Preperation

[Buckfever85]

So whats everyone been doing to get ready for the upcoming season?  Scouting, dying traps, building fisher or weasel boxes?

I have been collecting bait, getting all of my supplies out and adjusting pans and making sure everything is clean.

[Doc]

This used to be the time that I was busy boiling and waxing traps. Scouting was a year round activity. This time of year I would be taking care of repairs, and building more stretchers and watching some of those bait bottles full of some of my own concoctions ferment. Another good idea is to check those hip boots for checking and cracks just to see if it's time to replace them. I also used to go through the pack and see that everything needed was there. It's also the time when I would start re-reading some of the articles in Fur-Fish-Game, and checking the fur prices. It's also a good time to build cubbys and any other kinds of special set construction so it can age a bit before the actual set is made. Planning paths and routes for the line is also a good thing to be getting ready.

There's not a whole lot that needs to be done, but it is always good to get those things out of the way.

[RTF]

This will be my 15 year old boy's first year trapping. He went to the state convention earlier this month and picked up some traps and other supplies. he plans on going out this afternoon after school and gps'ing some spots he might want to set at.

[Doc]

Are you going to "partner-up" with him or aren't you into trapping?

When I was into trapping, I always had a partner. It started off with my grandfather, and later when I got married, it was my wife. And later yet my two boys were added into the activity. It just always seemed to make the whole trapline bigger and better with multiple ideas on sets and methods.

[Paula]

I would like to learn about trapping

[otis2]

Trapping is an awesome sport, I really miss it. When I was a kid I used to run lines with my father for muskrats and coon. Once I got into my teens I started running my own lines. Lots of good memories with pops!

[Doc]

Trapping is an activity that will test your understanding of woodslore and knowledge of animals. It takes all the aspects of hunting and then adds one more restriction ..... that being that you have to know the exact spot where an animal will walk and/or place it's foot. Now that's a pretty intimate knowledge of your prey. It's pretty darn satisfying when you can become good at walking into strange territory and successfully figuring out where these critters are going to put their foot. That takes a pretty sophisticated knowledge of the animal you intend to catch. Not only all that, but you have to be able to go in and dig, touch, re-arrange and create all kinds of sets without having the set-up look or smell disturbed or in anyway un-natural. To be that close to an exact spot where an animal is going to pass without leaving any warning trace behind is quite a trick in itself. In short, trapping is a challenge laden activity that is equalled by very few other outdoor activities (if any).

[Paula]

I checked into it last yr, i couldn't find anyone in the area that still did it and dec doesn't off a class in this area. I have traps thats as far as i got. I would love to trap out back here but this guy doesn't want anyone back here at all.

[Doc]

I checked into it last yr, i couldn't find anyone in the area that still did it and dec doesn't off a class in this area. I have traps thats as far as i got. I would love to trap out back here but this guy doesn't want anyone back here at all.

I would try to pressure the DEC a bit more for assistance in locating a class. It's probably just a case of locating someone there that is willing to be helpful. They have to be able to tell you where and when the next available class is someplace that's not too far away......... I would hope.

[Doc]

Here is a DEC webpage that lists phone numbers for information on all kinds of required classes.

http://www.dec.ny.go...tdoor/9188.html

Also, there is a page that gives county reps from the NYS trappers association. They may be able to supply answers to any other kinds of questions you may have. Perhaps you may even want to join. I did notice that there are some counties that don't have any reps yet, so you may have to use which ever one is available and close.

http://www.nystrappers.org/county_reps.html

[Paula]

thanks doc

[Doc]

You're welcome. I may not be involved in trapping anymore, but I still have an interest in helping others to get into it. It is an activity that I have always been proud to have participated in, and I would love to see it all prosper with new people.

[Paula]

i emailed someone from my area last night and and called dec # this morning. both numbers are for same guy and mailbox is full

[Paula]

oh and someone from here emailed me that there was a class in oswego this wkend. short notice but nice of them