Numbers So Far

[KYtrapper17]

Here's mine:
8 coyotes
7 coons
3 possums

I am running a line now that has many targeted species including beaver, muskrat, and fox. Hope I get more of a variety.

Whats your Catch this Year?

P.S. Does anyone sell fur at KY Fur Takers Auction?

Zach Ellis[;)]

I'm in the jewelry business: Putting Bracelets and Necklaces on Fur-Bearers

[snareman]

KyTrapper17,

Glad to see a fellow trapper on the site. Here's my catch so far.

1 Skunk[:0]
39 coon
25 possum
1 muskrat
13 beaver
1 coyote

I have very limited time in my second year of trapping, wish I had more time. Trapping is very addictive. Was planning on going to the sale in Etown, hoping for better prices than I got last year.

[KYtrapper17]

snareman: Hopefully we'll meet up at E-town

My numbers have went up a little.

11 coyotes
1 red fox
10 coons
5 possums
1 beaver



I'm in the jewelry business: Putting Bracelets and Necklaces on Fur-Bearers

[snareman]

17,

Good to see you back on the site. it's lonely being a trapper on here. We're a dying breed. Sold two coyotes unskinned the other day for 10.00 each and 5 small unskinned coons for 5.00 each. Looks like prices for dried fur may be decent.

[Deer Hunter]

Hey KYtrapper17, How do you trap coyotes ?

[snareman]

Deer Hunter,

Glad to see you on the trapping forum. We may get you into trapping yet.[:)]

[Deer Hunter]

Well thank you snareman. I use to trap when I was in high school. I was'nt very good at it. But I did learn how to trap beaver fairly well. Once I learned how to make drown sets. But I have never seen anything as hard to skin as a beaver.

[KYtrapper17]

Snareman: I will popst more often. I got on here a while ago and there wasn't anything happening on this forum. Now that you are on here I have someone to talk to.

Deer Hunter: I catch most of my coyotes with snares. I caught my first one in a foothold this year. I caught her in a flat-set. For footholds dirtholes, flat-sets, and post sets are probably 3 of the most popular sets.

I'm in the jewelry business: Putting Bracelets and Necklaces on Fur-Bearers

[ksp965]

I'm not a trapper, but I have beaver problems. What traps do you use in your drown sets? I assume you set it in the run way they make to an active chew site and use a heavy weight they will drag into deep water and stake it well?

[Deer Hunter]

ksp 965 You should be able to find where the beaver have been coming and going pretty easy and that is where you will want to make your sets. If I remember right I used a #4 double spring trap. A beavers back foot is pretty big exspecialy on an adult beaver. I would drive a stake big enough to hold a beaver right at the waters edge. Then take a peace of tie wire about 6 to 8 feet long and tie one end to the stake and then tie a large rock to the other end one big enough that the beaver can not drag back to shore. Then toss the rock out into the water. you need about 6 feet of chain attached to your trap. fasten the end of the chain to the stake. You will have to take a flat washer and drill a small hole about 1/16 in diameter one strait across from the other and then bend the washer into a 90 degree angle the washer needs to be put on the wire before you tie the wire to the stake. So that the washer can slide on the wire. The wire should pass through the small hole that you drilled. Then fasten the other side of the washer to your trap where the chain is fastened to the trap. The way this works is that when the beaver gets in the trap and gets in the water the washer slides with the beaver and trap down the wire into the water. But when the beaver tries to come back to the bank the washer will kink the wire and not let the beaver come back to the bank. The washer will only slide in one direction. Thus the beaver will swim deeper and deeper into the water and will tire then drown. If you dont use a drown set like this and just tie your trap to a stake the beaver will chew its foot off and be gone by the next morning more than likely. And will probably bleed to death and you not be able to find it. I think they make a drowning device smiliar to the one I was tring to explain how to build called a Thompson drowner.

[Deer Hunter]

ksp65 You need to make this drown set where the water is at least 3 to 4 feet deep. And once you catch a few beavers you will be able locate areas that they are using by their smell. Beavers have a strong ordor about them.

[Deer Hunter]

ksp65 I would'nt recommend just tieing a weight to a trap. I dont think the beaver would drag it into the water. More than likely it would just chew its foot off to free himself. The drown set if used right works quick and humane and does'nt mess up the fur. And if it is used right. I would say it has about a 90% success rate.

[ksp965]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the tips.

[Deer Hunter]

KYtrapper17 Another fellow was telling me that he used snares to catch coyotes. He said he could catch them and sell them live to this rich guy to put in his 6000 acre fenced pen. So that he could run them with dogs. I think he said he was getting $50. a peace for them. How much does a good yote hide bring ?

[snareman]

Deerhunter,

I sold two coyotes the other day for $10 a piece unskinned. Coyotes the right color are bringing $35 tops.

[snareman]

17,

I've been a little discouraged by the minimal interest in this site. Trappers are a dying breed. It's a blast. Nothing like walking up on a bobcat, coyote or 50 pound beaver in a snare!!![:)][:)]

[KYtrapper17]

You're right snareman. What's not to love. People say they don't trap anymore cause there is no money in it. Well, not to put any hunters down as I am one myself, do you make any money deer hunting or turkey hunting. No, none at all. But, you can make a little money at trapping if you are real good.

I aksed my uncle the question about deer hunting and money and he said he deer hunted because killing a deer was a trophy. He said that trappin them ole varmits wasn't no trophy. I guess, that's why there is so many deer hunters who don't even know how to set a trap, little long set one and actually catch somethin.

These are just my thoughts. I know one thing. I agree with you. There is nothing like walking up on your set and seeing a catch. I love trapping and I will always trap if I am the only person on earth who does. I will always remember my first yote or my first beaver. Heck, I'll even remember my first possum. Trapping is my lifestyle.

Zach Ellis

I'm in the jewelry business: Putting Bracelets and Necklaces on Fur-Bearers

[snareman]

Kytrapper17,

I often times think I'm crazy spending so much time setting traps and skinning catches. I set 4 330's today and it took an hour. I had to tear holes in dams to get a good flow of water. It took forever but it will be worth it in the morning when I have a couple of beavers!! So far, I've stretched 18 coons and 1 coyote. Got a whole lot more to go. You're right it's fun to hunt a turkey or deer but I've never made any money at it.

[squirrelgravy]

Some of the lack of interest could be due to just not knowing what the hell to do!! There aren't very many trappers left to show those interested how to get started...have you guys taken any kids out with you and shown them the trade? I have trapped sporadically for hides, but I use them as decoration, and as material for tying flies, but I wouldn't have the first clue as to how to enter the market...

[KYtrapper17]

squirellgravy: I have taken friends from school with me quite often. I took one boy with me on opening day and caught a solid black coyote and two coons. He loved that. It was the catching part or the fun part. But when it come time to skin em he lost interest. I also took a couplke of boys with me this year more than once. On one outing we caught a coyote, on one a beaver, and on two or three I caught nothing. That is the part they couldn't understand. Just beacuse you have a bunch of traps out doesn't mean you are going to catch soemthing every night. I have tried my best to find me a trapping buddy to actually go out with me and set their own traps, but the kids at my high school these days are lazy and would rather be drunk or high as to work their butt off to catch a animal only to wokr their butt off skinning it and not make any profit at all. I guess I'm just a crazy kid as I would rather bust my butt skinnin a coyote or fleshing a beaver as to blow my money on drugs or aclcohol. I know not all kids are that way but I have yet to find one in my area who would rather be trapping or hunting than breathing and that is the way I am.

Zach Ellis

I'm in the jewelry business: Putting Bracelets and Necklaces on Fur-Bearers

[Trambo]

Hello guys, I am new to traping and have cought a nice red fox this year in a snare. I have hade several coons just walk through them and I think I'll have to try a diffrent loop size. I think trapping will never be like it was but god it's addictive. I used to be a big time deer and turkey hunter and still am but I am really like the trapping better.
Deer hunting was just too much a bragging thing and it's really not too hard too kill a deer, don't get me wrong I just think there not as hard to hunt. I feel that the fur bearing animals are really over looked and they really ofer a challange either hunted or traped.

[Trambo]

P.S. I have a nice line on some bob cats for nest year a deer hunting buddy of mine has seen a few in the same area as his stand so I think I might try a few cubby sets or mabey a few snares next year.
Finding the fox in my snare was alot better then finding a deer. Oh yea I am going to really laugh alot when I catch my friends following a fox trail say look at that their deer trail. I have learned that all animals use those trails. It has been really fun and I have learned alot.

[KYtrapper17]

You are dead on Trambo! People do overlook fur bearers. They see them as a varmit or a pest. They think there is no challenge to catch an ole coyote or a fox. But, I guess that's why alot of people don't trap. I think alot of them don't trap cause it is to hard for them but they just say it is easy. One of the greatest challenges in the outdoorsmans lifestyle is catching a coyote or just catching a good amount of fur. It is also very addictive. Every time I walk upon a coon in a pocket set, a yote in a snare, or even a possum in a good canine set I just fall deeper in love.

Zach Ellis

I'm in the jewelry business: Putting Bracelets and Necklaces on Fur-Bearers

[snareman]

Trambo,

Good to have you on the site. Not many trappers on the forum as you'll see.

[ksp965]

When I was small, most general stores stocked a few traps. Now, I would have no idea where to find a trap or snare. Anyone have a link to a good supplier?

[GSP]

I saw some in Winchester at Wincester Hunting & Supplies. First time I've seen a steel trap in a store in a long time.

[KYtrapper17]

ksp: There are many trapping supplies stores out of state therefore you have to order your supplies. Sterling Fur Company has a wide selection of about everything you need to trap. I am not sure if they have a website but you should check.

Zach Ellis

I'm in the jewelry business: Putting Bracelets and Necklaces on Fur-Bearers

[snareman]

965,

I buy all my traps and supplies from a place called Minnesota Trapline. They have a web site.

[ksp965]

Thanks, Sterling Fur Company has a site, www.sterlingfur.com, but I am having trouble getting on it. I haven't had time to search for Minnesota Trapline, but I will.

[warden310]

Trapping license sales were up quite a bit from last year, but still under 700 statewide. The prices have started inching up because of the fashion industry. That always increases the license sales.

Next year the youth free hunting weekend in late December will probably be a whole week and include trapping. I'm planning on taking some kids with me to show them the sport.

On a very limited time this year I caught: 3 coyotes, 1 red fox, 8 raccoons, 4 oppossums, 2 skunks, and several rabbits. I only set foot-hold traps but will probably snare a little next season. My top coyote also brought $24, raccoons ~$10, fox $15. If coons stay up I'll probably spend some time on them next season.

Where does everybody trap? County?

[warden310]

The KY FurTakers spring meet is at Elizabethtown Pritchard Comm. Center on March 27th. I'm not sure of the opening time, but usually 9am. Contact James Lee 502-477-8608 for details. For first time trappers it's a good club to join.

[snareman]

310,

I trap primarily in Todd County.

[KYtrapper17]

I trapped in Lincoln, Boyle, and Casey Counties this year. Next year I plan to trap some in Mcreary County.

I will be at the Spring Meet on the 27th. It is great to meet up with other trappers. Will they be having an auction down there? I'm talking like they do at the fall meet. All the trappers bring something in and they auction it off.

Zach Ellis

I'm in the jewelry business: Putting Bracelets and Necklaces on Fur-Bearers

[warden310]

I'll meet you all there! I'll be in uniform, probably the only officer there. Introduce yourself so I know who I'm talking too.


Chris Ogle