-20% and the third you'll be lucky to get 5%.  Remember you don't want to take everything there, you need to leave seed for next year.

I would trap muskrat until freeze up and than quit until spring.  Spring comes go back after them before breeding starts.  Once it starts ....... "Stop"  They will chew up one another.

We don't get enough ice around here o the west-side to make it worth losing your life over a few muskrats.  My trapping partner and I went over to eastern Washington a few years ago and started trapping on thick ice.  Two day later we were walking on 3" or less.  It warmed up one day and the next day we took our lives in our hands.  We got to everything, broke through a couple of times in shallow water, thank god.  I little scary.

Just remember go after what every you want but wait until it is prime.  You owe it to youirself to get the most money out of that animal or if you are going to tan it for your ownself same thing, go when they are prime.  You owe it to yourself but most of all you owe it to the animal.
Have fun and be safe.
JC   :hello:





Offline Humptulips

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Re: Planning your Trap Line
« Reply #2 on: September 07, 2019, 10:57:31 PM »
There was a time when I pretty much had every good spot for beaver and otter mapped out. I found it really didn't do much good to check on beaver spots early. I would make a quick prospecting trip within two weeks of the season. Otter spots were mostly the same ones every year. Cats, I had an idea but kind of by seat of my pants setting.
Especially beaver, I would have each stop figured for the first few days to get the most sets out and stay ahead of the competition.
Things have changed though. The season is so long, the prices are so low and I never run into another trapper. I just don't do much until I decide to go trapping.
I have three pre-orders for civets so I will set the same places I did last year for them. I don't expect any competitors.
Bruce Vandervort

Offline ctwiggs1

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Re: Planning your Trap Line
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2019, 09:52:20 PM »
Just curious - what does a muskrat, otter, or beaver pelt go for??

Offline Trapper John

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Re: Planning your Trap Line
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2019, 07:29:48 PM »
Just curious - what does a muskrat, otter, or beaver pelt go for??

The way the market is today:
Muskrat - $.350 - $5.00 for Jumbo's maybe
Otter - $ 30.00 - $40.00 Tops maybe
Beaver - this item is going to the "Hater Trade" - $10.00 for Suppers if your lucky

And remember everyone, these are for "PRIME" animal skins.
So don't start early !
JC 



Offline ctwiggs1

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Re: Planning your Trap Line
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2019, 07:39:21 PM »
Gazooks

Thanks for all the info!

 


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