Any Trappers here?

[Spikes]

Any others on here?

[Wayne Watson]

Yes sir.  Nice gray you go there.

[LSUFan]

Yes sir.  Nice gray you go there.

Was gonna throw your name out, but I couldn't remember what you trapped.

Spikes, Wayne is an old school trapper.

[zane]

I wish man. Life has been too hectic the last few years. This year was the first time in 5 years that I've got to sit in a deer stand.

Being a successful trapper is the epitome of being an outdoorsman

[Spikes]

Thank guys.  Been doing it for a few years. Trying my best to catch as many yotes as i can, but they keep sitting off my traps or digging them
Up..  I sure do enjoy it. Will have to ask Wyane for a as many tips as he can give me

[Spikes]

Yes sir.  Nice gray you go there.

Thanks Wayne. Any tips for a rookie?

[95_alum]

Thank guys.  Been doing it for a few years. Trying my best to catch as many yotes as i can, but they keep sitting off my traps or digging them
Up..  I sure do enjoy it. Will have to ask Wyane for a as many tips as he can give me

Present. That a 2-coil? Have you used Minnesota Brand (MB-450's)?

[Spikes]

Present. That a 2-coil? Have you used Minnesota Brand (MB-450's)?

I do not.  Will look into them. Why do you suggest them?

[95_alum]

Bought a 1/2 dozen last year. Overall, quality. The jaws are thicker than most traps. For the most part, other than the initial rust/dye, they're good-to-go right out of the box. The pan comes night latched. The swivel is located in the center. The ends of the jaws come "crimped". Rounded dog. Lastly, the chain and the swivels are heavy duty.

[pick_DA_EAGLES]

Haven't done any trapping since I was a teenager and trapped with my step dad.  Back then we were getting $30 for big coons and $40 for male mink.


On another note, I saw a gray fox Cross the highway just north of hazen the other day that was about 80-90% black. It was beautiful, tried to get a picture but with him trotting and the car moving, it was blurry. I've seen fox in that area more than once, but that was the first time during the middle of the day.

[Dillar Dog]

Not much these days.

Trapped a lot when I was younger.  My grandad was a well known trapper and he taught me a lot.  We mainly went after fox and bobcat.  His bait was some of the best in the world because he also owned exotic animals.  Using their Miss mixes made great bait.

[oldman1015]

what is a coon hide worth now?

[Spikes]

Bought a 1/2 dozen last year. Overall, quality. The jaws are thicker than most traps. For the most part, other than the initial rust/dye, they're good-to-go right out of the box. The pan comes night latched. The swivel is located in the center. The ends of the jaws come "crimped". Rounded dog. Lastly, the chain and the swivels are heavy duty.

Thanks

Will look into these.. Have had a few yotes slip out these past few weeks

[Spikes]

what is a coon hide worth now?

Zero to $4-5 dollars .. Not ever worth the gas.. Was offered $10 for the fox..  Skinned it and put in the freezer and hope price goes up

[95_alum]

Thanks

Will look into these.. Have had a few yotes slip out these past few weeks

I went with the 450's so I wouldn't have to mess with using trap setters to assist with the leverage. The 550 is a beast. Do you prefer closed jaws or the offsets?

[Spikes]

I went with the 450's so I wouldn't have to mess with using trap setters to assist with the leverage. The 550 is a beast. Do you prefer closed jaws or the offsets?

Usually offsets

[DeltaBoy]

I have not trapped much since the late 1980's other than dealing with nuisance animals around the Farm.

[Hog_Swanson]

Zero to $4-5 dollars .. Not ever worth the gas.. Was offered $10 for the fox..  Skinned it and put in the freezer and hope price goes up

Do you eat your catch?

[Dillar Dog]

Do you eat your catch?

The dogs have a nice meal.

[Spikes]

Do you eat your catch?

No sir

[Hog_Swanson]

No sir

At $0 to $5 per fur, it seems a little worthless to be trapping.  If you were using the meat, I could see killing the animal then, but fur only.  Don't get me wrong, I fully understand offing wolves and coyotes around you cattle.

[Spikes]

At $0 to $5 per fur, it seems a little worthless to be trapping.  If you were using the meat, I could see killing the animal then, but fur only.  Don't get me wrong, I fully understand offing wolves and coyotes around you cattle.

I do not trap for the money.. More of protecting the heard/population. We use to have so many turkey on our farm about 10 years ago then all of a sudden they were wiped out. 4 years ago I read a book that talked about how raccoon, opossum, fox's and yotes will destroy your turkey population. As of now we have the healthiest deer heard, turkey, rabbits and even seeing a few quail on our property.

Hope you understand that, and if you don't then no worries..  Will keep trapping and doing what is best to protect the animals on the farm that my family and myself work so hard to hunt, feed , take photo's of and just enjoy seeing them.

[pick_DA_EAGLES]

I do not trap for the money.. More of protecting the heard/population. We use to have so many turkey on our farm about 10 years ago then all of a sudden they were wiped out. 4 years ago I read a book that talked about how raccoon, opossum, fox's and yotes will destroy your turkey population. As of now we have the healthiest deer heard, turkey, rabbits and even seeing a few quail on our property.

Hope you understand that, and if you don't then no worries..  Will keep trapping and doing what is best to protect the animals on the farm that my family and myself work so hard to hunt, feed , take photo's of and just enjoy seeing them.

Exactly. Not sure a raccoon has to worry much about being eaten once they get big enough to run. Their biggest predator is a car. Since the fur market as all but gone away, I have witnessed the varmint population explode.

[DeltaBoy]

Dad only traps around the farm as another level of pest control.  Dad killed two Big coons between Thanksgiving and Christmas that had been tearing up his bird feeders.     A Spot light with a Red Lens and that 12 gauge using High Brass #4's done them in.

[Hog_Swanson]

I do not trap for the money.. More of protecting the heard/population. We use to have so many turkey on our farm about 10 years ago then all of a sudden they were wiped out. 4 years ago I read a book that talked about how raccoon, opossum, fox's and yotes will destroy your turkey population. As of now we have the healthiest deer heard, turkey, rabbits and even seeing a few quail on our property.

Hope you understand that, and if you don't then no worries..  Will keep trapping and doing what is best to protect the animals on the farm that my family and myself work so hard to hunt, feed , take photo's of and just enjoy seeing them.

I fully understand.  The rest of the thread made me think it was all for the fur.  Like I said before, I get protecting the livestock, or any other population you are managing.  My post was more about taking the fur and leaving the meat lay.  I know that nobody wants that meat, but your dogs do.  I have a good friend that does taxidermy and hunts coons, nothing goes to waste.  Sells the fur and euro mounts and the meat is fed to the Beatles. 

I have read that possums keep the tick population down.  Just don't keep them around if you see them during the day.  Oh, and leave the foxes alone.  lol

[Spikes]

Meat is feed to the dog's.   Caught another male grey fox this morning.  Along with 3 coons.  Was a good day of trapping.

[Wayne Watson]

Bought a 1/2 dozen last year. Overall, quality. The jaws are thicker than most traps. For the most part, other than the initial rust/dye, they're good-to-go right out of the box. The pan comes night latched. The swivel is located in the center. The ends of the jaws come "crimped". Rounded dog. Lastly, the chain and the swivels are heavy duty.

This.  You can not beat any MB.  You can get cheaper traps but after a yote bends the pan and springs the jaws, you'll wish you had an MB.

[Wayne Watson]

At $0 to $5 per fur, it seems a little worthless to be trapping.  If you were using the meat, I could see killing the animal then, but fur only.  Don't get me wrong, I fully understand offing wolves and coyotes around you cattle.

Regardless of the price of the fur, animals need to be managed.  Coons are .10-.75 now.  However, they need to be controlled or you end up with distemper and over population which damages the entire specie.

[Wayne Watson]

I will add one other thing.  Possums, coons, fox, coyote and bobcats severely damage birds that nests on the ground.  Turkey, quail, geese, etc.

Trapping is not about the money.  Trapping is an American heritage promoting conservation of a renewable resource.

[DeltaBoy]

I will add one other thing.  Possums, coons, fox, coyote and bobcats severely damage birds that nests on the ground.  Turkey, quail, geese, etc.

Trapping is not about the money.  Trapping is an American heritage promoting conservation of a renewable resource.

I agree

[Hog_Swanson]

I will add one other thing.  Possums, coons, fox, coyote and bobcats severely damage birds that nests on the ground.  Turkey, quail, geese, etc.

Trapping is not about the money.  Trapping is an American heritage promoting conservation of a renewable resource.

Can it really be a resource if you are not using the product?  Look, I am not a hippy or PETA supporter by no means.  I hunt and fish every year.  The meat that I can gather from these outings will be eaten by family and I.

Just FYI.. Man and possibly fire ants are the reason for the declining quail population.
http://deltafarmpress.com/bobwhite-quail-populations-declining-across-arkansas

Due to the efforts in management, we can improve their population.  No where in this article does it say trapping is the answer.
http://www.agfc.com/resources/Publications/bobwhite_factsheet.pdf

I see turkey every time I am in the deer woods.  And I think we all know the geese need to be managed.  I'm sorry, but trapping is not a sport.  JMO  It was at one time a useful trade, but with the decline in prices for the pelt and nobody uses the meat anymore, kind of seems like a useless past time.     

[Hog_Swanson]

I agree

Of course you would.  You would say anything to get closer to Wayne's dog.  Just kidding.

[DeltaBoy]

Of course you would.  You would say anything to get closer to Wayne's dog.  Just kidding.

Trapping takes time and skill to do it right.  I can still do a solid ground set with my old double flat spring traps and I not done one in 5 years.  Last one I did was for a Opossum that was hanging around the barn..  2 days later an 1 Aguilar Sub Sonic round later the mess maker was gone for good. 

[OldCoot]

Possum is an animal that I have no idea why God made other than to be a hideous, hissing ugly creature.  It is a walking buzzard.

[Albert Einswine]

 
Sells the fur and euro mounts and the meat is fed to the Beatles. 

Never figured Paul and Ringo for varmint meat connoisseurs.

[Hog_Swanson]

Never figured Paul and Ringo for varmint meat connoisseurs.

Oh they are, that's how the band was named.  Not many people like to talk about that though...

[Wayne Watson]

I see turkey every time I am in the deer woods.  And I think we all know the geese need to be managed.  I'm sorry, but trapping is not a sport.  JMO  It was at one time a useful trade, but with the decline in prices for the pelt and nobody uses the meat anymore, kind of seems like a useless past time.     

This statement tells me you know very little about trapping.  Deer hunting is fun but I'm sitting in a stand waiting for the deer to come by so I can shoot it.

When I am trapping, I'm trying to get the animal to step in a 2" circle in an area that is hundreds of acres big.

If trapping is a useless past time, how would you propose to control furbearer population?  Leave it to disease or starvation?

[Hog_Swanson]

This statement tells me you know very little about trapping.  Deer hunting is fun but I'm sitting in a stand waiting for the deer to come by so I can shoot it.

When I am trapping, I'm trying to get the animal to step in a 2" circle in an area that is hundreds of acres big.

If trapping is a useless past time, how would you propose to control furbearer population?  Leave it to disease or starvation?

Out of that "100's of acres", it's not that hard to find the naturally beat down path that all animals make and place a trap that has been baited.  My issue with the "sport" is, you cannot control what you harvest.  It's like fishing with dynamite.  To each his own.

[DeltaBoy]

Trapping to me was generally relaxing.  Plus it gets you out of the house in the winter.

[Wayne Watson]

Out of that "100's of acres", it's not that hard to find the naturally beat down path that all animals make and place a trap that has been baited.  My issue with the "sport" is, you cannot control what you harvest.  It's like fishing with dynamite.  To each his own.

LOL!  You help control the population by harvesting.  Just for the sake of conversation, when was the last time you set a trap?  When was the last time you attended a trappers workshop?  When was the last time you sat down and talked to an Arkansas Game and Fish Biologist?

[Wayne Watson]

The precipitous decline in quail (and many other bird species) populations over the last 40 years is due to many factors -ground based predators being one. However, changing land management practices, particularly the conversion of native grasses to Bermuda and fescue, has rendered their former habitat unsuitable for nesting and foraging.

Very true.  Arkansas Game and Fish has a program landowners can sign up for to help the habitat.

[pick_DA_EAGLES]

The precipitous decline in quail (and many other bird species) populations over the last 40 years is due to many factors -ground based predators being one. However, changing land management practices, particularly the conversion of native grasses to Bermuda and fescue, has rendered their former habitat unsuitable for nesting and foraging.

Clearing old fence rows has hurt too, but also the decline goes right along the explosion of armadillos.

[DeltaBoy]

Clearing old fence rows has hurt too, but also the decline goes right along the explosion of armadillos.

Dad hates those things and done pullled out his red lens coon hunting headlamp to conduct a full scale war on them around the house. 

[OldCoot]

Clearing old fence rows has hurt too, but also the decline goes right along the explosion of armadillos.

Armadillos are another useless creature.  I was fishing with my uncle on Ouachita when I was a kid, he thought it would be funny to catch a baby diller and throw it in the boat.  I was fine with it until it headed my way and I jumped out of the boat in the middle of the lake while it swam back to shore.

[IronHog]

The precipitous decline in quail (and many other bird species) populations over the last 40 years is due to many factors -ground based predators being one. However, changing land management practices, particularly the conversion of native grasses to Bermuda and fescue, has rendered their former habitat unsuitable for nesting and foraging.

Cutover is a cutover.  There is no shortage of habitat.


It's chemicals and varmints. 

[pick_DA_EAGLES]

Cutover is a cutover.  There is no shortage of habitat.


It's chemicals and varmints.

Around here, it's because there are hardly any fence rows left. Used to Fields were around 40 acre blocks because farm  equipment was small. Now farm equipment is huge and people want big fields.

[tophawg19]

A lot of people will buy the meat from a coon . Think of this guys . if we don't control the population , Rabies will be an issue every year

[IronHog]

Around here, it's because there are hardly any fence rows left. Used to Fields were around 40 acre blocks because farm  equipment was small. Now farm equipment is huge and people want big fields.

Maybe....

But the GCP is a big part of the state and its full of cutovers and grown up edge....

[Wayne Watson]

Think of this guys . if we don't control the population , Rabies will be an issue every year

Not to mention distemper and mange which can be transferred to your dog.  Let coyotes get over populated and they will begin to eat your pets.  City of North Little Rock hired a friend of mine a couple of years ago to take out some coyotes.  Coyotes in the city soon lose their fear of humans.  One reported case in NLR was when a coyote snatched a dog and leash out of a woman's hand while she was walking the dog and ran off with it.

[theFlyingHog]

Not to mention distemper and mange which can be transferred to your dog.  Let coyotes get over populated and they will begin to eat your pets.  City of North Little Rock hired a friend of mine a couple of years ago to take out some coyotes.  Coyotes in the city soon lose their fear of humans.  One reported case in NLR was when a coyote snatched a dog and leash out of a woman's hand while she was walking the dog and ran off with it.

I live in a neighborhood of about 100 homes on the edge of city limits and have started seeing coyotes pretty often. And def hear them sounding off