Welcome to the shed

I got home from work in time to get a few snares out Friday evening. No luck so far but put about 20 more out today. My buddy Greg started today and put around 20 out. They should start producing tomorrow. I'll be surprised if some of the ones I set today don't have something tomorrow.

We're not the best trappers around but it's good to do something after your done bow hunting for the year.

Most years I make enough off trapping to go hang out with spike buck for a week and hunt some of his big bear. This year I paid for my elk hunt with the fur check.

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

I've gained permission to bow hunt over the years by starting out just asking to trap yotes. It's a great way to get your foot in the door. Here's a few pics of some sets.

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

From: RJ Hunt

10-Dec-17

Very cool. Keep it coming

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

Greg did bring one in today someone he knows shot. I guessed it north of 37lbs. I added some comments on a different thread about weight so I'll try to post pics and weight as we go.

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

Here's the official scale weight. We've been weighing almost every yote we bring in for a long time. It's easy to overestimate their weight.

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

Hopefully we can pile some up the next couple weeks and keep everyone interested. We do set footholds but I didn't put any out this weekend. I was in a hurry and can set three snares to one trap.

Everyone should try snaring some yotes. It's incredibly easy and doesn't cost much to get started.

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

From: gblevins525

10-Dec-17

Couple years ago with WV Hillbilly

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

From: gblevins525

10-Dec-17

Think the biggest we've had at the shed is 46 pounds out of hundreds

From: drycreek

10-Dec-17

I'm on this train ! I have the greatest respect for the guys that can snare coyotes in wide open places....that's knowing your quarry right there. I do pretty good myself with steel, but I've never been confident that I could snare yotes without catching a deer. Keep it up !

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

Here's one from a few years ago with gblevins

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

Drycreek, traps are a lot harder to catch them in. Upmost respect to a guy that can get one to step on a 1-1/2 circle. We do occasionally get a deer and most of the time you can walk the snare down and cut it loose. I try to not set deer trails and set my snares lower and smaller than recommended. I may miss a few dogs but it's worth it to keep the deer out.

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

From: gblevins525

10-Dec-17

Dry Creek jump sticks wI'll keep most of the deer off your snares. Just put a stick across the top of your snares, deer will hopefully go over them.

From: The last savage

10-Dec-17

Great thread,,,!!!thx for the cool pics,,makes me wanna set a few...

From: Medicinemann

10-Dec-17

Ever catch someone's dog?

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

Here's a pic of the take so far this year.

From: gblevins525

10-Dec-17

I haven't but, I know someone who has caught a bunch.

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

Scorecard. Won't take long for Greg to catch-up

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Dec-17

Medicinemann, yes I've caught a couple. Mostly they will sit and hang out like they are on a leash. A few kind words and you have them free. I have had a couple mean ones. It's ugly throwing your coat over them and holding them down to cut them loose without getting bit.

The real test is if they wanna head home after they are loose or stay and fight. Luckily I haven't had to deal with a fight yet.

99% of the farmers that let me trap don't let their dogs run loose. Still get a few out drifting around without their owners occasionally.

From: Waterfowler

10-Dec-17

I've always been very interested in trapping . Caught some muskrat in my youth but not much more. Ran into the trapper that does our farm in Md during the deer gun season ( when waterfowl is closed) he catches 1200-1500 fox per season. Told me what his day to day is , no idea how he does it but I have much respect for him.

From: WV Mountaineer

10-Dec-17

Where you guys at in WV?

From: Wv hillbilly

11-Dec-17

We're near Delaware Ohio. It's just north of Columbus. I grew up in Jackson county. Wv. I got my father n law into trapping a few years back. He catches 30-40 yotes off his farm in Jackson county almost every year now. The years he traps you see a lot of does with two fawns. The years he doesn't your lucky to see them with one.

From: GotBowAz

11-Dec-17

Wv, what do you do with all the pelts? Send them off to be tanned or do you have buyers for them? Are most of them turned into fur coats or something else? keep up the good work! Looks like a lot of fun!

From: Wv hillbilly

11-Dec-17

I send the pelts to a auction company in Canada. They host auctions with countries all over the world. They pay the best I've found.

Prices have been down for a few years now. Coyotes have paid the best the last couple of years. I've heard some of the yotes from the north western states have been bringing 70-80$ each. Think I averaged 37$ last year.

From: Mad Trapper

11-Dec-17

Nice work! Great average on your yotes. Can you guys use straight snares or are they cable restraints?

From: Bowfreak

11-Dec-17

Wv,

Would you care to detail how you set one of these snares? I would love to start doing this. I have always said I would spend my retirement days trapping.

From: Wv hillbilly

11-Dec-17

Thanks mad trapper. We are required to have relaxing locks or a breakaway at 350lbs. Also deer stops are required.

Bowfreak, I'll post some pics and details when I get home from work this evening. They are simple and easy to set. You can buy the material to make 100 of them for around 80$.

From: APauls

11-Dec-17

Wv, the furrier is actually here in Winnipeg where it all runs through. Pretty cool place. Coyotes lately are generally in the $70-$100 range seems like and last number of years there have been dogs going over $200. All cdn dollars. Word on the street is the reason for the increase in coyote prices is because of the Canada Good jackets. Also made in Canada.

I just moved this summer and have a lot coyotes behind my place and just set a trail camera yesterday to see if there is any kind of regularity to them. I would love to trap, but I think my neighbours dog gets out...

From: WV Mountaineer

11-Dec-17

Cool hillbilly. I was wandering where in the world in WV was that flat. :^)

From: Wv hillbilly

11-Dec-17

Well, I caught a big nothing tonight. Greg got two. I'll post their weight after he posts the pics. We just got them shucked out and on the stretchers.

From: Wv hillbilly

11-Dec-17

Here's a pic of the set up we use. The big washer is a anchor you drive in the ground. Then just use a piece of 9 gauge wire to support the snare end. Only takes about a minute to set one.

From: gblevins525

11-Dec-17

One of 2 tonight

Got two volunteers tonight for the shed. 2 smallish females might be the same litter. Real red yote other one was a dark with some long black hair mixed in

From: WV Mountaineer

11-Dec-17

My brother uses similar anchors for foot hold sets too.

From: Wv hillbilly

11-Dec-17

Here's the weight of the red one. The other was about the same

From: Eagle_eye_Andy

11-Dec-17

Cool thread! I’d love to do this with my young boys. How difficult is it to prepare hides for sending to auction?

From: gblevins525

12-Dec-17

Eagle Eye the hardest part is skinning the things, after that flesh them put them on stretcher for a day in warm room will mostly dry then flip the hide and put back on the stretcher and let it finish drying.

From: Wv hillbilly

12-Dec-17

Thought I was gonna get skunked again today but had one in the last snare I checked. Any guesses on the weight? I'll weigh it and let you know after I get the kids some dinner. Haven't talked to Greg yet. Don't know if he scored or not.

From: Inshart

12-Dec-17

32.5#

From: Wv hillbilly

12-Dec-17

Good guess! Greg didn't have any action tonight. He did get a few more sets poked out. Tomorrow is another day lord willing. Gonna be cold here for the next few days. Should get them moving.

From: gblevins525

13-Dec-17

Snowed here last night seems like the yotes run good when we get fresh snow. Got a few more put out last night should have some action. Had a deer last night let me relax my lock while it was standing up got a finger under the snare and cut it. It stood there for a second I ta]ed it and it ran like a bat out of hell. That one will definitely make it.

From: Missouribreaks

13-Dec-17

Good thread guys, controlling predators is very important. Too bad more do not put forth the effort.

From: gblevins525

13-Dec-17

Tonight

Got two tonight

From: Wv hillbilly

13-Dec-17

Greg got two tonight and I got a goose egg. I cried in my beer and made some more snares. I'll need two four wheelers tomorrow to carry all the yotes I'm gonna catch.

From: gblevins525

13-Dec-17

Second one tonight

Here's the other one hip caught only bout 40 yards away from the first one

From: Wv hillbilly

14-Dec-17

Only got one today. He was 50 yards from where a pack had caught and killed a small deer. Looked like it happened this morning. Guess I should of taken a pic and put it on the kill them all thread. When they come back to finish up what little bit is left I've got a few necklaces waiting for them. I did put out two footholds today. Made some urine post sets. Haven't talked to Greg yet hopefully he had some luck as well.

From: Wv hillbilly

14-Dec-17

Look at the gut on the one from today. Packed full of deer meat.

From: Wv hillbilly

14-Dec-17

From: Wv hillbilly

14-Dec-17

Greg got one today as well. Just got here and gonna get it shucked out. It's got some neat colored back feet. Looks like white socks

From: Wv hillbilly

14-Dec-17

White sox

From: Wv hillbilly

15-Dec-17

Here's a pic of the kill site from yesterday. Had to of been 5-6 of them to eat that much in such a short period of time. Didn't look like anything had touched it since I found it yesterday.

From: SJJ

15-Dec-17

From: Butternut40

15-Dec-17

Great thread. I did a lot of trapping growing up and worked at a fur buyers place during high school and college. I skinned thousands of muskrats, raccoons, fox, mink along with some yotes and beaver. Back in the 80's there weren't that many yotes around this part of the country unlike today.

From: Wv hillbilly

15-Dec-17

Butternut, your right. Growing up we never saw yotes around. Back then I would see 20-30 deer every time I was in the stand. Nowadays lucky to see 10 if any. That's in wv. It's even worse here in Ohio. Used to see flocks of 100 or more turkeys in the fields driving down the dirt road to our house. Now you might see 15-30. Won't be long and the yotes will have all the deer and turkey gone. After they clean up any dog and cat they find, they'll learn to climb trees and eat up all the squirrels.

I can't complain about the lack of competition for trapping permission. But I sure would like to see more people out getting after them. It's a cheap hobby. Just takes some time and work. The pay off to the other critters running around is well worth it.

If anyone is reading this and is interested in getting into trapping or snaring, the internet has all kinds of useful info. Better than that every state has a trappers association. They have yearly conventions with demos and lots of vendors. I'll give you a dollar if you can find someone there that won't talk your ear off about catching critters.

From: gblevins525

15-Dec-17

Blank tonight have to get a bunch out where I caught some. Reset some of the same trails and some new stuff. After this deer season be time to really get after them. Hope the weather turns cold agian

From: Wv hillbilly

15-Dec-17

Got two today. Both within 100 yrds of the deer kill

From: Wv hillbilly

15-Dec-17

From: Wv hillbilly

15-Dec-17

From: Wv hillbilly

15-Dec-17

From: t-roy

15-Dec-17

Loving this! Got some MB 550s all ready to go along with some snares and gonna give it a go after our deer season ends here in Iowa. I used to trap some in Jr high thru high school and loved it. Haven’t set a leg hold since the mid eighties and done very little snaring, but I’ve got the itch to do it again. Like butternut, I used to skin yotes for a fur buyer in Oklahoma in the late 80s. Didn’t make squat, but I enjoyed it, but I refused to skin any of the dog caught ones the guys would bring in!

From: Wv hillbilly

15-Dec-17

Good luck t-roy! I got some mb 550's this year. It seems the pan tension is a little much if you leave it at the night latch. I've been dropping them a little lower to let it go quicker. I set out two yesterday and am anxious to see how they work. That skinning work will make you good at shucking anything out plus you have to get good at sharpening a knife.

From: Butternut40

15-Dec-17

t-roy I made $5.00 an hour. I gotta admit that reading this thread gets a guy fired up to run a trapline again.

From: t-roy

15-Dec-17

I got a buck apiece per yote, so that’s about the same as what I made. I wasn’t very fast, but I was consistent:) Mostly I just enjoyed being there sharing the stories.

From: Wv hillbilly

16-Dec-17

Got two more today. Didn't get a live pic of the second one. I was to busy giving a trespasser a ear full. Funny thing about it as I was riding up to him he tried to get away and onto the next property. He got tangled up in one of my snares. He got loose and just stood there to take his butt chewing. He then jumped the fence and went on his way.

From: Wv hillbilly

16-Dec-17

First one today. It was 50 yards from the deer kill I found.

From: Wv hillbilly

16-Dec-17

Old wound. They are some tough critters.

The one I caught by the trespasser stunk! Smelled like it crawled out of a possum's butt. Had to open the shed doors and turn on a fan to skin it. The one by the deer kill had a old wound in the center of its back. I usually sew bullet holes or cuts up ,but I've had to many barley pops to play Martha Stewart tonight.

From: Wv hillbilly

17-Dec-17

Got one today. Havent talked to Greg yet. He was planning on setting a bunch more out.

From: gblevins525

17-Dec-17

Been struggling here have to get a bunch more out. Rather check 30 going to check as opposed to 10. Seems like I'm doing it now. Look out set up a new farm this week maybe and put a bunch more out at the quarry. WV keep locking it out of the park. Have a few yotes here in central ohio but not like other places.

From: rattling_junkie

18-Dec-17

Very cool thread.

From: wisconsinteacher

18-Dec-17

Picked up #3 this morning in NW WI. After Christmas they should really move!!!!

From: APauls

18-Dec-17

Hey WV any chance you could take a pic of a set that you set up? I'm curious to see what it looks like. I need to start doing this.

From: Z Barebow

18-Dec-17

Guys. What type of leghold traps would you recommend to a coyote newbie? Would you recommend offset jaws?

I trapped when in high school but I wasn't very good. But I haven't set a trap in years. My stuff is smaller, (coon/mink/fox sized).

I am a much better woodsman since my high school days. (I have bowhunting to thank for that). Between that and the internet, I think I grab a coyote or two if I picked it back up. I can picture taking some vacation to do some trapping trips to coyote rich areas of the state! Thanks in advance.

From: lineman21

18-Dec-17

Z Barebow, MB 550 is the ultimate coyote trap in my opinion. 2 coiled and offset jaws have done the trick for me over the years.

From: Wv hillbilly

18-Dec-17

Thanks guys! I'll get a few pics of some of the snares after work while I'm checking tonight. I'll try to detail a set up also. The mb550 is a extremely well built trap. I'm just experimenting with them this year so I don't have a good opinion yet. I personally like the old Montana #2 dogless. They are hard to find around here. Sleepy creek makes a good trap also. Made in good ol WV and they won't break the bank to buy a dozen. Most guys like the number 2 size or bigger. Check your local laws,jaw sizes vary between states. I've caught a few yotes over the years in coon sets with 1-1/2 size traps.

From: Florida Mike

18-Dec-17

I really like these trapping threads! FM

From: Stoneman

18-Dec-17

Great thread, thanks for taking us along...

From: buckhammer

18-Dec-17

Wv Hillbilly.............thanks for the thread. Brings back a ton of memories of my youth. My grandfather was a country fur buyer here in Michigan in the late 60's thru the 70's and into the early 80's. I spent many hours in his fur shed skinning and stretching rats and scrapping coon hides. I could skin and stretch a rat by age 6. My grandpa would skin the coons and stretch them for me and then I would scrape them. He wouldn't let me touch the fox though unless he supervised. They were worth some good money back then. I can remember him giving $50 for a fox in the round. That was a lot of money back then. My grandpa would run his lines in the morning and then stop at my school and pull me out to go work in the fur shed. Took a while for my mom to catch on and man was she pissed when she found out I was playing hooky to skin fur with gramps. Took grandpa a while to calm her down. I learned more about life in that fur shed than I ever learned in school.

From: gblevins525

18-Dec-17

Z Barebow the snares are much easier and in my opinion more efficient. Ice snow or rain doesn't hardly effect them. Bout 9 inch loop of the ground bout 9 or 10 inches work good. If you think the yote is going to have his head down going through where your set is put a clump of grass under it , will raise his head up. To big of a gap fence it down with sticks or a branch.

From: Wv hillbilly

18-Dec-17

Thanks guys! I'll try to answer your questions and show a example of a snare set with some more details.

I didn't catch anything today. We've got a warm up this week that's gonna slow me down from setting up some new areas. Greg's in the same boat. Farmers get a little upset when you rut up their fields. It's supposed to freeze again this weekend so we'll be able to hang some rope where we want. Don't get me wrong I've done a ton of walking and still do, but time is limited checking after work. It's a pain in the butt carrying a yote or two, three hundred yards or more. If I have time tomorrow I might poke out a few coon sets since this warm up should have them running.

From: Wv hillbilly

18-Dec-17

My first reply today said Montana traps. It should of said Montgomery #2 dogless. Good job Wisconsinteacher. Keep at them. Your right they should start running better soon. Their rut will be starting anytime. They will be chasing off the pups from this year and pairing up.

Buckhammer, glad it brought back some good ones. We have a lot of good times in the shed. Used to be so many of us in here you couldn't turn around. Now it's mostly just Greg and I. His son still hangs out some when he can. That boy, well he's a grown man now, can flat out skin and flesh some coon. Think he can shuck one out in two minutes or less. Probably doesn't take him two minutes to flesh one either. We used to race and time each other skinning stuff to see who was the fastest. Everything always seems to turn into a competition.

Apauls here are a couple pics of set snares. You can tie them to trees but it's hard to find one sometimes at a good location. I mostly use a ground anchor. Just drive it in the ground beside where you want to set. Stab in your support wire. Bend the support wire where you want it and hook it to the snare support collar after you make the loop the size you want. Add a few weeds if you feel it needs brushed in some and your done.

From: Wv hillbilly

18-Dec-17

From: Wv hillbilly

18-Dec-17

Washer goes in a groove on the bottom of the driver and you push/ beat it in the ground with a hammer.

I use a pogo anchor system. Here's a pic.

From: Wv hillbilly

18-Dec-17

Support wire goes into a support collar to hold up the loop

From: jjs

18-Dec-17

Great thread, bring back memories at Shedda's trap & fur buyer in Chelsea, Iowa. Use to stop in and there would be a big mound of muskrats in the back room with couple of gents skinning them out. Didn't do much trapping but would stop and drop off a fox or coon while out bird hunting. Back in the 70s the coon were getting $35-40 and fox was $50-75 and we really had to watch our birddogs for any trap sets that were suppose to be mark, it brought out every Tom and Dick trying to make a buck.

From: t-roy

18-Dec-17

jjs......I sold few furs to ol Ludvick over in Chelsea back in the 70s too. Back then, when the fur prices were high, he was buying practically anything that had fur, including house cats. A good friend of mine skinned skunks for Ludy. He got paid a dollar apiece for skinning and got to keep all of the essence as well. Between skinning and selling the essence, he made roughly $1,500 a week, which was some major bucks for a 19 yr old kid back in 1976. He sure did reek, though!

Wv..........thanks for the tutorial!

From: Mad Trapper

19-Dec-17

Ludy was a hoot! WV how are you guys preping you cables? They really blend in well.

From: Wv hillbilly

19-Dec-17

Thanks mad trapper. Greg boils his in baking soda. I just dip mine in a waterbased trap dye. I noticed they Are hard to see in the pics I've posted.

From: Butternut40

19-Dec-17

WV nice setup. I loved using snares. When I first discovered them I couldn't believe how well they worked on fox and raccoon.

From: Wv hillbilly

19-Dec-17

Dirt hole for coon.

Thanks butternut your right. My catch tripled when I started using snares. I usually pick up a few fox every year in the yote snares also. We don't have a very big population of them so I don't target them much. They yotes have all but killed them out around here. We do use a neat snare system for coon. Just a snare and support wire attached to a oak stake. Drive it in beside a trail and your done. You can set up a corn field in no time and they don't weigh anything.

I caught another big nothing today. Haven't talked to Greg yet. Hope he had some action. I did set out 4 dirt holes for coons and a flat set for yotes. Should have something to skin tomorrow.

Gonna make some more snares tonight. I'll need plenty more when this next freeze up hits.

From: gblevins525

19-Dec-17

Yup big nothing for me. Agree I have another 35 or 40 made , have to get my earth anchors put together and I will be ready for the freeze up.

From: Salagi

19-Dec-17

Tomorrow is the last day of school until Jan 2 for me. By the time I get the last kid kicked off the bus it will be too late to set any traps but starting the next day, I hope to get some steel in the ground and a few snares hung. Harder to find places that snares seem to work around here, our coyotes don't run too many trails, I reckon our woods are too open.

From: Wv hillbilly

20-Dec-17

Good luck salagi. Post some pics on here let us know how you do.

From: Wv hillbilly

20-Dec-17

First one by the deer kill. Real light colored.

Got two yotes and one grinner in a coon set. First one was near the deer kill. Second one was on a snare I set in November. It was set on a trail that produces every year. Just took some time this year. It looks like a coy wolf for pat. Here's some pics. Greg also got one. I'm sure he'll post some pics also.

From: Wv hillbilly

20-Dec-17

From: Wv hillbilly

20-Dec-17

2nd one tonight probably the neatest colored and best fur so far this year.

From: Wv hillbilly

20-Dec-17

short snout and wide head. Something mixed in the gene pool.

From: Wv hillbilly

20-Dec-17

From: Wv hillbilly

20-Dec-17

The grinner got a free pass. Let it loose and remade the set.

From: t-roy

20-Dec-17

Trappers in Iowa Iowa would lynch ya for that!! ;-)

From: gblevins525

20-Dec-17

Female from tohight

So I finally connected tonight. Caught the red looking one across the lane from the one tonight. Made resets on the trail about 10 yards in front of both catch circles.

From: gblevins525

20-Dec-17

From tonight

It was 26 even

From: Wv hillbilly

21-Dec-17

Nothing tonight. Haven't talked to Greg yet. Hope he scored.

From: Busta'Ribs

21-Dec-17

That's a business opportunity there boys. Get the word out with the QDM crowd and you'll have guys with managed deer farms all over the midwest paying you to trap their dogs. This is the forgotten aspect of QDM. They all pass the small bucks, kill a bunch of does, plant the best food plots and hope to have good neighbors doing the same. But I bet very few of them are trapping dogs on a regular basis. Sniping a few here and ther, but not layin a beatin on them like you boys are. Find a need and fill it boys, first rule of business.

From: Michael

21-Dec-17

Wow great thread guys!

From: Wv hillbilly

21-Dec-17

Thanks Michael! Busta, your right. People put a ton of money and time in their deer herds but don't put a lot of effort on predators. It's amazing how many yotes are around. Seems like every one we catch two more show up to take its place. The ones I've caught so far have been in a two mile radius. I'll catch just as many in the same area before I shut down for the year. As someone else said on the kill em all thread. Yotes are one of the only animals that will increase the size of their litter if the environment will support them. I can't imagine the numbers we could pile up if we were retired.

From: Wv hillbilly

22-Dec-17

I caught two possums today in coon sets. They didn't fair as well as the one earlier this week. Greg didn't have any action either. Gonna run the line in the morning and knock everything down. I'm headed to WV to visit family for the weekend. Merry Christmas everyone may god bless and keep you and yours.

From: gblevins525

23-Dec-17

Today in the rain

Well managed 1 today. Wet starting to get cold. Could only think it's gonna get better soon.

From: gblevins525

23-Dec-17

Busta'Ribs your right about people shooting a few, had a guy arguing that he can shoot as many as I can snare, yup you guessed it , I called bullshit on that. Guys might get 2 or 3 on a good night. I can work all day then check snares, the most I hab in one spot is 5

From: gblevins525

23-Dec-17

From: t-roy

23-Dec-17

g525........I’d sure like to go with THAT guy. He’s obviously a way better caller than I am! ;-)

From: Wv hillbilly

25-Dec-17

Got back home in time to get the snares back up before dark. Game on! Wind has been blowing pretty good so not much in the way of tracks. Single digits this week with low wind. They should be moving now. Gonna try to get home from work to set up a new area tomorrow

Merry Christmas

From: midwest

25-Dec-17

Finally opened this thread. I used to LIVE for trapping and snaring. I only took up bowhunting to kill the month of October before trapping season opened. Used all my vacation to run my line. Great work guys....brought back lots of memories. I'll post up some old trapping and snaring photos tomorrow.

Like you guys, once I learned how to snare, my catch tripled. Weather in Iowa is too much freeze/thaw to keep traps working in the dirt. Different story out west. I still have a pile of traps and snare cable ready to go for when I finally decide to get serious with it again. As tough as it is to get good hunting ground anymore, trapping may become a priority for me again and definitely a way to make some extra cash when I retire.

From: Beendare

26-Dec-17

I'm curious, do you bother with the mangy ones?

They aren't good for anything, eh?

From: Wv hillbilly

26-Dec-17

Beendare. I don't discriminate. They all get a 22 pill. Luckily we don't get a lot of mangy ones. The few we do get with bad fur get donated to the carcass pile.

From: Bou'bound

26-Dec-17

you want to hunt then hunt and show us what you got

you want to trap then trap and show up what you got

but posting pictures of restrained animals that will be shot in place is bad

From: Wv hillbilly

26-Dec-17

You can change the channel bou. You don't have to watch the show. I think it's more tasteful than showing a dead one with a giant hole in it and blood everywhere. We're still in the good ol USA so we get to have our own opinions. Thanks for sharing yours.

From: trackman

26-Dec-17

I think it's great keep it coming if some one don't like it then watch Opra

From: bow shot

26-Dec-17

Excellent, excellent thread. Thank you sir!

From: midwest

26-Dec-17

Animal in a trap is no different than a treed lion to me. Keep 'em coming, boys!

From: Wv hillbilly

26-Dec-17

Thanks trackman and bow shot. Nothing today for me. I did see tracks in the snow where one walked up and refused a snare. Get a few of them a year. Man they are smart. Set out a couple new snares in trails I didn't see without the snow. Didn't get home in time to set up any new areas. With a short week at work and not much going on I should be able to sneak out early Thursday or Friday and get something new set up. Patience and persistence, you'll go a few days without a catch then boom you'll start getting a bunch.

From: Wv hillbilly

26-Dec-17

Thanks Midwest. I was gonna bring that up but didn't want anyone to get butt hurt. The challenge is in the catch not the kill. Unless you wanna choke one to death.

From: t-roy

26-Dec-17

My wife is a little miffed at you, Wv hillbilly. I just dropped a little over 3 bills at The Snare Shop today on misc. supplies because of this thread. She’s holding you personally responsible;-)

With my trapping abilities, I figure I should break even by 2023.....if you don’t figure in the gas.

From: bentshaft

27-Dec-17

Thanks for sharing, great thread.

From: Wv hillbilly

27-Dec-17

Thanks bentshaft. Ha t-Roy that's ok my wife stays mad at me over all the different seasons every year. As long as they don't talk to each other and start planning our untimely death we'll be ok. The snare shop is where we get most of our stuff from also. Good luck lets see some pics of your catch.

From: T Mac

27-Dec-17

Great thread keep it coming!

From: Wv hillbilly

27-Dec-17

Thanks TMac. Got one today and had enough time to set up a few snares on a new place. Haven't got a report from Greg yet. He's due to drag one in.

From: Wv hillbilly

27-Dec-17

Looked bigger than he is.

From: gblevins525

27-Dec-17

Had one get out bunch of blood but no dog got a couple more set out and tried to get permission at a new farm. WV HILLBILLY found that dog in K y snare that got away. Lol

From: t-roy

28-Dec-17

I thought I’d share a pic a buddy took the other day on a creek by his house.

$hit happens!

From: midwest

28-Dec-17

Suicide?

From: t-roy

28-Dec-17

I don’t think so. He said there was no note found.

From: Michael

28-Dec-17

Hillary said he showed her the note before the dirty deed was done.

From: Michael

28-Dec-17

On a serious note this thread makes me wish I was in high school all over again. I would be running a line every day I could skip practice on.

I definitely plan on trapping some coyotes when I semi retire in a few years.

From: Wv hillbilly

28-Dec-17

Ha t-roy sometimes you get the bear sometimes it gets you. I didn't get anything today. Greg just drug a nice one in. I'm sure he'll get some pics up. Greg got the shed a new winch for Christmas. I installed it last Friday. Sure does make it nice being able to lift them up and down as needed for skinning.

From: WhitetailHtr

29-Dec-17

Great thread! I used to trap in the mid 70's when I was in HS. I actually trapped exclusive golf courses (with permission). All these in the round: red fox males:$90, females: $65, gray fox $45, coons up to $50 and rats up to $7.75. Do the present value on those dollar amounts. LOTS of fun and great money back then. Thanks for the memories!!!

From: Salagi

29-Dec-17

Well I am enjoying this thread as it looks like that's all the catches I'll see this year. I didn't get to set any until a week ago tomorrow due to family obligations and will have to pull them Monday, or at least spring them if it is as cold as they are saying. I was only able to run a short line (by short I mean just over a dozen traps and snares combined. 2 pull outs (probably an inquisitive deer), one sprung trap (freezing/thawing and a light trigger I think), 2 snares knocked down and one pit bull (nuts). Got to admit, the dog was one of the easiest to release I've ever had and a picture perfect pad catch. I specifically avoided setting where I had a better chance of catching a coon or possum this year.

Went to another place to call coyotes this morning and only managed to call up 2 deer. Gun season closed yesterday. Such is life. Keep posting pictures

From: Wv hillbilly

29-Dec-17

Thanks guys. Whitetailhtr, some guys quit their regular jobs back then and lived off trapping money. Dout we'll ever see prices like those again. Few years ago I was getting 14$ for good rats. Bout 10 years ago we were getting 28-30$ for xxl coon. Now I'm hearing 5-8$ for the best coon and 3-4$ for rats

Salagi can you set any of your trapping area up and check it from the road with binoculars or spotting scope? I've done it in the past and it really saves time if you can just check them going to and from work. Hang some blaze orange flagging tape near by.

I caught a deer and a yote today. Was able to walk the snare down and cut Bambi loose. The yote was in a snare I set back in November. It was set on a trail I've caught them on every year. Sometimes it takes a while. I looked at a new section of one of the properties this eve to set up. Big fence row and woods beside a corn field. Found a few trails but way to many deer tracks. Sometimes it's not worth the risk if there is more deer sign than dog.

From: Wv hillbilly

29-Dec-17

One of the heaviest this year

From: 3arrows

29-Dec-17

Nice pictures great thread.

From: Wv hillbilly

30-Dec-17

It's a balmy 12 degree this morning. I'm just leaving the first property. No action so far. Deer were moving no dog tracks. We got 3-4" of snow overnight. Snowing pretty good now wind is supposed to pickup as the day goes on. Greg just sent me a pic he's got one already.

From: Wv hillbilly

30-Dec-17

Made a path in the tall grass on the corner of a field. Set snares on both sides.

Nothing for me today. I did set up a few snares on a different property. They should run good tonight I hope.

From: gblevins525

30-Dec-17

Thursdays 32 pounds

Got a realy nice one Thursday. Cold here bout 15 for a high but the wind chill is brutal. 4" of snow last night. Here's the one from thursday.

From: gblevins525

30-Dec-17

Really red yote

This one from today was on a deer kill. I set the snare yesterday when I found a trail leading through the middle of the field. Lots of tracks around him but no other snares connected. Not very many tracks anywhere else. Here's the one from today

From: gblevins525

30-Dec-17

Will stand up to a beating

t-roy was just reading back the thread, saw where your wife is mad ,you can ask Wv hillbilly I tell him she'll get over it or die with a grudge. You will find that your driver for earth anchors if not reinforced will bend on you if it is freezing where you r. Here's a pic of one I had someone fix up for me really stands up to some punishment. Keep all you components when you make a catch and you can reuse a few things. Whammy ,micro locks swivels washers.

From: Wv hillbilly

31-Dec-17

Got one today. Didn't see and many tracks around as I expected.

From: Wv hillbilly

31-Dec-17

From: Wv hillbilly

31-Dec-17

Did a little different type of skinning in the shed this eve. Happy New Years everyone!

From: Salagi

31-Dec-17

Wv Hillbilly - all my sets this year can be checked by driving the fields except for one. When school starts back up though I'll be firing up the bus before daylight and not getting home until almost dark, so it is easier to just call it off for the year.

Yesterday I had one small possum. In fact it was so little that back when possums were worth something he still wouldn't have been worth anything. Not being hungry enough to eat him, I let him go.

I think I had mentioned having a trap that evidently sprung by freezing/thawing as the only thing exposed was the jaws, the pan was still covered. Yesterday it had been dug out, stretched to the length of the chain, still set and very plainly peed on. I like to never got it to spring when I messed with it. Not sure why it wouldn't go off, seemed to work OK after I reset it a time or 2. Didn't have an extra trap with me to swap it out with of course. I think that's a sign to hang it up pretty quick.

Thanks for your posts, at least I get to see something in a trap that way. ;)

From: Wv hillbilly

01-Jan-18

Ha salagi I don't know if I'd ever be hungry enough to eat a possum. I can hardly stand to skin one. Hopefully you'll have better luck next year.

We both caught a big nothing today. Gotta go back to work tomorrow. I'm sure we'll drag something in tomorrow evening.

From: t-roy

01-Jan-18

Thanks for the tips, Greg! I bought the Wolf Fang anchors and the driver, but the MB550s I have are rigged up with earth anchors, so good info to know.

Wv........Granny Clampitt always said that “possum innards was jest as good warmed up as fresh!”

From: WV Mountaineer

01-Jan-18

Awesome fellas. Get 'em.

I haven't set a trap all year. My brother set some foot holds yesterday and caught two dogs today. Said one was very submissive. The other was a hand full to release. I sure wish I didn't leave and get home in the dark. I gotta get some snares out. Bro is setting another place with snares tomorrow. God Bless

From: trackman

01-Jan-18

That looks like some good fishing and some good eating Keep the it coming a old trapper.

From: Wv hillbilly

02-Jan-18

Ha troy they could be. WV maybe your brother will let you tag along to check some if you have a day off.

I got two today. Here's the pics. The second one was carrying a rabbit it had caught and it was in the snare also. When I got up to it I thought the snare had cut it up but after I shot it I could tell it was a rabbit necklace. That's a first for me.

From: Wv hillbilly

02-Jan-18

From: Wv hillbilly

02-Jan-18

Here's the rabbit killer

From: Wv hillbilly

02-Jan-18

From: WV Mountaineer

02-Jan-18

My Brother resides in NC. However, I am going down the weekend of the 20th to run his lines for two days. Looking forward to it. God Bless

From: Wv hillbilly

02-Jan-18

Here's a close up once I got it to the shed

From: Wv hillbilly

02-Jan-18

Greg didn't get anything. But his sons girlfriend set her first snares on Saturday. Well today she got her first one! Congrats Katie!

From: Wv hillbilly

02-Jan-18

Tipped the scales as our biggest so far this year!

From: WV Mountaineer

02-Jan-18

Hillbilly, have you got any experience with Duke 1.75's on yotes? I bought a half dozen last year for that purpose but, haven't used them yet. Will the yotes tear them up?

From: Wv hillbilly

02-Jan-18

Yes I've caught quite a few in them. I got a couple dozen a few years back in that size hoping they wouldn't be as rough on the coon that get in the yote sets. Make sure you loosen the pan tension. I also added a mid chain swivel. Since the jaw size is slightly smaller than a number 2 you might wanna move the trap back another 1/2" so the pan is a little farther back from the dirt hole, piss post, flat set, etc. Good luck on your trip,safe travels. Lets see some pics!

From: Wv hillbilly

02-Jan-18

Sorry I didn't really answer your question. I haven't had one tear up a duke 1.75. Probably caught 12-15 in those traps. I'm sure they can but I haven't experienced it yet.

From: Busta'Ribs

03-Jan-18

Keep up the good work boys (and girls)! Love checking this thread. The rabbit catch is awesome, too bad for the rabbit that you didn't catch that dog a little sooner! Big congrats to Katie on her first catch!

From: midwest

03-Jan-18

That rabbit combo catch is unreal!

From: WV Mountaineer

03-Jan-18

My brother sent me this pic this morning. My 7 year old nephews first coyote in a trap. Caught it with a duke number 2. To say he was excited would be an understatement.

From: trackman

03-Jan-18

Tell that nephew GOOD JOB

From: Wv hillbilly

03-Jan-18

Thanks guys! WV that's awesome. Tell him congrats. I've got a bumper sticker from the auction house that says kids that hunt trap and fish don't mug little ol ladies. It's the truth. Keep em busy in the outdoors and it'll keep them out of trouble.

I didn't catch any yotes today. Looks like leftover possum for dinner. Greg just sent me a pic of one he got. He was still checking so hope he grabs another one or two.

From: gblevins525

03-Jan-18

Well I finally connected on 2 tonight. One was a smallish female that was rubbed up. Then down from her bout 30 yards was another one nice dog. Got a pic shot him and at the shot he lunched broke the snare where it had been chewed. Well half an hour later never found him to say I was disappointed is an understatement. I don't think he will be getting anymore rabbits or deer.

From: gblevins525

03-Jan-18

From: gblevins525

03-Jan-18

The one that got away

From: Fuzz

04-Jan-18

Been following this thread since it started and lit a small fire under my giblets...needed it because its colder than billy hell here! Took a perty blonde out today out of the gene pool.

From: Wv hillbilly

04-Jan-18

Good job fuzz! Keep at it. Think of all the small game and deer you saved.

From: Wv hillbilly

04-Jan-18

Second day in a row with nothing for me. Looks like more leftover possum for dinner. The kids are gonna be upset. I did cut a few fresh tracks so they are moving some. Also added a couple new snares. The ground is so frozen it's like trying to drive the anchor into concrete. Hopefully Greg drags one in.

From: spike buck

04-Jan-18

Just noticed this thread. Doing great you guys!!!

From: Wv hillbilly

05-Jan-18

Thanks spike buck! Hope you and Lottie are having a good winter. We'll be talking to ya soon.

From: wisconsinteacher

05-Jan-18

Here are a few pictures from the past week.

From: wisconsinteacher

05-Jan-18

After the 2.5 mile ATV ride.

From: wisconsinteacher

05-Jan-18

#7 so far off the property I trap. Second year of trapping for me. Last year I got 9. The land owner said this year he saw more does with twins compared to the last 30 years of living on the farm. That makes a guy feel good about getting up every day at 4:45 with sub-zero temps.

From: wisconsinteacher

05-Jan-18

Took this picture just after jumping back in the truck.

From: wisconsinteacher

05-Jan-18

One big thing that I have learned this year is to run 1x19 cable. The coyotes work it hard but are not able to cut it like the 7x7 that I used last year. I have seen guy have 285# break away hooks fail on coyotes, but so far, I have not had the issue. We can use #350 break away hooks now so I might change over on my next order but as of now, a 285# with 1x19 cable has been working for me.

From: Wv hillbilly

05-Jan-18

Thanks for the posts Wisconsinteacher! Great catch plus a grey fox. That -25 makes our -9 seem like a heat wave. We use the 7x7 mostly and do have a few chew outs. I tried the 1x19 for a year and can't remember why I stopped using it. The lock does slide a lot faster with it.

The kids are happy tonight. No more leftover possum since I caught two yotes today. The first one might be the darkest I've ever caught. I thought it was a black when I pulled up to it. Here's some pics. Haven't heard from Greg yet but he owes us a pic from yesterday. I did have one walk through a snare today. I'll post a pic of it also

From: Wv hillbilly

05-Jan-18

From: Wv hillbilly

05-Jan-18

From: Wv hillbilly

05-Jan-18

Sometimes the 10" loop is to big like this one. If I had it 8-9" like the rest I'd have a pic of another yote today.

From: Wv hillbilly

06-Jan-18

Got three today. Greg got one also.

From: Wv hillbilly

06-Jan-18

From: Wv hillbilly

06-Jan-18

From: Wv hillbilly

06-Jan-18

Top dollar dog. Furred out real well and Snow White from chin to toes

From: Wv hillbilly

06-Jan-18

From: Wv hillbilly

07-Jan-18

Must've used up my luck yesterday. Didn't get anything today but cold hands and face. Greg's supposed to be here anytime now to go ice fishing. Hope he's got a dog or two with him.

From: Wv hillbilly

07-Jan-18

Nothing for Greg today either. We made up for it by catching a few crappie and some bluegill through the ice. Probably 40 gills and 5-6 crappie. All good size ones.

From: Missouribreaks

07-Jan-18

Nice job of trapping guys.

From: gblevins525

07-Jan-18

One from the other day

Nothing for me today except some fish. Managed 3 this last week couple were rubbed up to much to skin. WV Hillbilly been doing good.

From: Busta'Ribs

08-Jan-18

Keep at it boys, love checking in. Do you run your line into the spring?

From: WV Mountaineer

08-Jan-18

Coyote number two for the nephew. Got it on a scent post and used a duke #2.

From: wisconsinteacher

08-Jan-18

Picked up #8 yesterday morning. 4 more until I hit my goal.

From: Wv hillbilly

08-Jan-18

Busta'ribs, I should get after them in the spring but am usually to busy turkey hunting and fishing for walleye. It would really help out the fawns.

WV it looks like the nephew has them figured out Tell him congrats keep up the good work. Wisconsinteacher, It won't take long to hit your goal. Good luck.

From: trackman

08-Jan-18

I think you would get bigger fish if you had some REAL beer.

From: Brian M.

08-Jan-18

Wv hillbilly, does the cable damage the pelt any?

From: Wv hillbilly

08-Jan-18

Ha trackman! Beggars can't be choosers. That'll get Greg fired up. Brian, yes sometimes if they fight it a lot it will rub off some of the guard hair. Hip catches will sometimes cut the belly fur also.

From: WV Mountaineer

08-Jan-18

Yep. He’s doing well. Picks the spots, pretty much determines the set type based on that, and does everything but bed and set the traps. He’s doing pretty well. That’s his second but, that’s number nine off that farm this year. They are going to leave the sets for another week then move closer to home. It appears the 5 am mornings before work and school is taking its toll on both nephew and the brother. :^)

From: marktm250

08-Jan-18

Cool thread. I also trapped in high school in the late 70s. Then got away from it entirely. I thought trapping was about dead, and then about 4 years ago, did a late season deer hunt with WideRack in SE Ohio and was introduced to snaring coyotes. They took predator control seriously.

I am amazed by the number of 'yotes you have been pulling out of a 2 mile radius. My question is this: how does one determine if they are "infested" with coyotes?

When I have gone archery hunting in OH and IL, I am used to frequent sitings and howling every evening. I live in central VA about 30 miles west of the Blue Ridge in a rural county. This year, I did see a roadkill yote on I-64 about 10 miles West. I have never heard any howling and have no trailcam pics. I do see red fox on a regular basis, so the yotes have not chased them out. So could my area still be "infested" ... in other words how well can they fly under the radar?

From: wisconsinteacher

08-Jan-18

I'm no expert but if you are seeing them while on stand, you have a good population. I also believe that if you are seeing fox, your coyote population is not in the "infested" category. We have a lot of fox near town but as you move to the farm land you have more coyotes and no fox.

I also believe that there are more out there than a guy thinks. They fly under the radar.

From: Wv hillbilly

08-Jan-18

I have to agree with Wisconsinteacher. They are very good at staying out of site. I might see three or four all year until I start targeting them. You can always check old logging roads or paths a few days after a rain to see how many tracks you cut.

From: marktm250

08-Jan-18

Interesting. I have never seen a coyote in the flesh while living here 5 yrs. I thought I might catch a few running past while hunting since they run deer dogs on the bigger parcels around me. May have to get a call and see what I may be missing.

hillbilly, in your ~3 sq.mile trapping area, what would you guesstimate the ratio of deer to coyotes?

From: Wv hillbilly

08-Jan-18

Marktm that's a head scratcher. I'd guess probably 3 yotes to 1 deer or so.

I didn't pick any up today. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some more.

From: gblevins525

09-Jan-18

Nothing agian yesterday, need to get more out and catch ratio will most definitely go up. Warm up here then some snow coming in this weekend. Have to get more sets out.

From: Shug

09-Jan-18

Very cool thread...

From: Wv hillbilly

09-Jan-18

Got one today. To bad it was rubbed. Oh well it's not killing other critters now.

Blew up my anchor driver today. Greg posted a pic of our heavy duty drivers we had made. I'll post a pic of what it looks like now. I was setting two new snares on trails around the catch circle from today and it blew apart and bent on the second set. I dropped it off to a buddy tonight to get it remade. I guess anything is gonna break after repeatedly driving it through 8-10" of frozen ground.

From: Wv hillbilly

09-Jan-18

From: Wv hillbilly

09-Jan-18

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Jan-18

Nothing for me today. We've got a cold front coming in on Friday so they should move good tomorrow and Friday morning. Hopefully Greg picks something up this evening.

From: t-roy

10-Jan-18

I found this book in box of stuff at my parent’s house yesterday. I remember reading it when I was a kid. Copyright says 1944. Note the symbols in the upper left corner. Not sure what that’s about!

Wv.......can you explain what you mean by a “catch circle”?

From: Wv hillbilly

10-Jan-18

Wow t-roy. I have a copy of that book in my library. Yours most likely is a original and probably worth a couple bucks. A catch circle is the area the animal tramples down or tears up while in a trap or snare. Since most of the time the trap or snare is fastened to the ground the animal goes around in a circle from the fastened point. Look back at a couple of the catch pictures and you can see the weeds flattened out.

From: Wv hillbilly

11-Jan-18

Got me another yotie today. It warmed up, thawed out and rained on us today. What a mess. The yote was (hanging out) so he wasn't a mess just wet. Caught him in a snare I added 10' away from a catch circle that I caught a female in last week.

From: Wv hillbilly

11-Jan-18

FYI. There is a great article in this months fur fish and game magazine by Judd Cooney. Why we need to hunt and trap lower 48 wolves.

From: ScottParson

11-Jan-18

Checking in everyday to see what you are catching. Nice thread and good job on the trapping.

From: Wv hillbilly

12-Jan-18

Thanks Scott! The pick up truck for the auction company comes to town on Friday next week. I'm trying to decide if I'm gonna pull everything or carry on for a bit longer.

From: Wv hillbilly

12-Jan-18

Wow. 56 and rain when I left this morning. 12 and snowing now with 20 mph winds. No wonder nothing moved last night. Once the storm blows through tonight they should be up and moving. Hopefully stack a few up by Sunday.

From: ScottParson

12-Jan-18

How many have you trapped so far?

From: Bou'bound

12-Jan-18

When does this season end

From: Wv hillbilly

12-Jan-18

Scott. I'm at 27 right now. Think Greg's at 16 or so. We've had a lot better years but I'll take whatever we get as a bonus for our dwindling deer population. Bou trapping season ends here February 28th but yotes are open year round.

From: Wv hillbilly

13-Jan-18

I just made it back to the shed. Heck of a morning run. We've got 4' drifts in places. Took some time getting around and digging myself out. Got stuck in the last field and would of made the old man proud with the cussing fit I had. Finally was able to pick the wheeler up and get it out of the track. On the way back to the truck the throttle stuck and I had a hell of a ride. Luckily it's not the first time and I knew what to do. Once I got up to the truck I turned the key off and rolled to a stop. I did get one snow ball. Can't imagine what it was doing out last night but sorry bout it's luck.

From: Wv hillbilly

13-Jan-18

20 minutes later I was free.

From: Nomad

14-Jan-18

Just curious cause I know it can be unavoidable but when you say " We do occasionally get a deer and most of the time you can walk the snare down and cut it loose." How do you "walk the snare down" to cut it loose?

I live in Minnesota & our deer can get pretty big. I can't imagine the bedlam of trying to get close enough to cut one loose. You have my respect!

From: Wv hillbilly

14-Jan-18

Nomad, it's always a dicey situation. Most of the time they are exhausted and not going nuts. I just start walking on the snare cable at the anchor and slowly walk forward on the cable. It cuts down the distance they can move. I'm sure at some point I'm gonna take a butt whooping from one. A good set of cable cutter is a must

Nothing today. Not even any tracks. Think I'm gonna start pulling the line tomorrow. I'll get a pic of everything befor we sell and post it. Thanks for the nice comments from everyone. It was nice to write about every day and keep track of it all.

From: Salagi

14-Jan-18

I have enjoyed it. Thanks for taking us along.

From: gblevins525

15-Jan-18

Last one at the quarry this year

Well pulled my snares front the quarry think I got like 15 to 20 have to check the tally board at the shed. Got one today. Snowing today.

From: trackman

15-Jan-18

you are helping a lot of deer with every one keep up the good WORK

From: wisconsinteacher

16-Jan-18

Had a great run this morning. 6 coyotes with 5 dozen sets out in the woods. There were a few others with the ones I caught so I hope I get them soon.

From: Treeline

16-Jan-18

Awesome work guys! Too bad we can’t do that here in Colorado. Gotta luv them Liberals!

From: Wv hillbilly

16-Jan-18

Great job Wisconsinteacher!

Treeline your absolutely right. I couldn't believe it when I found out a great state like Colorado had banned all but box traps. I tell anyone that will listen we all need to stick together. Even if you just like fishing, rifle hunting, or bow. Anytime something comes up on the ballot to remove anything from our outdoor activities everyone should stand together. All for one or none for all.

From: Treeline

16-Jan-18

It really takes a lot away from guys that truly enjoy the outdoors and want to help our game species. You absolutely can not control predators with the laws that we have in place in this state. The impacts to Colorado's mule deer are significant. Not just coyotes but lions and bears as well with wolves right around the corner.

Ridiculous that Colorado Parks and Wildlife (formerly DOW) does not speak up when the antis and predator lovers push these crazy laws down our throats. They just complain that they are losing revenue and need to continuously raise prices for licenses...

From: Wv hillbilly

18-Jan-18

Three from last night.

I pulled the last two properties I had left out yesterday. Had about 24 snares between them both. Started second guessing my decision to pull everything at the first stop. I cut the first set of tracks I'd seen in over a week and ended up catching one. Last place had two waiting for me. It's nice to end the season with a good day.

From: Wv hillbilly

18-Jan-18

Not the best year but not the worst. Ended up with 31 yotes. Combined we both got 48.

Like I said before. Snaring yotes is easy once you get the hang of it. What better way to spend your time once your done bow hunting for the year helping your local deer population. It also saves the lives of countless other critters. Also a great way to get the kids involved in outdoor activities. It's like Christmas morning every time you check.

Thanks for the nice comments and following along. If anyone is interested in getting into snaring or trapping and has any questions. Send me a message I'll help however I can.

From: Chuckster

18-Jan-18

WV, I've really enjoyed following this. Thanks for taking the time every day to take us along with you. I can't begin to count the number of little critters saved. Great job brother...

From: bentshaft

18-Jan-18

Great thread! Thanks for sharing.

From: Fuzz

18-Jan-18

Thanks for sharing your season with us!

From: IdyllwildArcher

19-Jan-18

Cool stuff. Please do it again next year.

From: Treeline

19-Jan-18

I really enjoyed following along. I am glad that the art of trapping is still alive - at least in some parts of the country!

From: Ogoki

19-Jan-18

Wv Hillbilly, Looks like you have it figured out. I thought I did last year but they are kicking my behind in this snow. Got a big male on Sunday, but nothing since. They are walking up to my snares and backing out. Could they be seeing my tracks in the snow or getting my scent?. Been running my snares from atv so I am not leaving foot scent . My snares are flat tan in color. Same ones I painted last year. Had one get out of snare and two had it down to stop , with hair in snare. I think on those , they were set before the snow and bottom of loop was too close to ground. From the pics , it looks like some of yours are set in the open areas, or when caught they have flattened the cover. I set in game trails , where there are tracks going in and out of the woods , on field edges. My buddy caught almost 40 last year and I got 9, but we didn't have snow either. Texted him yesterday "saying they are kicking my behind" . His text back to me was " mine too". Any suggestions? By the way i am about 50 miles west of you. Thank you !!

From: Wv hillbilly

19-Jan-18

Ogoki yes they could be smelling something on the snare when they walk up to them. You mentioned painting them. How long has it been since they were painted? Do you wear gloves when setting? What about your support wire? Was it stored somewhere it could of picked up a smell? Or does it have a lot of oil on it? Also if I walk up to a snare in the snow I never stop at it. Continue walking the trail for a few yards. It always seems if they are walking my tracks and if I stop they do also. Typically if one gets in the snare it's not getting out. I'm not sure what could of happened on the two you had that got away unless they got a leg in the snare instead of their head. Yes I set mostly trails also like you described. The catch circle flattens everything around. Hope this helps some. Good luck keep after them.

From: t-roy

19-Jan-18

Great thread. It was fun following along. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us!

From: Ogoki

19-Jan-18

Wv Hillbilly, thanks for the reply. I painted the snares last year. Got them out more than 3 weeks before I set them and let them air out , long way from any smells. Rained on several times to. Used rubber gloves to handle and set . Wear rubber boots . Same as last year but only difference is snow. I think the two leg caught were because of snares were too low after the snow. For snare support I got #9 , non galvanized wire. Cut to length and set outside to rust . I do love a challenge !!! Thank you again

From: Wv hillbilly

19-Jan-18

Ogoki, sounds like your doing everything right. They must be seeing the tan snare cable against the white snow and getting spooked. ? Some guys that set in a lot of snow will paint them white? Keep at it good luck. Thanks everyone we'll see what next year holds and try to do it again.

From: wisconsinteacher

15-Mar-18

I finished putting my fur up for the year and now it off to auction. Ended up with 20 coyotes, 3 muskrats, 2 mink, a grey fox, a fisher and an otter. One of the coyotes had mange and the otter was sold before the picture was taken.

Can't wait to start season 3 next winter.

From: Missouribreaks

15-Mar-18

Nice job!

From: trackman

15-Mar-18

Way to go i know it hard work let use know how you do at the auction.

From: BigOk

15-Mar-18

Congrats!

From: t-roy

15-Mar-18

Very nice. Congrats!

From: Wv hillbilly

15-Mar-18

Good job Matt. Good looking catch. Can't wait to see how you do next year!

From: tobywon

15-Mar-18

Nice going. What colors typically do the best in the fur auction. Light, dark, red or does it differ from year to year?

From: 3arrows

17-Mar-18

Enjoyed this thread again,Thanks

From: Wv hillbilly

17-Mar-18

Thanks 3arrows. Tobywon I think the standard dark ones with white bellies are the best. Mostly they are graded on fur length and thickness.

The auction company I sent my furs to is having the auction today in Finland. Hope to see some good prices.

From: Wv hillbilly

17-Mar-18

Wow! I just checked the auction results. Had two yotes bring 98$ each and five bring 84$ each. Ended up with a 50$ average. Rats did well. Coons not so much.

From: t-roy

17-Mar-18

Congrats on the yotes. What did the rats and coon average?

From: Wv hillbilly

18-Mar-18

Rats were 3.75$ and coons at 5.65$

From: tobywon

18-Mar-18

Congrats WV, nice to see it pay off with all the hard work that you guys put in. Sounds like going overseas was a great move. Wonder what the difference would have been in Canada.

From: Wv hillbilly

23-Dec-22

Was bored sitting around waiting out the storm that’s rolling through. -6 with wind chill at -42. Looked this old one up. Thought I’d bring it back up. I’ll start a 2022 edition soon. Haven’t trapped much this year so far. Making some snares and anchors now, getting ready to get after them once this storm blows through. Merry Christmas everyone!

From: Catscratch

23-Dec-22

I'll help start it back up. Should have caught a couple more last night but some of the traps froze up.

From: Catscratch

23-Dec-22

From: Catscratch

23-Dec-22

From: t-roy

23-Dec-22

Good stuff, Ryan! What types of sets/traps are you using? Also, Is snaring legal in Kansas?

From: Catscratch

23-Dec-22

If you're asking me t-roy I use a variety of old #2 coil springs. Starting to slowly add some mb 550's to the collection. Dirt hole or hay sets.

I've never used snares. Something about the finality of catching a non-target species that doesn't appeal to me. I routinely release bobcats that get too curious. Snares are legal in KS though.

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