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Post by buckeyehunter on Jul 16, 2004 12:09:50 GMT -6
Do those of you who live in states that have an open season for coyotes wait until the general opening day of trapping season or do you start trapping them earlier?
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Post by trappnman on Jul 16, 2004 13:11:11 GMT -6
If your area has decent coytes- hit them as early as you can.
Around here- about the middle of October they are looking real nice- not prime- but furred up nice and shiny.
Early yotes are a little easier, in my opinon- simply because the earlier you trap, the fresher the displaced animals are. In other words- coyotes displaced by harvesting and land use patterns are still not set up in familar territory.
Nicer weather also means more yotes. Our Oct early Nov is typically high pressure, sunny and dry.
I strart setting traps about the 12th- earlier or later depending on weather- I positively will not start out on day one in the rain...Day 2, I'll take my chances..but not day 1. I have the time to adjust a little.
You'll have ot have someone more familar with your area to tell you when things look nice- i'd say northern PA would be similar.
In any case- start when the fur is ready- those furred up skins sell very well...wash and polish them so to speak before selling and that silky nice new fur sells.
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Post by MChewk on Jul 16, 2004 14:13:46 GMT -6
Got to comment on this....Steve is right and alot of what we trappers and fur hunters have been told thru out the years is WRONG!!! Last year I read what Steve posted on Dobbins Forum regarding early fur and the prices it was bringing according to Steve. the guys went crazy about trapping early Oct coyotes and coon. "Its not prime! " was their comment. Maybe not but if you average a buck or two off a Nov/Dec animal and can hammer the numbers when the weather is cooperative you are doing well. This issue needs to be looked at by OUR DNRS as they are using old info. At Furtakers I watched Gary Schoeder from NAFA skin a "blue" coon out and a guy commented that the coon was early and probably not worth much. Mr Schoerder said this coon is a bit early but still worth a bit of money due to fur quality. Indiana and Wisc open their coyote/fox up around Oct 15. I know guys from both states that average near the same $ on those early canines AND coon!!! How can that occur...fur quality not primeness. Whatcha think guys...
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Post by dj88ryr on Jul 16, 2004 14:22:39 GMT -6
I thought Gappa was right then, and am gearing up to put the info to use this year.
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Post by dj88ryr on Jul 16, 2004 14:24:20 GMT -6
It also should be noted that this was AFTER Mr.Gappa got fried at the hands of a short little banker. So, I am sure if this ever becomes the norm, and the trapping industry switches gears because of Steve's article, the short little banker from McAlisterville will be wanting a cut. ;D
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Post by thebeav2 on Jul 16, 2004 14:24:38 GMT -6
I'm from WI I start on day one.In most cases that Is around the 14th of oct. My coon averaged In the grease $15 and some cents. I didn't see a price difference from day one to the end of the season. The more days you trap the more fur you will take, which means more pay days.
Beav
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Post by Wright Brothers on Jul 16, 2004 14:39:47 GMT -6
I've tried it both ways and it seems I've been hooked by buyers. I have not sold to the northern auctions, yet. Interested to hear their comments on this. If it's only a buck less, the numbers will cover that real quick.
The one thing I did learn from you guys is if going early to stay out of the creeks until later, that was very good advice.
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Post by CoonDuke on Jul 16, 2004 14:45:26 GMT -6
I know this thread is about coyotes, but... ;D
I have never noticed a difference between early caught gray fox and late caught grays. Most buyers seem to buy grays on the "average".
Reds are pretty flat here the first week of the season, but get a lot better by the second week.
If coon are big...the are good. If they are small, they are worthless no matter when you catch them.
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Post by buckeyehunter on Jul 16, 2004 16:05:02 GMT -6
Coyotes can be trapped year round here in Ohio but fox season doesn't begin until Nov. 10 or 11. What would you do to lessen the chance of preseason fox catches?
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Post by chub618 on Jul 16, 2004 16:23:33 GMT -6
hey buckey i would also like to note that the law states that no coon fox or coyote may be released from a trap and must be dispatched and placed into the bag... which seems to me that is a catch 22. what should you do with incidental coon or fox catches if trapping yotes earily before there season comes in? ??
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Post by thebeav2 on Jul 16, 2004 18:13:12 GMT -6
Set with heavy pan tension or don't set any traps till fox season opens.
Beav
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Post by Edge on Jul 16, 2004 19:17:20 GMT -6
Our coyote season opened yesterday.I will start them around the middle of Oct,except for 2 areas I trap heavy before the "other" trappers get going. So I will not be starting "as early as possible",lol,more like as early as is convenient and the pups are grown and there are fewer ticks.
Edge
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Post by trappnman on Jul 17, 2004 7:59:54 GMT -6
Heavy tension helps...but doesn't eliminate.
It always amazes me when I catch a rabbit, squiirel, pheasant, blue jay....in traps with 3 lbs or so of tension.
chub- I would think that law would apply only to when that animal is in season- but with the crazy laws out there- who knows?
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Post by trappnman on Jul 17, 2004 8:05:47 GMT -6
Now make sure you understand this- early fur is worth less that later fur-
if all things were equal- the same coon taken on Oct 15 would be worth less than if taken on Nov 15.
But averages....
Plus, as some of you might have remembered the article I wrote on Prime Fur- fur really is at its peak for a very short time- so the fur value is on a Bell curve.....
And remember- by starting early- and taking your time setting up- by the time you ARE all set up- it won't be early anymore!
(I'll dig up that article and post in in the Essay board for those interested)
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Post by dj88ryr on Jul 17, 2004 8:14:39 GMT -6
I have it handy at all times, that one was a stroke of brialliance.
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Post by MChewk on Jul 17, 2004 8:16:46 GMT -6
Good stuff Steve....again my example of Indiana and Wisconsin fur opening in Oct. 15 or so....and we wait until to Nov 5 ....its killing me ...lol
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Post by Stef on Jul 17, 2004 10:47:52 GMT -6
There's some good stuff but.......... Like the Beav, he sells his coon on the grease... a chance he has that market! Send October coon to Canadian auction for fun I know some XXXL October coon will be in I-II graded at auction. But what is the %? For the other sizes... it won't surprised me if you'll get $2 at auction max! Fox... I have nice fox here. I start Oct 25. All fox caught at this time are II but nice. Fox in my area are at their top from November 15 to December 15th. I cannot see catching or selling southern PA red fox caught October 15. Coyote... Most coyotes are real nice from November to Mid January but.... I've seen (results $$$) some late October coyotes getting higher averaged than November coyotes. Some individuals have long hair, they are not prime prime, but the market want them. One day BadDog was telling me that most "Adult" October coyotes are good to very good. Pups.... its another thing Same with coon, we all catch pups blue coon at the end of November. So for me, late October is good only for large coyote and large coon! Stef
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Post by dj88ryr on Jul 17, 2004 10:50:47 GMT -6
Stef, I averaged better on my Nov 1 - December 1 fox, than I did on my late season fox.
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Post by trappnman on Jul 17, 2004 10:52:42 GMT -6
stef- Where do you thing most of these coon eventually go?
and MChewk says : At Furtakers I watched Gary Schoeder from NAFA skin a "blue" coon out and a guy commented that the coon was early and probably not worth much. Mr Schoerder said this coon is a bit early but still worth a bit of money due to fur quality.
Our "early" coon look like your Dec coon most likely...
also- the trick is to keep the % of little coon down- my early % I would guess is 95+% coon over 35 inches.
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Post by Stef on Jul 17, 2004 10:53:19 GMT -6
No doubt about it DJ, late fox are just no good!
leather too thin!
Stef
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