Trapping/Predator control

[WV Flopper]

 Lots of topics and discussion around predators and predator control over the last some time due to turkey population being in question. Seems with todays economy and the likes of animal rights activists the fur market has taken serious hits over the last couple decades. This has resulted in lack of participation in outdoors people to remove the abundance of predators at a profit. AT one time, trapping was profitable, and depending on the individual trapper could have been very profitable. Some people made a living doing it, some paid their way through college doing it, others may have just supplemented their income or just enjoyed being out of doors and making a difference.

I fell into the later part of these outdoor people and just enjoyed being out, trying to catch a critter. I have caught some critters of various species but am by know means a pro, not even a intermediate, maybe a nimrod, maybe. But, I did want to take a little time for the guys out there thinking of ways to help the turkey population so thought I would share some info.

There are trapping websites just like this. Trapperman trap talk is one. The guys there are trappers and can be helpful if the right question is asked after an individual has research the site beforehand, "Kind of just like here". Take the time to look a little before you ask the same question that has been answered 1000 times!

Many states do require a trapper training course, check your state laws before just going out and setting traps! Speaking of that, again, "check your laws before going out and setting traps!!!" Trapper as a whole get beat up badly when someone makes a poor decision on trap location or a hiker may get their dog caught in a trap. Doesn't take long for this to get negative.

I purchased many of my supplies from "Minnesota Trapline Products". They are very helpful, knowledgeable, and are trappers themselves. I did just look and pulled some prices from their site, just for informational purposes:
Educational books range in price from 8-20$, mostly about 12$ for a book. These books are specific to a critter, type of trap, or location. All depends on what you want to gain knowledge in. Videos from various authors are between 20-40$, mostly around 40. Again, same as the books on content. OH YEA, the hated YOU TUBE has lots of trapping info on it for free. Starter steel "AKA Foot hold traps" trap kits 152$ on sale. These include 6 traps, with anchors, hammer, trowel, lure, bait, dye, wax, sifter....pretty complete starter kit! Coon cage trap 80$, dog proof traps 150$ dozen "No Anchorage" more money, 7.50$ an ounce for lure, 11$ a pound for coon pellets.

So to the trapping. Coons in steel traps can be pesky little critters at times to deal with. Sure they are easy to catch if you do things correctly and do not alert the coon to your intentions, once you do they can be a pain to trap. "They enjoy playing with your traps". Dog proof traps are great for catching coons. BUT they are coon specific, they 98% of the time only catch coons. No possums, no skunks, you want to catch them too, so maybe not the best of choices unless in a suburb where you really need to watch your P's and Q's. Cage traps are awesome for catching nesting predators, they have two major draw backs, one was noted above. The cost at 80$ a piece is pricey! They also are large to deal with and can be cumbersome. Again, they are highly effective though and easy to use and catch coons with. For bait in a cage trap a person only needs to go to the grocery store and buy a case of Jack Mackerel and your in business. No need to worry about scent or covering your trap. Just throw some bait in with some of the juice on the ground and your in business, that simply.

Steel Traps, AKA: Foot holds, Leg holds. These traps are fun, but do have a learning curve, not near as user friendly as the above two options. Seems when you disturb the ground and bury a trap it starts throwing off alarm bells in critters head. So it can take a bit to learn your way through this to become effective. Books, videos, conversations with trappers all can help to teach you the basics of setting these traps. Ultimately the critter is the best teacher if the students are smart enough and pay enough attention to learn from the teacher. Steel trap preparation is a large part of trapping in this manner. Things must be done to remove odors, blood, oils, lure, from the trap and to protect the trap while in the ground. It can be a lengthy process depending on how many traps your running. Usually I dedicate 1 to 2 days just for this process, to prepare for trapping with foot hold traps.

This brings you to another need. If running steel foothold traps you'll need a container to prep your traps in. Now, 6 traps don't take up a lot of space so a big 2-3-gallon stock pot would probably work to boil and dye your traps in. A heat source, "The women will not be proud of you if you use her stove in the house as your heat source." Trust me I know this... Do this outside, for your own good and welfare, do it outside!

Trapping is fun! I do enjoy it a lot. The draw back for me is the worse four letter word of all times: WORK. It is hard to run traps in the morning before work when you leave to go to work at 430 in the morning. It is not enjoyable in this manner to try and run any kind of trap line. It should be done "IMO" as early as possible in the morning for two reasons. Welfare to the critter that may be caught and to the publics perception of the trapper. Keep in mind, people are out and about and can see your stuff in traps. You don't want a critter visible in a trap for days that you have not tended the trap or critter. When you set a trap you do have responsibilities to the critter and to other trappers, so check your traps by the letter of the law. In WV I am required to tend to my traps "Daily", not all states are the same. So again, know the laws.

The last ten or so years I trapped I would take a weeks vacation just to trap. A partner and I would camp and run a line, we would have a line somewhere around 60 miles long with anywhere from 60 to 80 traps in the ground at a time. We would catch some stuff, but, I could have made more money after expense working at McDonalds for the week. We did do it as a vacation and ate and drank well, major part of the expense LOL. We always had a lot of fun but did work hard. Trapping is work if you do it to any scale.

Go and buy you some traps. You'll find if you put some time in it will be rewarding. Probably not financially rewarded, but more so in education and just being out of doors more often. It will also give you satisfaction knowing your doing something to help the turkey in your area. You may even find the greatest new hobby! Have fun.

IMPORTANT side note. I had almost NO trouble getting permission to trap on private property. Literally only two places out of maybe 50 I had a No response on. Around here NO, but in your neck of the woods it may even translate to permission to turkey hunt later. 

[ferocious calls]

Do what I can.

[redleg06]

You can buy dogproof coon traps for $12 each and they last for years...easy to run and handle and they work.

If half the dudes that bought turkey license would also get involved in trapping, you'd start to see a difference in turkey numbers.  Most people want to hear and see more turkey but wont do the leg work.

[TINEnSPUR]

I have used dog proof traps for coons and possums the last several years. They are very effective easy to use and bait is cheap. I just use miniature marshmallows and dry cat food

[GobbleNut]

I will throw in my own admonishment here. 
Trapping and other forms of predator control are valuable tools in wildlife management.  However, PUBLIC PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING!  DO NOT FLAUNT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN FRONT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC! 

Trapping on public lands has been outlawed in some states, including my own.  We lost it because of the callous actions of (most likely) a very small percentage of those who trap.  BE DISCREET!  The same holds for predator calling.  Calling "contests" have also been outlawed because those participating did not have the common sense to keep it out of the public eye.  Predator control, in general, is next on the chopping block. 

Every once in a while, I have to remind folks that wildlife within a state's borders, whether it be on public or private land, is "held in trust" for ALL of the people of the state.  That includes the 97% or so of the folks that are not consumptive users of wildlife. 

You want to do predator control through trapping or other means?  Good for you,...but at least do so with the common sense of understanding that there are a lot of folks out there that do not accept it.  Do it,...but keep it to yourselves!   

[Turkeybutt]

Trapping and other forms of predator control are valuable tools in wildlife management.  However, PUBLIC PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING!  DO NOT FLAUNT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN FRONT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC! 
Trapping on public lands has been outlawed in some states, including my own.  We lost it because of the callous actions of (most likely) a very small percentage of those who trap.  BE DISCREET!
If you want to do predator control through trapping or other means?  Good for you,...but at least do so with the common sense of understanding that there are a lot of folks out there that do not accept it.  Do it,...but keep it to yourselves!     

If half the dudes that bought turkey license would also get involved in trapping, you'd start to see a difference in turkey numbers.  Most people want to hear and see more turkey but wont do the leg work.

A lot of agencies and people talk a big game when it comes to wildlife management but few want to belly up to the table.

I agree with GobbleNut and redleg06, we have to step up and do our part in controlling predators.

[rifleman]

You guys are right.  But a sad commentary for what Americans value.  We can burn our flag, wear vagina hats to promote an idea and yet som are offended by guys in camo doing what the law permits.  Maybe on of those days for me but I unable to understand why outdoorsman must hide our way of life from people.  We get stares walking into McDonald's with camo on.  I suppose I am out of touch.   

[WV Flopper]

 For the price of a choke tube and a box of TSS you can be in business trapping nest raiding predators. That is my point. Alot of guys will talk, but doing it is a different thing. Very few follow through.

Trapping overall is a great experience, and not that costly. It will make you a better outdoors person if you allow it too.

As I touch on...public view should be considered when trapping. Know and understand states law, it may keep you out of trouble if followed. If not followed, your going to hang, along with every other trapper.

[falltoms]

I love to trap, been doing it for years. WV Flopper is right, it will make you a better outdoorsman. You will definitely be humbled by trapping coyotes.
Trapping had come a long way in terms of humane. With today's traps, and numerous other gear, such as inline swivels, offset jaws, cable restraints etc, it is a humane way to control predators. Unfortunately the public doesn't understand this, they have a vision of tooth jaw traps, and animals suffering in them, which is far from the truth. So yes it pays to be careful, when trapping around the (public)..
I trap each winter and look forward to it bc every year