Bobcat Set Locations

Travis Chilson of New Mexico sent in a few tips on set locations along with some general pointers for bobcat trapping.  Thanks Travis!

Chicago Hires Coyotes for Rodent Control

Lately the news is filled with stories of coyotes roaming urban areas and causing a stir among protective parents, so I was a little surprised to come across this story.  Officials in Chicago are actually releasing GPS collared coyotes on city streets at night in order to combat the rodent population.  In reference to concerns about this tactic, one Chicago animal control official said of the coyote, "He's not a threat.  He's not going to pick up your children."

So, while some cities are hiring animal control specialists to trap and remove them, Chicago is actually employing them.  It's a funny world we live in.....

 

A Lesson on Location

Ever have trouble picking the best locations for your sets?  If so, this article is a must-read!  Don Wilson from Indiana has provided this excellent illustrated article on how he picks productive locations when trapping canines.  I'm sure that most trappers will find this material VERY helpful, and the catch pics are great.  Many thanks to Mr. Wilson for sharing these insights.

Loss of a Legend

Dean Wilson, a model trapper if there ever was one, died in his Alaska home at age 69.  A prominent fur buyer and legendary trapper in the interior of Alaska, Wilson was called "the father of fur" by many who knew him.  He taught and encouraged many young trappers, was prominent and active in the Alaska Trapper's Association, and wrote The Alaska Trapper's Handbook.  "He threw his heart at trapping," said his son, Dean.  "Ever since I grew up he supported us by trapping."

By all accounts, Mr. Wilson worked hard to give trapping and trappers a good name.  A devout Christian and regular churchgoer, Wilson was known for his integrity.  Dave Bruss, his longtime trapping partner, told of times when Wilson would send rebate checks to people he bought fur from because he sold it for more profit than he anticipated.

Mr. Wilson was the first person inducted into the Alaska Trapper's Hall of fame in 1997, and was inducted into the National Trapper's Hall of Fame in 2009.

With Dean Wilson's passing the trapping community literally lost a legend.  He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by many.

Links:

Alaska Trapping Legend Dean Wilson Dies at 69

Trapping's Dean: Long Time Fur Buyer Left Important Legacy

Simple Muskrat Floats

Kory Dikken from Southern Minnesota shares these pictures of simple homemade Muskrat floats that he has used with good success.
Thanks Kory! 

'Coon Playing Ostrich

Here's a pic from my trapline this week.  This little guy saw me coming and did his best ostrich impression.....

"Carpet Bombing" for Raccoons

A well established rule of our business is "set on sign."  Look for tracks, droppings and other evidence of furbearer activity and put your sets there.  Of course this is the way to go, but sometimes you find an area during the season that you have not had a chance to scout properly.  Sometimes you just have a hunch that an area will produce fur even though you have no specific hot spots with abundant sign.  In a case like this, I do what I call "carpet bombing."

Carpet bombing was a WWII tactic that American bombers used long before the days of precision "smart" bombs.  Basically, hundreds of bombers would saturate a general target area destroying everything in the vicinity rather than aim for one precise point.  Leaving aside the question of ethics, it got the job done.  It was messy, but it worked.

Applying WWII bomber tactics to raccoon trapping may not be intuitive to some, but let me explain.  If I find an area that I have not had a chance to scout, but it looks "raccoony" to me, I'll follow my hunch and put in some sets.  If I don't find specific spots with sign to target I'll simply put in several quick sets at even intervals in an attempt to "carpet" the area.  This may not seem very efficient, but if your hunch is right and you connect with a few coons, you will quickly learn where to focus your efforts.

Here's an example.  The map below is of a pond and swamp where I tried this tactic.  The red dots represent my initial set locations.  I simply set the various points of the pond at even intervals with dirt-hole sets on the bank.  The first two nights I caught one coon on the north point at the bottleneck between the pond and the train tracks, and two coons on the east point at the tip of the small peninsula.  The other three sets saw no action, but after two nights I knew where to focus my efforts.  I pulled the inactive sets and doubled up my sets where I was getting the action.  "Carpet bombing," as I like to call it, is an exercise in narrowing down your set locations by a process of elimination.  You start on a hunch, saturate the area, then narrow down your efforts to where the action is.

Maybe it's not the most efficient method.  Setting on sign in well-scouted area is always best, but if you're setting a new area and time is short, try carpet bombing.

(click to enlarge)

   

Diagrams of Basic Bobcat Sets

Tony Hursman supplies these helpful diagrams of basic bobcat sets he uses on his line.  Tony has several great pictorials here on TSR.  Thanks again, Tony, for some good material.

Conibears on Leaning Pole Sets

In this article Ron Lancour from British Columbia illustrates a simple and effective method of securing conibear traps on leaning pole sets.  Some good, clear pictures are worth a thousand words. 
Thanks Ron!

Hunting Arguments by Tom Rakow

In my internet wanderings I came in contact with Dr. Tom Rakow, the author of Hunting Arguments: Biblical Responses to a Loaded Issue.  He was kind enough to send me a copy, which I read with great interest.  This book is an excellent defense of hunting from a Biblical perspective, and it is very easy to read.  Although he focuses on hunting, the same arguments in the book apply just as much to trapping, fishing, etc. 

The main premise of the book is that God endowed mankind with dominion over the lesser creatures, and they were created for our wise use and benefit.  Dr. Rakow brings both common sense and Biblical truth together in a cogent argument that exposes the fallacies of the "animal rights" movement.  He also makes positive arguments on the benefits and necessity of hunting.

This book is designed for the average reader, and I appreciated the fact that each chapter includes discussion questions for small group study.  If you want to be a more informed hunter or trapper, this book is very well worth $14.95.  I highly recommend it!

You can order the book at this link:  Hunting Arguments

And here is a helpful review and summary of the book from Crescent News website:
Book Shows that God Approves of Hunting

Fur Handling Tutorial

Here's a great online guide to fur handling published by Fur Harvester's Auction, Inc.  It's 32 pages long and has lots of good illustrations and directions on how to properly skin, flesh, and prepare pelts for sale.  It's particularly helpful if you're new to the game.  Check it out....

Pelt Handling for Profit 

Double-hole Trap Set for Fox

John in PA shares some good pictures and info on this simple set for fox.  Thanks John!