View Full Version : Outdoor sports? Hunters, Trappers, Fishers?
Evanescence
12-05-2007, 09:36 PM
Good day all. A few weeks ago I posted that i wouldn't be around much for a while....
Well, for 20 yrs I have been an animal damage specialist...or trapper as some would call it. This year things have lined up well for me so I decided to run a big trap line for Red Foxes.
Here in Eastern, PA, we have a TON of red foxes and they can really riase heck with farmers and peoples property. We figure that we need to harvest around 2000 fox per year from 2 counties here. They can be thick as fleas in some farmland spots...
So, here's some catch pics from the past 30 days. In 35 days trapping I have almost 150 Fox. I want to surpass the 300 mark by mid January. Not many trappers get past 100, much less 300.
I check the traps every day and each day is about an 8 to 12 hour day. Rainy days are rough as I can't drive out to the spots to check the traps, so i do a lot of walking if its wet or muddy. I drive a 150 mile per day trapline...
Here's some pics....
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-15007-1.jpg
Todays snow fox...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-15005-2.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-15004-1.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-15002.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-14003-1.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-12012-1.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-12013-1.jpg
My 100th fox this season...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-12011.jpg
Evanescence
12-05-2007, 09:38 PM
More pics........
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-10022.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-5010.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-4005.jpg
Fox often travel in pairs....
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-3017.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-2014.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-2008.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-2010.jpg
Thats all folks... :cool: :cool: :cool:
Those are good shots E.
My husband is an avid hunter. As a matter of fact - I haven't really seen him much since gun season opened in October. ;)
We have a fox on our property, Winn keeps an eye on him....so far no trouble.
What do you do with them after you trap them? Is it a relocation or a harvest?
sandyandporter
12-06-2007, 10:02 AM
Is "harvest" code word for KILL?
HotWireD
12-06-2007, 10:53 AM
I am intrigued, how come the foxes do not look bothered with being in the trap?
How does the trap work - could we have a close up of a 'set' trap, so I can work out how they operate?
We shoot foxes over in the UK - they used to be hunted but that is illegal now.
Evanescence
12-06-2007, 09:14 PM
Harvest and kill are the same...
I'll post pics when I can take them...
The traps are harmless. The animal rights kooks would have you believe that traps have steel teeth, amputate limbs and close with bone crushing force. Not true.
The idea is to hold the animal harmlessly until it can either be harvested or released unharmed. Dogs and cats are released unharmed...fox, coyotes, coon and opossums are taken. They're caught by the foot in a small steel trap thats buried in the ground under 1 inch of dirt. The trap has an opening of 4.5 inches. It is not uncommon to find fox sleeping in traps with the warm sun beating on them. My traps are checked and reworked every day.
One fox can easily kill dozens of chickens and/or spread disease, so they need to be controlled. The trap is the only way to catch and control predatory critters in large numbers where animal populations do not suffer from disease and stay balanced.
I hope to break the 300 fox barrier by jan 31...or sooner. If the weather wasn't so mean here...it would happen by Dec 31....but I doubt it will change. Rain, ice and snow make it VERY difficult....
danbos
12-06-2007, 09:34 PM
The animal rights kooks would have you believe that traps have steel teeth, amputate limbs......
That would kind of defeat the purpose now wouldn't it. ;) :P
Evanescence
12-11-2007, 11:03 PM
That would kind of defeat the purpose now wouldn't it. ;) :P
Yeah, they also claim we skin critters alive....yeah right, like that'd be possible. Its anything to outrage the unsuspecting public...
So, someone asked about what the trap or set looks like?
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-17007.jpg
The trap trigger is where the hershey kiss is. The Kiss is just to show where it is...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-17006.jpg
Everything funnels down into the hole...where the scent is. I use a foxey type scent that causes digging and scratching...its called DOPE in our circles. make critters dumb...
Anyway, the fox steps one foot in front of the other, trying to smell or dig at the hole. He's funneled by the sides being slightly sloped on the pattern...where the trap is buried. The low spot is where the trigger is....one step and its all over. He's caught by the foot and awaits the trappers return...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-17005.jpg
same....
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-17008.jpg
Catch circles after 11 fox....they really dig up the area....AND it attracts other fox...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-17003.jpg
Todays catch at the spot....Number 11.....
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/TrappingNov2008-16009.jpg
Snow the other day....pretty but messy....
I'll be at 200 fox in about 7 days....hope to total out at 300 by Mid- Jan....
:cool:
tugboat
12-12-2007, 12:53 AM
What are fox pelts going for nowadays Ev? The big thing around here used
to be Nutria rats but that was years ago.
Mr.Elwood
12-12-2007, 01:28 AM
What are fox pelts going for nowadays Ev? The big thing around here used
to be Nutria rats but that was years ago.
You didn't ask for his fox sausage recipe??? what, too medieval for you??:P :D
Those foxes look rather large... the one we have around here looks about the size of a large cat..
tugboat
12-12-2007, 01:51 AM
You didn't ask for his fox sausage recipe??? what, too medieval for you??:P :D
Those foxes look rather large... the one we have around here looks about the size of a large cat..
I think you'd better just stick to road hunting possums for now. :P
I think you'd better just stick to road hunting possums for now. :P
I hunted one of those the other night...with the right front tire of my truck. Then with my right rear tire as well.
Mr.Elwood
12-12-2007, 02:41 AM
I think you'd better just stick to road hunting possums for now. :P
hunt?? I'm so good they basically give up and throw themselves under my car!!
Evanescence
12-15-2007, 08:22 PM
haha...no fox sausage for me...
Fox pelts will top out at 16.00 or so this year. My overall average will be 13.00 or so. I'll walk away with 10.00 ea after gas and skinning bills are paid. But, I'm doing a Vid on the season...a Vid diary and instructional Vid. That'll do good.
Monday I'll surpass the 200 fox barrier.....and hope to hit 300 by Jan 15. Perhaps 400 by Jan 31, if the weather behaves...
Evanescence
12-20-2007, 10:31 PM
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/Trapping-dec08-1015-1.jpg
197 and 198
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/Trapping-dec08-1019.jpg
199
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/scooterl/Trapping-dec08-1021.jpg
Number 200 for the season....
Working for 300 by jan 10 and 400 by Feb 1.....
mat1583
01-14-2008, 11:28 AM
Hey, did you ever get to 300? It looks like it was a pretty successful trapping season for you. I just got back from deer hunting this past weekend, and it was a great day for me as well! Here's my first buck. It's a nice 8pt. Although the shot looks bad, it was a very clean kill. (WARNING: blood, dead animal)
......read warning before scrolling down.
....
....See warning above
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2333/2190958917_67a48dddc5.jpg
-washboard
Very nice buck Matt. Congrats!
My husband, Winn, would shed a tear for you - being your first buck.
mat1583
01-14-2008, 11:43 AM
Very nice buck Matt. Congrats!
My husband, Winn, would shed a tear for you - being your first buck.
Thanks! :) I was so excited about it. I was shaking like crazy when I saw him coming my way. He started moving across the field about 75 yards out in front of the stand, and I just waited until he came into my sights, which wasn't long. The shot was off probably because I was shaking so much and because he was moving at a good pace. He bled out pretty quickly though, so a finishing shot wasn't necessary.
This is my third deer, first buck. He'll definitely provide me with enough meat to last another 8 months or so.
-washboard
Winn hunts as well. We have a freezer full of venison.
It sure beats having to pay for meat at the store!
mat1583
01-14-2008, 12:13 PM
Winn hunts as well. We have a freezer full of venison.
It sure beats having to pay for meat at the store!
At a dollar a pound for processing, I couldn't agree more. I think venison tastes a lot better anyway. It's lean meat that hasn't been exposed to any of the growth hormones and other junk they feed cows to beef them up (and yes, pun intended). There's nothing like some grilled, bacon-wrapped backstrap. :)
-washboard
vBulletin® v3.6.5, Copyright ©2000-2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.