Trapping- What did you catch today?

[leechmann]

I know the feeling. Every time you post a picture of three or five, it makes me crazy. Then I tell my son to get into the truck, we need to get after it.

I was at the local bait shop today, and my buddies came out to see the fox. One of them opened up the pickup door, and started complaining that it was stinky in there. I told him it used to smell skunky , so I put a frozen bottle of fox pee in there to thaw it out. I told him it smells good now!!

[hookset]

leechman whats your email

joe

[leechmann]

[email protected]

[leechmann]

Well, what ever magic I had going yesterday, It ran out today. I came up with nothing. I set a few new snares, and looked over some other spots. It snowed just a little bit this morning, just enough to cover up any fresh sign. Have to give it a day or so, to see what those critters are up to. Fishermann, I hope you go your line going. Let us know.

[fishermann222]

rain rain go away, it is January. 32.9 and raining hard. I at this point I am just praying we manage to keep enough snow around for musk ox hunting, or it is going to be VERY abusive on the machines.

[Stiff]

Do you guys have 4-wheelers if you were to lose all your snow?? Is your Island big enough to have rivers that draw runs of salmon? Or do you have to go to the mainland? Or just net them in the ocean?

[fishermann222]

Since most of the island is federal wildlife refuge you are not allowed to 4wheeler on the land. So that is out, but there will be enough snow for snowmobiles, just might have to wait until march, we will have to see.

Most of the rivers have salmon runs on the island. NO king runs though. Dogs, pinks, silvers, are in all the rivers. Reds only make a significant run in one river on the oposite side of the island. The one thing that we do have here is AMAZING dolly varden fishing. it is nothing to catch 50 dollies in a few hours of fishign with a fly rod.

[Stiff]

How big do the dollies Run? I haven't done much of it. This is the nicest one I've caught.

What are typical flies that you use for them? I caught that one on a flesh fly, but but most have come to egg patterns. We are generally fishing them behing spawning Red salmon, which it sounds like is not the case for you.

Sorry, I realize it doesn't really fit the thread.

I'm still looking for some old trapping photos.

[leechmann]

Well I it's getting colder by the minute. I think I just saw a herd of Muskox run by. I connected tonight with a nice red. I learned that when the temp is below zero, I have no patience for photograph. I am also unble to fix the camera when the shutter refuses to open all the way. So the pictures of the fox are kind of skinny. By the way, the camera worked find in the warm pickup. I must have hit one of the setting buttons.

[fishermann222]

At least you are getting out. Still warm, blowing 45+ and rainy. Kinda like weather on the Bering Sea in the winter. OH WAIT, thats where I am. LOL, just wish it was in the 20's at LEAST, I actually prefer below 0. No trapping until this stuff changes.

[leechmann]

Fishermann, I think I'm catching you. It the weather holds up there, another three seasons and I'll be tied with you. LOL

[fishermann222]

weather has been bad, but the big guy is looking out for me. I DREW A GOAT TAG. OH YEAH BABY GOAT HUNTING IN AUGUST.

[leechmann]

Ok, now you've gone too far. I'm going to have to draw and albino elephant tag. Yeah that's it, an albino elephant tag. They taste like chicken. I'm just kidding. Good for you. Where do you hunt goats? Are they on the island, or do you have to travel to the mainland for that? Give us the lwodown on the goats.

[fishermann222]

This hunt will be on the kenai pen. Right across the bay from Homer. Really need to work on logistics. I have a buddy in Homer who is can drop me off seaside, but I need to look into some pilots to see if they can get into the one alpine lake in the area. Walking up mountains full of alders AND devils club is not alot of fun, best to start alpine if you can.

[leechmann]

She's getting colder and colder down here. It was 27 below this morning. I haven't caught a skunk in about a week. My pickup is starting to smell normal again. I hate that. I may start a new trapping product, shunk smell air freshiner, for trappers, in the off season, or for you guys up in the tundra. I didn't catch any thing in the traps tonight, but hey, it dark again, and the fox are probably working our sets as we speak.

[J48jake]

I just got back from freezing my butt off, and no sign of anything. I think with -40 windchills even the critters are smart enough to stay inside something. Time for a warm cup of coffee.

[xHCxOutdoorsman]

well today i got nothing but i'll give you a bit of my trapping backround i just started this year im 17 the first set i ever put out i caught a coon back in oct. i also caught a muskrat and a coon in nov. i took a break due to having no land by my house to trap i went to south dakota and was taught by some family friends on how to trap and snare over christmas break now about two weeks ago i set 6-8 snares on a farmers land they sat for 5 day and i got my first yote on last sunday i set a new snare in the same area, on monday i got another yote about 50 yards from where i got the first one, i set another snare on 15 yards for where i caught the second one and got my third yote in that snare yester 3 yotes in a week i am extremly happy with the progress i am new to this sport and this HSOforum any input you could give or tell me it will be greatly appreciated thanks and happy traping every one

[fishermann222]

Congrats on the Yotes, great feeling having full traps isn't it? Are you putting them up yourself or selling in the round? Did your family teach you how to skin, flesh and board them?

It is tough to just give you all kinds of info when we don't know what you already know. Try asking specific questions.

[xHCxOutdoorsman]

yeah i get so excited when i see the tail waving around in the brush what do you meanselling in the round just seillin to a fur buyer? i think that is what ill do because i dont know the process in treating them. i was taught by two men i S.D. family friends i have skun them out should i leave the paws on or take them off i have fleshed two off hem because they were fairly fatty. suppose that i am looking for info on setting i have caught all of the on trails in woods bordering cattails with the loop facing east west none on that face north south i worry about scent a bit but dont wear rubber boots or gloves i havent boiled snares should i? but its all been working out tanks for replying

[fishermann222]

Selling in the round means not skinning. Glad to hear you are skinning and fleshing. As far as the paws you don't need to do that, but if you do, and split the lips and ears you could possibly sell to taxi market as well. Though I don't know if there is a very large taxi market for yotes or not, I kinda doubt it.

Sounds like you are doing great so far. One thing I do with my snares if I have snow in the ground is boil them in baking soda. It puts a little bit of a white tint to them and they blend in really well. Some guys I know up here us white speed dip to die parts of the snares white as well.

Well guys I am FINALLY going to get out and get some sets in the ground. Beautiful day here 25 and clear Best day we have had in at least a month. Looks like I will be late for the game today.

[leechmann]

I say the heck with the big game. I'd rather be trapping. I snared this coyote this morning. Fur looks good. The rest of the traps were empty, but I saw some fresh sign in another area. Next day off, I'll set that up. I also saw a fisher tonight. That was cool. Fisherman, now that the weathers cleared, lets see some pic's of the village and all your fox tomorrow. And that other pic you were going to e-mail me. Good luck!!!!!!!!!

Wecome to the trapping thread XHC.

[fishermann222]

Nice yote leechman. I went out and got a bunch of fox today, between me and my buddy we shot 8 total. I also got 2 dozen traps up and running, another dozen are frozen down in overflow, they are not going to be fun to chip out.

Here are a few pics of the village I have on my computer, I will take new ones tomorrow

This next one is the school (summer pic)

[leechmann]

Great pic's fishermann, keep them coming. What type of soil is on the ground there. It looks like alot of clay, by the school in the summer time picture. Does it get sticky muddy when it rains in the summer? Do you get lots of rain in the summer? How do they get eletricity to the island?

[xHCxOutdoorsman]

thats a very nice yote leech when i get a scanner or if im around one ill put some pics up of my yotes i caught a fisher by hinckley on the last day of the season it was luck well i checked to day and had nothing but i was in the area yester and stunk it up and set three more snares they are good snares hope i get somthing good luck to you oh yeah how can i get a pic for my default up like yours

fisherman you catch any wolves or do you not have any on the island what do you usually catch up there?

[leechmann]

Nothing in the traps today guys. Been busy trying to thaw a drain pipe out.

XHC, not sure about the default picture, my daughter is in charge of stuff like that. Maybe Fishermann can help you out. Good luck too you.