Trapping Supplies Review

So much technology, information and automation seems to make our practical knowledge and real-world skills atrophy. For instance, this AP article by Beth Harpaz talks about how many teenagers today have not ever used a can opener or ice cube trays (High-tech World May Spawn a Generation of Nincompoops). This article is an eye-opener! Fact is, technology and prosperity have made us lazy and weak, and this effect only seems to multiply with each generation. Increasingly, we seem to live in this sterile atmosphere where everything is comfortably provided and basic life skills have become the work of "skilled labor." I mean, who changes their own oil, or fixes their plumbing, or grows their own food.....or makes their own ice cubes?

So, what does all this have to do with trapping? I think trapping is one more practical skill that is slowly being lost. There was a time when many people trapped, and if you go back far enough, there was a time in our history when probably most people trapped. It was a useful skill that used a renewable resource for food, fur and income, and brought balance to the environment in the process. It made sense to do, and it made sense to learn it and teach it to the next generation. We've come pretty far since those days, but trapping is still a great example of a life skill with a practical purpose. It is no coincidence that trapping is historically associated with some of the most self-reliant and innovative people in American history; it is a skill for the practical man. Seems to me that the challenge of trapping also engenders the quality of self-reliance; the trappers I know are "do-it-yourself" kind of people with a wide range of other life skills.

In this push-button age where practical skills are declining, I think it's a good idea to buck the trend and learn some new skills. It's just more fulfilling to know how to do things. I have a few ideas about things I'm going to learn to do myself, but one of the things you can bet I'll do is teach my kids to trap. Trapping is an all-in-one education about the natural world, and a practical skill that will keep you learning for a lifetime. It will get your hands dirty, and the more time a man spends close to the earth, the more "down to earth" his thoughts and his life will be. That's the way I see it.

So, teach a kid to trap.....and for heaven's sake, while you're at it teach him to use an ice cube tray too!

Numerous articles are popping up about the drastic decline in muskrat populations. I've noticed this but wasn't sure if it was just me or a real trend. Looks like it's for real, but nobody seems to have any answers explaining why. In a recent Tribune-Review article I found this statistic amazing: In Pennsylvania the muskrat harvest went from 621,111 in 1984 to 74,059 in 2008. A huge drop, and the article reports that the number of muskrat trappers has remained about the same throughout that time. You can read the rest of the article here: Muskrat Population Suffers Drastic Decline.

Alan Probst recently announced that the F&T North American Trapper TV show will return the week of September 27th on the Pursuit Channel (DirecTV channel 608). The airtimes are Tuesdays at 8:30am, Fridays at 11:30pm and Saturdays at 7:30pm EST. The sponsors of the show are F&T Post, Duke Traps, the NTA, Outdoor Edge Knives, Trapper & Predator Caller magazine and Excalibur Crossbows. USAFOXX has declined to go forth with their sponsorship of the show so Excalibur Crossbows has taken their place. Lastly, the show will also broadcast on Dish Network starting in late December.

by Tony Hursman

Cage traps are an important tool for catching animals and may have a place on most traplines. They will catch and hold animals alive and damage free. You may get more trapping ground by having this ability because most farmers have cats and dogs, and cage traps are by far the best traps to use when domestic animals are part of the situation.

District 3 of the PA Trapper's Association held their annual Trapper's School today, and what a great day it was. Some experienced guys taught some very helpful demos covering the whole range of furbearing species in the area. Basically it's a day full of demos with a good lunch and a good opportunity to make some new friends and catch up with some old ones. If your local district doesn't have an event like this it is a great thing to consider starting. Some folks can't always make it out to see the demos at state or national conventions, but a local event like this makes it easier, and there's nothing better than hands-on instruction from guys who really know their stuff.

John Wilkinson doing a beaver demo

Doug Bergman demonstrating cable restraints

"Best Grub East of the Pecos"

We've come a long way in the technology we use on the trapline, and here's the latest example: the Tele-Trap Notifier. It's basically a device that can be attached to any cage trap that will send a cell phone message to you when the trap is fired. I don't think the average trapper will find much use for a device like this. After all, walking your line in the early morning light to check your sets is half the fun of trapping (plus the fact that this sucker costs $350 a pop). However, I can see how this device would be useful to professional ADC trappers. It may save a lot on costly trips to visually check traps in remote locations, and time is money to the professional nuisance trapper. I can also see how this device would benefit wildlife control companies that put out many traps in multiple locations throughout suburbia. The device would seem limited to use on cage traps, too, although the manufacturers claim it can be used with foothold traps and conibears (I can't really see how that would work so well, but that's what they claim). But cage traps, of course, are one of the main tools of nuisance trappers. You won't see me giving up the pleasure of checking my traps, but I can see how this technology would be a great benefit in some situations. You can check it out here.

The stories about coyotes roaming urban neighborhoods are coming fast and furious over the news wire. The latest example is from Chicago, complete with a video of a coyote walking around a playground in broad daylight. Of course, "concerned parents called Animal Care and Control," says the story (link). I think it's a sign of the times that the perceived solution to an increasingly bold overpopulation of predators is concerned urbanite parents calling a government agency called Animal Care and Control. I wonder if they took good care of the coyote? But I digress. Here's the video:

I've noticed in the past few years that muskrat populations seem to be declining, at least in my neck of the woods in PA. Apparently that's the case throughout the Northeast. A recent article in the Times Leader talks about studies being done by the PA Game Commission to determine the reason. Tom Hardisky, a furbearer biologist, thinks that cleaner water may actually be part of the problem. Here's a quote from the article which can be found at this link:

“In Northeastern Pennsylvania, where I grew up, muskrats have basically disappeared from many areas, and I haven’t seen a comeback,” Hardisky said. “Farm ponds are the only areas in the northeast where there are still some muskrats. In the rivers and streams it’s way down.”

Reasons for the decline are still being tossed around by biologists, but disease, at least in Pennsylvania, has almost been completely ruled out because populations usually rebound a few years after an outbreak occurs.

Hardisky said impacts of heavy metals or pesticide contamination also don’t seem to be factors either. Predation is a partial factor, he added, as muskrats are a popular prey species for great-horned owls, red-tailed hawks and mink.

Still, increased predation might be pointing biologists to the main reason why muskrat populations are plummeting. “The cause of high predation goes back to habitat,” Hardisky said. “It goes back to streambank conditions. It all has the symptoms of a bigger problem – environmental changes. One of those changes is cleaner water.”

In the past, when runoff from farms and residential areas was discharged directly into waterways, the increased nutrient load caused vegetation along streams and rivers to flourish. In turn, muskrats benefited from a lush food source and thick cover.

Also, before flood control measures resulted in the banks of streams and rivers being covered in riprap, those shorelines were generally dirt and muskrats were able to easily burrow and make dens. Today, the riprap, which is large stones, prevent muskrats from burrowing and prohibits vegetation from growing on banks.

If less runoff and cleaner water is really the cause of muskrat decline, it's hard to imagine what the solution would be. I doubt anyone will turn back our present water quality standards for the sake of building muskrat habitat. It will be interesting to see if this theory is really confirmed, and what a solution might look like.

J.C. Desclos, the author of this excellent article, is an accomplished outdoorsman and artist. He is the founder of the Swamp Talk Forum and his artwork can be seen on his other website J.C. Desclos Outdoors. This particular article is one of the best I've ever seen on the subject of trap preparation. Thank you J.C. for sharing your experience and insights!

The International Fur Trade Federation is an organization that promotes the fur industry and supports trapping in many ways. They have an interesting website where I recently came across an article called "A Life in the Fur Trade - An Insider's Perspective." (link) The article is about the career and experiences of Andreas Lenhart, the chairman of IFTF. I found this quote by him especially interesting:

“The biggest challenges I have experienced are without a shadow of a doubt the actions of animal rights organizations” says Lenhart: “It shocked me deeply to see how they attacked our trade in a very disrespectful and non-negotiable way. The violent attacks on people as well as businesses were an absolute downside of my life in the fur trade. It still saddens me that the attacks had no ethics, no dignity, no room for conversation or respect. Despite the hard work and love for their industry, the reputation of countless family businesses was contaminated. Feeling that you almost had to apologize to belong to your trade was hard to bear and is fundamentally unjust.”

“On the upside, it is heart-warming to see that lots of people, in and around the industry stayed loyal. Family driven businesses, great retailers, distributors, dynamic and refreshing designers, editors of countless magazines, and - let’s not forget - loyal clients have kept this industry thriving. The passion, skill, and dedication of these people have made the fur trade a better, responsible industry that has a firm place in today’s society. The loyalty of all people concerned, and the support we got even in the most difficult times kept me going, especially when times were rough.”

Makes me proud to support the fur industry in whatever small way I do.

The IFTF promotes a positive image of fur in the realm of fashion and clothing design. This is a foreign world to most of us trappers, but I find it amusing that our world of dirt holes, chest waders and skunk essence is so connected to the world of supermodels and fashion shows. I also find it gratifying to think that the skill of some trapper or the hard work of some rancher is behind that beautiful coat worn by a supermodel on a catwalk. I like the results of our work!

by "ADC" in Iowa

Run new traps through the dishwasher with the same amount of dishwasher soap you use for really dirty dishes. Be sure to keep the chains up out of any moving parts...

Then dip them in a mixture of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water (redip and turn traps every hour or so)...

Lay them out in the grass and about 7 hours later they have a light coat of rust and are ready to be dyed...

At this point I dye them a dozen at a time with commercial logwood dye by boiling them over a turkey fryer burner. I use one 1lb. bag of dye to 3 1/2 or 4 gal. of water. This will dye 4 to 5 dozen traps before you'd want to add another bag of dye. Boil them about 10-15 minutes on a medium boil then hang them to dry. Then I heat wax in a large stockpot until it is completely melted and starting to smoke (turn the burner down so it doesn't burst into flames and keep the lid handy if it does). Be sure the traps are completely dry before dipping them or the wax will boil violently! I dip each trap in the wax one at a time using a stiff piece of #9 wire with a hook on the end to lower the trap in the wax. I leave it in the wax until the "sizzling" stops (about 30 seconds to 1 min.). The trap needs to be heated to the same temperature as the wax for it to coat correctly without too thick a coating. Then I pull the trap out, shake off the excess wax and hang it to dry. As soon as it is cool it can be set, but hang them up outside until you are ready to use them.

Be extremely careful when waxing traps. The wax is flammable and should not be overheated.

The dye and wax is available through most any trapping supply company.

For used traps I take them to a car wash and power wash off all the dirt and loose rust then skip the dishwasher and vinegar and go right to dying and waxing.

Scouting this time of year is tough, but that doesn't stop me from getting a head start. Everything is still green and thick, and in my neck of the woods the ground is bone dry. Looking for animal sign under these conditions is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack, and any travel patterns and food sources may change before the season starts anyway. Still, what the heck? Animals still leave sign; it just may take a little more power of observation to find it under these conditions. Besides, it was a nice day for a walk.....

I went looking for raccoon sign along this creek bed. Usually in this kind of situation I walk both the high creek banks looking for trails parallel to the creek while also looking down along the banks for tracks or crossings. Some guys don't bother trapping water sources because they say the little 'coons run the creeks while the big ones run the ridges. That may be true to some extent, but I've caught some big 'ole coons along creeks so I still set these locations. You can always let the little ones go.

The following pics aren't great but can be clicked and enlarged for a little better detail.

While intently scanning the creek bed and the high banks I almost forgot to look up for den trees. Just as this thought crossed my mind I looked up and saw a hollow tree den and a raccoon peering out at me. He must have heard me and was watching me make my way up the bank. He ducked down before I could snap the picture, but here's the den.

The tree showed a lot of scratch marks from the 'coons climbing up and down, but the ground was so covered with dry debris and leaves that I could not find any distinct trails leading away from the tree. Looking more closely, I found a nearby log that sat about 18" off the ground with the dirt underneath worn smooth and showing faint tracks. I figure that this is a pinch point on their travel route and the log above the trail helped preserve the evidence of the trail running underneath it. The point I'm talking about is circled in red.

This point would be a good location to try a trail set, but if the trails don't clear up and become more obvious I'd throw in a bait set or two on the bank below the tree. When I'm putting in a bait set in a spot like this I like to look for some kind of natural cubby, especially at the exposed roots of larger trees. Right near this den I found this tree with an odd root configuration that forms an excellent natural cubby. It would be easy to put a bait set in here.

Well, there you have it - just one little discovery from a late Summer scouting trip. When the season comes and the fur gets prime I have a feeling I'm going to meet that 'coon again in person, but next time he won't be peering down at me from the safety of his tree den.......

Legislation was introduced in Maryland earlier this year that would have effectively banned trapping in Montgomery County, MD. The bill did pass through both the House and Senate committees but did not receive the full vote of the Senate, thankfully. Although Maryland trappers breathed a sign of relief, this should be a teachable moment for all state trapping organizations. If the anti-trapping crowd carries enough weight to bring up such baseless proposals to the floor of the Maryland legislature, you can bet they are devising plans to try again and also target other states. Trappers are such a small community that we can no longer afford to be silent and take our way of life for granted. Please, get involved and actively support our national and state associations.

On the bright side, the incident in Maryland prompted some good exposure of the facts by the Maryland Fur Trappers Association. From their press release earlier this year:

     "Whenever and wherever anti-trapping legislation is introduced on a municipal or larger statewide scale, the goal is always to ban the primary tool of the trade, the so-called “leghold” trap. This misnomer refers to the “live-hold foot trap” used predominately to hold land-based furbearers without injury in case the captured animal need to be released.
     For years, animal activists have portrayed the tradition and heritage of fur trapping as a cruel, primitive craft that indiscriminately targets any unwitting creature, including domestic pets that happen to step into the waiting jaws of a bone-crushing “leghold trap” only to suffer anguishing torment until killed by the brutish trapper. Nothing could be further from the truth.
     In fact, the use of the humane “live-hold foot trap” is the preferred tool of trappers for the very reason activists decry its use. Any non-targeted animals can be and are routinely released unharmed. In addition, the live-hold foot trap is used in the propagation of threatened species including the Canada lynx and the red and grey wolf. In Maryland, this method has been used in the reintroduction of the river otter with much success. On a larger scale, the live-hold foot trap is used to protect nesting waterfowl and endangered sea turtle eggs from ravaging predators.
     Time and time again during legislative hearings, the typical live-hold foot trap used for most furbearers has been sprung on the hand or finger of a trapper to demonstrate the strength of the device. No pro-trappers were ever injured during the demonstration." (link)

And an excellent quote by Ron Leggett, the president of Maryland Fur Trappers, Inc.:

“It’s easy for opponents of fur trapping to advance an emotional plea against the practice. The benefits of fur trapping are misunderstood by many in the modern age. Most Marylanders are unaware of the protections afforded to them by trappers and wildlife control agents. Detractors refuse to consider the facts about trapping and its methods and wage unrelenting campaigns using 'compassionate' messages, with no real proof to back up their claims, to garner support from the uninformed majority of urbanized citizens.” (link)

Although the legislation failed, the Maryland Fur Trapper's Association is not ready to rest on their laurels and celebrate. Their website has a warning that all of us would do well to heed:

"So, before the back slapping begins, a moment should be spent thinking about how fortunate the MFTI is to have dodged the bullet in this legislative session and to start planning now for time off and a cohesive, coherent offense for next session. The skirmish for now has been won, but the war is far from over. The enemy has all year to plan their next offensive which they will launch. Money will be raised; meetings will be attended; alliances will be forged; politicians will be coddled and informed. The questions remain: will the MFTI put as much effort into saving trapping as its opponents will spend trying to destroy trapping? Will the MFTI rise to face the challenge or again let others stand in for them? Will the trappers in Maryland become proactive or reactive - on the offense or on the defense? It's your decision." (link)

Trappers have many resources on the internet these days, but I have found one of the most valuable is Google Earth. This is a free program that provides detailed satellite images of just about anyplace in the world. Google Earth has incredible features for a free program. You can zoom in and see amazing detail of any area that you plan to scout, clearly identify key terrain features, plot courses and measure distances, and generally get a bird's eye view of your area. While it may take hours to get a feel for an area while scouting on the ground, Google Earth can give you the big picture instantly. Nothing can take the place of putting your boots on the ground when looking for animal sign, but Google Earth can give you an idea about where to look, what terrain features are present, and what is the best approach to scouting and trapping a piece of land. I do a lot of pre-scouting with Google Earth and have even identified places that I knew would be productive trap sets before I even got on the ground to check them out in person. When using Google Earth I look for several things:

Pinch Points: These are areas where terrain features naturally narrow down avenues of travel, such as a piece of woods that narrows down to a bottle-neck, or a narrow point between the edge of a field and a stream.

Transition Areas: Where woods borders a field, or steep terrain transitions into a flat area.

Natural Barriers: Roads, streams, fences and other such features will often dictate travel routes for animals. Pay particular attention to where these kinds of features intersect, or where they will naturally funnel animal traffic.

Outstanding Features: Rock piles, sand pits, high points, old structures, lone trees, etc. These kinds of features will often be a magnet for curious critters. Google Earth provides enough detail to see such outstanding features in any area.

With Fall nearly here it's time to start scouting and planning ahead. By scanning your areas ahead of time with Google Earth you can strategize your scouting and save yourself a lot of legwork. You can download it free at this link. I think you'll agree that this a great tool for planning your line!

Good luck and God bless.

It seems that more and more urban population centers are having trouble with furbearers moving in. I've noticed the past few years on my modest 'coon line that the little suburban woodlots I trap here and there are always more productive than the big, wide-open rural areas. It seems that raccoons especially thrive in or near human population centers, being attracted by the easy meals from garbage cans and dumpsters, and grow in numbers because of little trapping or hunting pressure. Suburbia may be the new raccoon trapper's paradise, not to mention the increasing demand for ADC work.

Case in point: A bill has been introduced in New York that would require the city to trap raccoons upon request in any of the five boroughs. "People have been calling my office complaining that they have been seeing a lot of raccoons," said councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, the originator of the bill. Dozens of raccoons trapped in Central Park tested positive for rabies, a sure sign of an unhealthy overpopulation of the critters. One wildlife specialist, Bobby Horvath, basically called it a losing battle: "They are in the city, and you have to learn to live with them. They will have less contact with us if we don't invite them." The full story is available here and also at the Camo Underground.

This year on your 'coon line try getting permission to scout and trap a few wooded lots in suburban areas. The owners will probably be more than happy to have some raccoons removed from the area, and chances are you'll find a few little hot spots with big, concentrated populations. You'll also be providing a valuable service to your community, even if your only reward is your fur check.

Edited to add: Raccoons aren't the only problem in NYC. Two more coyote attacks were recently reported in the suburbs. Read the story here.

by Tony Hursman

This location is at the top of a ridge were I have seen coyotes digging and scratching around for moles and mice. This is a step down set where I dug a small pit then placed the dirt hole about 2 inches below the dirt line. In the first pic I show were I have the Montana No. 3 dogless trap with offset jaws placed in the little pit. I have packed the jaws in dirt and have placed a grass wad under pan to keep dirt from getting under it. All pics can be enlarged by clicking on them.

In the second pic you can see where I have used the extra dirt from the hole and pit to sift over the trap. When I do this I want the trap pan to be the lowest spot at the set. This should be were the fox or coyote will step when he starts to dig at the hole. Notice the dirt is smooth and no debris is present to get caught in the jaws.

The next pic shows were I have taken half an egg and have seated it at the bottom of the hole, and the rest I have set around the front entrance to the hole. This pit set up imitates a turtle nest that has been dug by another animal. The egg shells not only add some scent attraction but also some eye appeal into the equation. The egg in the hole and shells scattered around the hole will cause curiosity in any canine. The cow jaw bone adds even more visual aid to the set.

The final pic shows a view of the set from a distance. Notice how the white bones stand out against the grass and timber. This alone would work on the curiosity factor but with the shells added the animal will swear there is food buried there. This set up is great on fox and cats if set on sign.

Our society increasingly treats animals like people. There are thousands of examples all around us (besides Disney movies). There are pet portrait painters, animal funeral services, and rich prima donnas who leave millions in trust funds for their lap dogs. Just the other day I saw a commercial for cat food that boasted of having antioxidants to reduce kitty cholesterol. "Animal rights" almost seems like a moot point in such an atmosphere. We are not only being told that animals have rights, but that animals are people, too.

I understand the attachment people can feel to the family pet. It's an attachment I've experienced in my life. But I increasingly feel as though society is crossing into weird and dangerous territory, with the line between humans and animals being purposefully blurred. Movies, commercials and cartoons regularly portray animals as little people, talking, thinking and entertaining us. This imagery leaves an impact on how we as a society think about animals, especially as our growing urban culture has less and less interaction with real animals. Our thinking is being shaped, whether we know it or not.

The whole idea of "animal rights" is built upon this blurred line between animals and people. Do we even think clearly anymore about what rights are, who really has them, and where they come from? There is a lot of fuzzy thinking going on in this realm (to say nothing of the new American "right" to health care). For instance, PETA says on their website that "the capacity for suffering [is] the vital characteristic that gives a being the right to equal consideration, " and, "we believe that every creature with a will to live has a right to live free from pain and suffering."

I think most everyone would agree that "consideration" is due to animals, but is the ability to suffer really the common denominator that puts humans and animals in the same category, deserving "equal" consideration? We all have nervous systems? Is that it? Surely, there are a few other qualities to consider besides our nerve endings.

Worse, these people think a "will to live" automatically bestows the "right to live free from pain and suffering." This is nothing more than a dreamy fantasy turned into a pseudo-philosophical political platform. They dream of a pain free world, therefore everything has a right to be pain free, and everyone who does not live in their dream world full of fantasy rights is cruel and backward.

What about the lion that hunts and kills the antelope? Does the lion have the right to eat and avoid the pain and suffering that comes from hunger? Or does the antelope's right to live free from pain trump the rights of the lion? Do lions and antelope even consider such things? And if they don't, doesn't that separate them from us?

What PETA really hates is reality. Their Disney movie pseudo-philosophy, in which animals are just little people in fur coats, was dreamed up in the urban halls of academia, miles away from the real world. But even if the majority of us don't sing their lyrics we are still dancing to their tune. Most people would not throw red paint on someone wearing a fur coat, but more and more of us are eating vegan, paying thousands for pet medications, buying antioxidant cat food and giving Fluffy an expensive burial.

How long will such a society put up with trapping?

by "ADC" in Iowa

This is my traditional way of setting snares for raccoon and red fox. It is a live catch method that I have developed over the last 18 years or so and the set-up I used exclusively for the last 8 seasons netting me a total of well over 2000 snared raccoons. I get no docking for any marks caused by the snares at my fur buyers. That said, they will on rare occasions chew at the snare on their body and cause enough damage to get docked, but it is rare (1/100 or less). Here's my method....

This excellent article was submitted by Ron Lancour ("Trapper Ron") from British Columbia. It is very informative, comprehensive and well illustrated. If you've ever wanted to try snaring squirrels you do not want to miss this article! Many thanks to Ron for this great information.

Trapping Supplies Review

Welcome!

Trapping: A Practical Life Skill

More on Muskrat Populations

F&T North American Trapper Show Update

Using Cage Traps

PA District 3 Trapper's School

The Tele-Trap Notifier

Coyotes in the City

Where Have All the Muskrats Gone?

Trap Preparation From Start To Finish

An Insider's Perspective on the Fur Trade

Fast Trap Prep

Late Summer 'Coon Scouting

A Teachable Moment in Maryland

Scouting Your Trapline with Google Earth

Raccoons in the Big Apple

Egg Shells and Bones for Trap Set Eye Appeal

Are Animals People Too?

Snaring My Way

Squirrel Snaring