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Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 2:18 pm
by ShawnD
Reading through all this, I'm amazed at the amount of work you put into this.
That's a lot of traps!! :shock:

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 1:38 pm
by Markus
We started the morning out with a quick duck hunt. Not many ducks around yet, but we made due with the few chances we had.

Picked up coyote #4 for the fur shed this morning. Missed 3 others too! I had 3 sets where a yote was in and dug out the bait holes and stole the bait...and they all just missed the pan. Hopefully they'll be back tonight. I freshed them all up. The one dog i did pick up was another small young one.

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Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 4:14 pm
by Markus
It's been a busy week with fur. Not because I've been getting a pile of critters, more so the weather has kept me busy refreshing the dozen sets i have out. Seems like everytime i get the dirtholes all remade...it pours over night. lol

I've got a few things on boards drying though....5 coyotes, 1 fox, 3 raccoons and I decided not to skin the skunk i got yesterday. They didnt sell well at the last auction and I've been told they make great coyote bait, so i'm going to try that. I remade the set i got the skunk in and bedded a trap out front of the carcass. I buried it with vegetation. Be cool if this works.

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I just finished skinning out a big boar coon i got today in a coyote set. Heading out to flesh and board it now.

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The full trapping season opens this sunday, so we'll get all our water sets out this weekend.

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 5:19 pm
by Markus
We're still picking away at the coyotes, but it's slow. I only have a dozen sets out in a small area around the camp. We'll really go after them once snaring season opens on the 20th.

Right now, we're focusing on getting the 20 beavers we want. Beaver trapping opened on Nov 1st and the 5 we got this morning brings out number on boards up to 11 now.

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We have 1 bear hide dried now and we're going to do up another one tomorrow.

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 7:32 pm
by Markus
Had a busy morning in the fur shed today. Our sets gave us a nice bump of fur to work on this morning...4 coons, 1 bobcat, 1 coyote, 1 weasel, 3 muskrats, 1 fox and 1 otter. I love a good mix of fur.

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We have 5 of our 9 bears scraped, boarded and dried now.

Snare season opened here on Nov 25th, so i've been busy getting a bunch out. I'm hoping the deep snow holds off this year, I'd love to ge a solid month of snaring in.

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 7:22 pm
by Markus
This trapping season is going great. We havent gotten any snow yet and we really need a cold snap to get things going, but despite that this years catch is already better then last years great season. With 29 beavers on boards, a highlight this week was a 62lb tank.

8 of the 9 bears are done. The last one will get scraped and boarded after xmas. The last one done was the big boy.

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My favorite lines to check are the snare lines at 2 farms I'm working. With 3 fox and 1 coyote still on drying boards, the dog beam is looking great.

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I got bobcat #2 yesterday and i'm hoping to get a couple more cat pens set up over the holidays. I have a young fella joining me tomorrow for a complete line check, so it should be a fun day.

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 3:20 pm
by Out4trout
Hard core trapping... Good stuff Markus!
We have a few bobcat hanging around here each year. Occasionally get the cats on the trailcams but last year saw one from the stand.
Fishers are way more commonly seen here... both in person and on camera.

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 4:48 pm
by Markus
Only checked 1 set today and it had beaver #33 in it. A huge old 62 pounder. I'll bord him tomorrow, but he'll be a blanket for sure.

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We got a good dump of snow, so i'll have to spend tomorrow and clean up the line.

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2015 12:23 pm
by Maple
That's neat Marcus. Something we don't hear about, or see often. Great pics. Keep us informed about your year as it progresses.

Can a blanket actually be made out of a beaver pelt? What would have to be done to one of your dried hides to make it pliable?

Kudos.

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2016 4:16 pm
by Markus
Maple, the term blanket beaver means a beaver pelt that measures above the largest grading size of 70IN. That fella measure out to 72.5IN's.

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And yes, you can make blankets ot of beaver pelts. There's a coyote blanket at the toronto airport thats absolutely gorgess. I'd love to have one, but i cant afford that kind of thing. The hides just need to be soft tanned, then they can be made into anything you'd like.

Picked up a weasel and a really nice otter today.

Tomorrow we're hosting our youth day at the camp and we'll get some of the youngsters that are spending the night to set some snares for bunnies. SHould be a fun day.

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 9:47 am
by ShawnD
That's awesome Marcus, thanks for posting!
I know it's not for everyone, but when you look at the amount of time and work you put into this it really is an eye opener.

Taking those animals and actually making full use of them vs just killing only for the sake of meat or to get rid of a pest, you do all that and much more.

:handgestures-thumbupright:

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:30 am
by Markus
Still picking away on the trapline. I dont have much gear out, but i have enough out to make the line fun to check.

I set up a new ditch after receiving a call from a land owner asking for help removing the beavers eating his orchard.. I was shocked at what i've pulled out of there in the short time i've worked it.

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5 beavers, 13 muskrats, 1 mink, 1 skunk, 2 raccoons, 2 weasels and 1 squirrel. There's one big beaver left to get and i'll pull out of there. The landowner owns 500 some acres and wants me to work the whole property next year. After seeing whats in 1 small ditch, i'm looking forward to checking it out next Nov.

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 11:52 am
by Haulin Bass
Thanks for the reports Markus.. Really enjoy reading and learning from them.Trapping is an activity that most of us probably don"t get to see and hear about.
Thx again and keep them coming. By the way really enjoyed your Hell Bear Blog. 8) 8) 8)

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 10:21 am
by Markus
We brought an end to our fur season this past weekend and as in years past, we like to do our "end of the line" annual picture on the barn before shipping our hides off to the NAFA auction.

It was a good year. We didnt go at it as hard as we'd like to have. Fur prices just arent strong right now. So we backed off raccoon, otter, mink, and muskrats. We focussed on predator trapping in deer areas we hunt and around farms that asked for our help. Same with beaver....we left the remote beavers alone and only targeted coloies that were causing hwy and land damage. Most of our trapping effort was focused around 4 or 5 major farmlands. We have recieved calls from 4 other farms already asking us to work their properties next season and we're happy to accept.

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Our fur goes up for sale at the May nafa sale and we're not expecting any miracles. Coyotes and Bears should do well and the rest will likely be a disappointment. Despite the struggling fur prices, it's not why I trap...it's just a real bonus when the market is good. I've got big plans for this upcoming season and i'm looking orward to it already.

Re: Fur 2015

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 4:49 pm
by Troutskiii
That's a photo you can be very proud of Markus,love reading your reports congrats on another great season!!!! I hear you on the reason you trap, probably the same reason I hunt and fish, just to be out in the bush, if I get an animal or fish when I'm out it's just gravy on the taters, it's all about the experience of being in nature!

Cheers