Trapping Season Thread 2020-2021

[dimeboxbill]

Who or where do you sell furs and do you need a special permit? Never got into it but have shoot coyotes and bobcats never thought about selling the furs, have had a couple mounted, nice bobcat rug

[wytex]

Up this way, north, they rub off the flank guard hairs and fur on rocks and snow, Not necessarily rubbing to get rid of the extra hair just happens as they go around in snow and rocks.
Bobcats have to have a CITES tag, free, to sell. You get one at G&F office.

We have several fur buyers that have routes, they go all over the upper midwest and Rocky Mountains. Look up Colt Furs, Petska Fur, Snowy Range Fur Company, Wyoming Fur Trader and Hester Wild fur.
Most will come through our town and pay good money for quality fur, stretched and dried. Some buy on the carcass too.
Our coyotes bring good money and bobcats usually do too.
Petska has routes in Texas to buy.

[McClain]

Originally Posted by dimeboxbill

Who or where do you sell furs and do you need a special permit? Never got into it but have shoot coyotes and bobcats never thought about selling the furs, have had a couple mounted, nice bobcat rug

Southern pelts are not in high demand and don't bring much money these days with few exceptions. Thirty or forty years ago there were big buying and processing facilities all over Texas and many fur buying routes. Most of that has disappeared, but I think R-P Outdoors in Mansfield La, may still buy some fur and used to have a route through parts of Texas.

[BTLowry]

Originally Posted by McClain

Southern pelts are not in high demand and don't bring much money these days with few exceptions. Thirty or forty years ago there were big buying and processing facilities all over Texas and many fur buying routes. Most of that has disappeared, but I think R-P Outdoors in Mansfield La, may still buy some fur and used to have a route through parts of Texas.

This is also what I would have posted

You need a TRAPPING license if you are going to sell the fur, otherwise if you are shooting to mount one or just trapping to reduce the predator population you don't have to buy a trapping license, hunting license will cover it. At least that is my interpretation
Does not hurt to buy a trapping license, they are $19

https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/o...e-requirements

[wytex]

Sorry BT I should have added the trapping license requirement to my post.
In Wyoming bobcats are considered fur bearers and you have to have a trapping license to take them, coyotes are predators, like Texas and no license is needed for take.

Furs are ready for the buyer.

[BTLowry]

Ran my little short line here at the house after I got home. 2 DPs and 4 #3 coil springs for coyotes

Struck out so they are still out waiting for something to get in them

[BTLowry]

Couple of coyote tracks on top of trap but just not quite over pan

[BTLowry]

Thinking coyote dug trap out and took pan cover

[McClain]

Originally Posted by wytex

Sorry BT I should have added the trapping license requirement to my post.
In Wyoming bobcats are considered fur bearers and you have to have a trapping license to take them, coyotes are predators, like Texas and no license is needed for take.

Furs are ready for the buyer.

Very nice!!!

Originally Posted by BTLowry

Attachment 1033810

Thinking coyote dug trap out and took pan cover

They are not called wily for nothing!

[HomeSick]

I don't mean to get the thread off of the subject of trapping. It is something that I would love to get into some time. Right now I am calling and shooting the critters around here. They are cased skinned and in the freezer. I'm using a .22 mag so not much damage.
My question is, what size and brand of stretchers should I get to put our west Texas coyotes, bobcats and grey fox on? I don't plan on selling them but would like to stretch and dry them in order to later get them tanned and to practice in case I ever do get to the point of selling a few.

In order to not get the thread off subject, feel free to PM me if you would like. Thank you to anyone who can help.

[devingreer]

Need to do this!

[oneeye]

Originally Posted by HomeSick

I don't mean to get the thread off of the subject of trapping. It is something that I would love to get into some time. Right now I am calling and shooting the critters around here. They are cased skinned and in the freezer. I'm using a .22 mag so not much damage.
My question is, what size and brand of stretchers should I get to put our west Texas coyotes, bobcats and grey fox on? I don't plan on selling them but would like to stretch and dry them in order to later get them tanned and to practice in case I ever do get to the point of selling a few.

In order to not get the thread off subject, feel free to PM me if you would like. Thank you to anyone who can help.

Try "Top Lot Stretchers" in MN. Great product made by great people!

[wytex]

Yep, we use Top Lot stretchers too. Coyotes and bobcats will fit the same stretcher. Get the adjustable ones. The seconds are not bad either.
Moyle Mink in Idaho does a great job tanning furs that are stretched and dried also, good price.

[HomeSick]

Thank you oneeye and wytx. I will look into them. Moyle is the tannery that I was thinking about using as well. Do yall think that the stretchers will be close enough to the same size for our fur bearers down here as they are for up there? I was under the impression that the fur bearers up north were bigger than here. Thanks again!

[wytex]

They should work fine. The adjustable ones have a width adjustment and the length will not matter.
Moyle is all we use for tanning, they do great work but it will need to air out, tanning smell but it dissipates. Nice soft tan that looks and feels great.
You can always email Top Lot and ask, great folks as mentioned.

[oneeye]

They will work for you.

I am a lumber supplier to Top Lot. Both basswood for stretchers and oak for fleshing beams. Can't say enough good about them!

[HomeSick]

Thanks for the information guys. I will be putting in an order after the first of the year. I really have to get into the trapping side of this. It looks and sounds like a blast. And it helps protect my deer and turkey too.

[Deafishunter]

Got this big male yesterday 32 lbs.
and yes, there’s another trap in his other paw. Apparently he got into one of my other others and broke the heavy cable wire, and got caught in another one. I got really lucky.
My second one.

[BTLowry]

Pretty lucky for you to catch that sucker twice

Quiet unlucky for him

[Btoutdoors]

Originally Posted by HomeSick

I don't mean to get the thread off of the subject of trapping. It is something that I would love to get into some time. Right now I am calling and shooting the critters around here. They are cased skinned and in the freezer. I'm using a .22 mag so not much damage.
My question is, what size and brand of stretchers should I get to put our west Texas coyotes, bobcats and grey fox on? I don't plan on selling them but would like to stretch and dry them in order to later get them tanned and to practice in case I ever do get to the point of selling a few.

In order to not get the thread off subject, feel free to PM me if you would like. Thank you to anyone who can help.

Top Lot makes an excellent stretcher!

[Deafishunter]

Quick question, with this big cold front and rain coming in for 2 days. Do y’all pull your traps before a big storm, or do y’all leave them?

[oneeye]

Deafishunter, I'm guessing he chewed thru that cable. I can't believe you caught him a second time! Slow learner I guess! Good job.

[Deafishunter]

Originally Posted by oneeye

Deafishunter, I'm guessing he chewed thru that cable. I can't believe you caught him a second time! Slow learner I guess! Good job.

Yes I was very surprised too. Never thought a coyote would be able to chew cable wire that thick.
But overall I was happy to catch him again and not have a dog running around with a trap in its foot.

[BTLowry]

Originally Posted by Deafishunter

Quick question, with this big cold front and rain coming in for 2 days. Do y’all pull your traps before a big storm, or do y’all leave them?

I bedded mine in peat moss and dusted them with dirt.

Leaving them out until they catch or get washed out

[Trapper76]

I’ve been killing a bunch of coyotes with m44s but they aren’t much to look at by the time I find em. I don’t snare much on the predator control jobs but this creek crossing was perfect, so I had to do it. This Ol coyote was caught just n/w of Huntsville, they sure have some good color in that area.

[Trapper76]

Originally Posted by Deafishunter

Quick question, with this big cold front and rain coming in for 2 days. Do y’all pull your traps before a big storm, or do y’all leave them?

I’ve had my best luck trapping before/during these fronts. It’s like the coyotes survival instinct kicks in, and makes some of them do things they normally wouldn’t do for food. I always saturate a area with traps, that way if some get washed out I still have more gear working. The way I see it, you won’t catch em with your traps in the truck.

[BTLowry]

Had something either step in trap and pull out (deer?) or something dug it out and tripped it

After this rain moves through I am going to reset some and make a few new sets

[wytex]

Going to put out a few sets tomorrow and Friday morning.
Not sure how much snow we'll have to deal with but hoping not much more than a dusting.
Going to be cold at night so wax dirt is what we use just in case of some day time melting and freezing over night. Snow is a pain for us but does give us a map of sorts with tracks easy to find.
We'll be concentrating on bobcats now, coyotes are really pretty but not worth much this late due to rubbed off guard hairs. If we catch a really furred up one we'll get it tanned to sell.

[HomeSick]

Originally Posted by Btoutdoors

Top Lot makes an excellent stretcher!

Thank you sir! That seems to be the consensus here, so I will be contacting them soon.

[BTLowry]

Checked traps on 4 wheeler, in the rain, and dark and cold

NADA

But I feel obligated to check traps daily if I have them out

Looks like an all day work day tomorrow so will be Friday before I can get a few more back in the ground

[BTLowry]

Well it finally quit raining.

Went out after lunch to set some more traps and the ground is so soupy I can't get earth anchor to hold driving 18" deep

Going to look at another few places I have in mind tomorrow and see how the ground is in those locations

[Deafishunter]

Originally Posted by BTLowry

Well it finally quit raining.

Went out after lunch to set some more traps and the ground is so soupy I can't get earth anchor to hold driving 18" deep

Going to look at another few places I have in mind tomorrow and see how the ground is in those locations

Same here, went today to check and move a couple where there’s fresh tracks. The soil was really soft. Hopefully a dog doesn’t pull a trap out and start running around with it.

[wytex]

No catches or misses, 24 sets out.
We had just a skiff of snow left but enough to show plenty of critters around, cats and coyotes.
We'll pull tomorrow morning , or spring, and reset late next week.
Big bobcat tracks right through the ranch house yard when we got there.

[Deafishunter]

I’ve been wondering, what is y’all’s choice of bait to use for coyotes and bobcats?

[wytex]

We use some lure and bait produced up this way.
John Graham's Bonanza Mild, Double Cross and Deception.
We've also used some Caven's Hiawatha Valley and O' Gorman's Powder River Cat Call.
I get fresh urine from a place in Utah for bobcat and coyote urine. Spouse picks up coyote turds to place with urine on scent post sets.
Spouse also uses googly eyed mice and rats for bait in cubby sets.

BT probably uses different scents and baits for your areas.

[BTLowry]

I am using powder river form Ogorman's, Mark June's Widowmaker and have some flat 365 from mark june on the way for bait

I have a variety of lures. James Lucero, Caven's and Dobbins. Just got Lucero stuff and you have to order over the phone or send order by mail. Think he is 80+ and still trapping in NM
Lucero -- Coyotero, JL#1 and Winter Wolf
Caven's -- Yodel Dog
Dobbins -- Back Breaker

Urine I have bought from F&T but if I could find a good supplier where I did not have to buy by the gallon I would try that.

Got 3 sets out today, probably try and get 3 more in tomorrow. Means I have to run them after dark during the week though when I get home

[wytex]

Montgomery Trap and Supply in Utah is where I get urine, John Graham, Fur Country Lures, also sells some in bottles smaller than gallons. Montgomery is great to deal with and being close to us we get our orders fast.
John Graham is in Wyoming so we try to give him business when possible.

Out to check this morning, pulling and springing traps today till next weekend.

[BTLowry]

Ended up with 5 sets

Stupid bovine stepped on the backing of my dirt hole set and caved it in, had to dig it back out with a stick on midday trap check

Got 2 more traps in the dirt today though, total of 4 flat sets and the dirt hole the cow stomped

Will check after I get home tomorrow night, weather dependent on check via atv or truck.

wytex I will note that and check with them next year on urine

[wytex]

Had 24 sets out and caught 2 bobcats. Biggest tom yet on the ranch, we weighed him at 39 lbs. Had such a pot gut on him he spouse had to see what he had eaten, stomach full of raccoon. Beautiful long fur and lots of big spots on the belly, smaller female also has nice spots. We should have them stretched and dried by the time fur buyer comes through in mid Jan.

[wytex]

Thought I would add, both cats were caught in Victor 1.75 with 4 coil springs. The extra springs really make them snappy and catch great high on the foot.

[BTLowry]

Nice set of bobcats

I didn't think much wanted to mess with a coon but I guess cats do

Somebody posted a pic of a mountain lion grabbing one off of a feeder in Old Mexico I think

[wytex]

Pretty sure the spouse was surprised by the find, bet it added a few pounds to his weight. Hair and all was inside.

[Deafishunter]

Thanks for the bait info, been trying to find different baiting options to catch some coyotes/bobcats, had been set out for one week, and haven't caught anything over dirt hole sets.

[wytex]

For your bobcat sets try some pigeon feathers scattered in the hole and around the set, maybe hang a wing above the set too.

[BTLowry]

Well I checked my traps this afternoon and got a little dejected

2 were dug out, not sure if they felt the screen pan covers, smelled them or how but they dug them out without getting caught or throwing the trap

Other 3 were untouched so that was a little encouraging

[Deafishunter]

Originally Posted by wytex

For your bobcat sets try some pigeon feathers scattered in the hole and around the set, maybe hang a wing above the set too.

I have feathers and a wing with something shiny hanging over 2 sets, got pictures of bobcats walking through both of the sets for a week. They just haven’t got into it.

[wytex]

Sounds like your set are good ones Deafishunter. We get pics of bobcats, watched one myself one morning, strolling right by trap sets.
BT I feel for you, coyotes are pretty wily.

[Deafishunter]

Originally Posted by BTLowry

Well I checked my traps this afternoon and got a little dejected

2 were dug out, not sure if they felt the screen pan covers, smelled them or how but they dug them out without getting caught or throwing the trap

Other 3 were untouched so that was a little encouraging

Yeah, I had the same thing as well. 4 traps buried in dirt when they dug around them. Smart dogs.

[Trapper76]

Originally Posted by BTLowry

Well I checked my traps this afternoon and got a little dejected

2 were dug out, not sure if they felt the screen pan covers, smelled them or how but they dug them out without getting caught or throwing the trap

Other 3 were untouched so that was a little encouraging

BT don’t feel too bad, everyone has traps dug out from time to time. Im sure you know the reasons. It was scented trap, not properly bedded, or he just knows where your trap is in relation to your attractant. I would say that the majority of the traps I have dug are from the scent from a previous catch. In my experience if a coyote digs a trap that doesn’t trigger, he’ll dig it again. I reset the dug trap, make a new set in in front of that one with a clean trap. Nothing feels better that to outsmart the smart ones. GOOD LUCK.

[wytex]

I don't know what's worse, having them dug up or finding paw prints on the pan that didn't go off.
Maybe your snow will show some new areas to set. We look forward to a little dusting for fresh tracks.

Good luck in the coming days. We'll set again this coming Friday through Monday and may be able to leave them running through that next week, spouse is working remotely from home that week. No work at home but he'll have a little time so we can go check every morning. That week will end our season.