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Post by greentraps on Dec 30, 2014 15:01:01 GMT -5
Hi everyone!
I'm a 9-5er from south of Buffalo who is interested in getting into trapping. I have no experience with it (practical/legal) so I have a few probably silly questions. If there are some other threads or links you can send please do, thanks!
I'm looking into the DEC home study course and I see that the yearly trapping permit is $20. Is there anything else I need to do before I set the first trap? Any good (WNY-area) courses to recommend?
Where can you trap? Does it have to be your property or can you do this on state land? Is it a matter of getting permission from property owner? I am on a small wooded lot with not enough room to setup any kind of line. Anyone who traps in Erie county have ideas?
Speaking more broadly, who works 9-5 jobs? I would be worried about not being able to get to the line in the middle of the week but also interested to hear any problems unique to working full time and trapping
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Post by silentnight on Dec 30, 2014 15:14:18 GMT -5
getting the certificate and the actual license is obviously one of the first steps. second go thru the regs book and read it over and over again so you understand the laws.
after that your gonna need land to trap on, you can trap on stateland but i think there are certain places you need to be careful about, (hopefully someone can chime in on that).start knocking on doors and talking to land owners about trapping, some will say no, but just move to the next one.
decide what critters you want to pursue, and which ones are in your area, scout and study the animal, (what it eats, where they like to travel, scat, tracks etc.
once you have ground to trap on and youve done some homework, match up traps to what your goin after wether it be rats coon fox yotes, whatever. 1.5 traps are a very versatile trap, they work work for everything, though coyotes or anything bigger your better off with a bigger trap.
theres a ton of information on youtube, watch videos, read books and dont be afraid to ask questions, i know i didnt cover everything, and hopefully someone can give you more advice, but this is start.
some people check part of there line before work and the rest after or some might do it all before or after, i work 40 + hours a week but i work second shift, giving me plenty of time in the morning to check the line. GOOd luck and welcome to the addiction.
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Post by kirkwooder on Dec 30, 2014 16:23:31 GMT -5
When I'm working I try and run a line that is on my way to work, if I can't do that then a line close to home that can be checked in an hour or two, before work is the best bet. I'm not afraid of early mornings or the dark so it has worked well for me in the past. The morning check is best because most critters you will be trapping will be moving mostly at night. You will not want them caught in the trap for any longer than is necessary unless killing traps/sets are the only ones used.
Most people start out trying to catch muskrats or raccoon. Both are fairly common and can be trapped with the most basic of equipment. A dozen 1 1/2 coil spring traps and as many trap stakes, should be a good place to start as far as equipment is concerned. More is always better than less, but I would have at least a dozen. If you have the ability to have a few larger foot holds and a few body grips, or dog proofs that is all the better. Traps can be bought new, but I would suggest looking for used ones on Craigs list or at yard sales or sporting goods shows.
Start knocking on doors and getting your permissions early in the spring so you have a chance to get on the property and scout what is there and where they are at. Learn to master one set at a time. I would suggest you start with a dirt hole set if you are trapping dry land or the pocket set if you have access to water. They are the best producers and will catch a multitude of species. Learn how to read sign. Spend as much time afield as you can studying your quarry, and have fun.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. The only stupid question is the one that goes unasked! And finally, find yourself a mentor. A day spent on the line with a successful trapper will be worth a years worth of trial and error.
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Post by trappermac on Dec 30, 2014 18:36:34 GMT -5
Some good advice given above….I’ll add; Understand the animals you’re going to go after, that’s important. Learn all you can about them and their habits and habitats. Where south of Buffalo are you? If in Erie County join that Trappers Organization and seek advice there. Look for a mentor, you’ll cut your learning curve tremendously if you can have someone show you the ropes (even tagging along to watch) and you’ll avoid confusion and possibly doing something wrong that you’ll regret. And learn to handle the fur, the easy part is learning to trap but being complete means handling your own fur. You can start to learn that on Jan. 10th when the Erie Cty Trappers Assoc, holds their handling seminar at the North Collins Conservation Club, 9 AM – 1:00. You may even find a mentor there. Don’t buy anything until you figure out what exactly it is you want to target. We all work, we all find ways to work our traplines around our jobs. If you really want this so will you.
Courses, videos, youtube – only teach you so much…this is a hands on endeavor to learn correctly.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2014 22:33:56 GMT -5
I believe it's the Collins conservation club. Good advice Mac.
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Post by oakhilltrappin on Dec 31, 2014 6:31:14 GMT -5
Awesome advice Mac.....To many people give little or no attention to fur handling, is probably the most important aspect and yet the most overlooked......For sure start now researching and learning the processes that it takes to properly handle the fur you catch !!
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Post by trappermac on Dec 31, 2014 9:12:28 GMT -5
You're right AJ, Collins Conservation Club....on Conger Road.
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Post by greentraps on Dec 31, 2014 9:33:04 GMT -5
wow thanks guys, this seems like it's a pretty active community with some good resources.
if mac is right, the north collins conservation club is on my way to work. the collins one is close too but i've never seen it. handling the fur is pretty important to me as i'd like to utilize as much of the animal as possible so i'll be sure to check that out when i'm a little more serious about it. just testing the waters now.
im wondering how to identify properties to trap on - what's a minimum size? i realize topography is important but i'm not sure if i'm looking for 100 acres or 10. if i was to spend 1 hour/day actually walking the line, what would be ballpark mileage/number of traps?
it looks like i'll want to start off with rats and/or coons. i don't think i've actually seen any muskrats, maybe i just couldn't identify them though. i'll read up on them and try and spot some sign next time i'm our for a walk.
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Post by kirkwooder on Dec 31, 2014 16:45:18 GMT -5
The size of the property really isn't important, whether or not is has fur bearer activity is more important. I have one small V shaped piece of property, about 1/8 of an acre that I set a couple coon sets on every year. I do quite well there because it is a major travel way between a good sized stream and a farm that has grown nothing but corn in this one field for as far back as I can remember. The property I set has nothing but brush and game trails, yet I still catch coon there every year. I don't have permission to be on the farm with the corn, nor do I have permission to be on the property that has the stream and the den trees, but having that small corner of the adjacent property is almost as good. The coons den along the stream and cross the corner to feed in the field, giving me a great opportunity to catch them.
As far as how much of a line you can run in an hour is hard to say. It will depend entirely on the property that you are trapping. If you can make several productive sets close together you will be able to run more sets than you can if you need to walk several hundred yards between sets. You would be much better off setting where you could check traps from a vehicle. It takes a lot more time to make the sets than it does to check them, if they are empty. It takes a bit more time to harvest an animal from a trap and remake the set. Some days you will find that you will catch more fur than others as well. A warm night after a long cold snap will get more activity on your line, and will take you more time to tend than the nights in the middle of the cold snap.
Muskrats will be found is swamp or marshy areas. You can find them by the houses or push ups they make in the swamps.
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Post by alpom on Dec 31, 2014 19:12:45 GMT -5
I have even less time to check i leave to work 5:50 and back 7:30 so i have a property with 9 traps that i can check in less then an hour. When i have some days off like now, holiday season, i put more in deferent area. Also like to catch fisher so i put more traps along my way home so i do 3-4 stops.
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Post by greentraps on Jan 2, 2015 12:18:18 GMT -5
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Post by kirkwooder on Jan 2, 2015 15:22:18 GMT -5
I guess it all depends on what you are trapping for. When trapping for canines, you are really trying to attract canines (dogs) to your traps. There are a few things that can be done, however, to try and keep actual dogs, be they peoples pets or hunting dogs, out of your sets. First and foremost is to set as far away from free roaming dogs as you can. If you are setting a farm that has a dog that runs free, don't set any canine sets near the house, the barn, or any other place that the dog is likely to go regularly, including travel routes between buildings and neighboring houses. Give yourself several hundred yards of clearance. Yes, several Hundred yards. When in doubt, don't set there! Nothing will get you and every other trapper thrown out of, not just the farm you are trapping, but all the neighbors as well, than catching the farmers dog. If you will be trapping public land, keep your sets well off of any established trails. This will keep any one just out walking their dog a fair distance away from your traps.
Keep your traps well tuned, as well. Make sure that the jaws are all smoothed and without any sharp edges and burs. This will make the trap more comfortable for not only an accidental pet caught, but also your intended critter as well. The less the trap bugs the animal that is caught in it the less the critter will fight to get out. The less they fight to get out the less likely they are to be harmed.
Another thing that I have found helpful is to use very well tainted meat baits. If they don't make you gag then taint them a bit more. Most dogs I have been around will check out fresh meat pretty thoroughly but will give really rotten meat only a quick sniff. This will help keep any hunting dogs from getting caught. Most good hunting dogs will be too interested in doing their jobs than in you baits anyway.
Trap size will also help keep most dogs out of your sets. Unless you are trapping for coyote, use traps that are in the 1 1/2 size. These are plenty large enough to catch almost every critter out there, with the exception of the coyote. Yet they are small enough that the average sized dog will be unlikely to be caught.
If coons are your intended critter, then DP's, or dog proof traps can be employed where dogs are more likely to be a problem. In combination with these traps, you can use a sweet type bait that won't be likely to attract dog or domestic cats.
When it's all said and done, common sense should prevail. If your gut is telling you to be careful, listen to it!
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Post by partimetrapper on Jan 2, 2015 16:00:45 GMT -5
Collins Conservation Club has a fur handling demo on SAT JAN 10 something to go check out
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Post by partimetrapper on Jan 4, 2015 6:38:34 GMT -5
here is the info Fur Handling Seminar hosted by the Erie County Trappers Association at the Collins Conservation Club, 2633 Conger Road, Collins, NY. (9:00 am – 1:00 pm) The show will feature techniques for better pelt preparation, teach about pelting, fleshing and stretching, drying and sizing. This event is FREE. There will be kids games, prizes, raffles and the kitchen will be open. Trap supplies and fur hats from Hoot's Furs will be on sale. (For more information call Patti at 716-337-2556 or Hoot at 716-532-2457)
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Post by greentraps on Jan 4, 2015 17:12:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies everyone, i will try and make it to that collins club meeting
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Post by greentraps on Jan 26, 2015 11:52:06 GMT -5
ended up stuck in lancaster before that fur demo so couldn't make it out, i'll keep an eye open for the next one.
i figure i'll just bump this thread as i've been thinking a lot about trapping and want to have a game plan for next season....
my property is just under 3 acres, on a dead end street which backs up to private woods. eventually i'd like to ask neighbors to go trapping on their land, but i may be able to try it out on my land with 2-4 rat/mink traps just to see how it all works. i have been trying to pay attention to animal sign, now that i am really looking there are tracks everywhere! along the creek, up the gulley and on the hill just behind our house as well.
my property extends over a creek. i have maybe 150 ft of land on either side of the creek, and up the drainage gulley that empties into the creek. there are always neighborhood dogs and cats walking around, so i'm thinking i would need to use dogproof/catproof box traps. is there some guide that gives the proper dimensions for the boxes and openings, as well as the types of traps that would fit inside? i'm looking specifically for rat and mink but open to other small animals. i probably sound like an idiot but thanks for reading!
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