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Post by oldmink on Mar 19, 2006 9:05:27 GMT -6
I'm a low tech guy. I just use a ballpoint pen and a legal pad to a record of my sets.
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Post by psb1011 on Mar 19, 2006 9:20:15 GMT -6
For those that don't have GPS- what do you do so that if you drop dead- your traps can be recovered? If I dropped dead,id probebly lay around a while. Other trappers,and farmers would likely retrieve 90% of my traps and animals,I have everything wrote down,but nobody would understand my criptic writing anyways.I will only use my gps in new areas,and out of state,but on home turf I don't need it
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Mar 19, 2006 18:13:44 GMT -6
Most sets I remember where they are.
Biggest problem is how many at the location. So I write that down.
This winter I relied on my GPS pretty heavily. Ran an entirely new area entirely off my snocat. It was nice to be able to follow my exact trail. Alot of dead end logging roads confused me.
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Post by Muskratman1 on Mar 19, 2006 20:08:15 GMT -6
I use a log book and a map for sets and am going to try and incorporate the laptop with GPS in this year - more for fun than anything else.
Conibear - PM me your addy - I got something I'll send you.
MM1
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Post by lynxcat on Mar 20, 2006 8:43:38 GMT -6
If you're familiar with the area...no problem..HOWEVER if you're in an unfamiliar....new....or LARGE area...GPS is the only way to go with ...especially in a LARGE, new,unfamiliar area...NOBODY/NOTHING can beat the GPS in a circumstance like this..not even "Bob the brain"..now way...no how. Oftentimes one may set it dry...come back and SNOW!!! NOTHING looks the same. lynx
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Post by trappnman on Mar 20, 2006 9:19:39 GMT -6
Oftentimes one may set it dry...come back and SNOW!!! NOTHING looks the same.
ain't that the truth. Nothing looks the same after a field is plowed either.....
In areas where I'm worried about snow or plowing, I always set up like a pirate....
that is- 20 paces from 3rd fencepost, right 15.... and write it down.
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Post by primetime on Mar 20, 2006 10:03:03 GMT -6
Arrrrr..... I can't find me trap.
A pirate walks into a bar and sits down. Bartender walks up and asks, "What you having?" Pirate replies, "Arrrr I'll take a beer." Bartender brings him a beer and says, "I can't help but notice that you have a stearing wheel on your crotch..." Pirate replies, "Arrrr it's driving me nuts."
I can't help but tell that joke everytime I hear about Pirates.
P.S. You need to say the "Arrrr" like a Pirate. ;D
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Post by trappnman on Mar 20, 2006 10:30:33 GMT -6
so the proud papa returns..congrats mike..
I'm betting you are one of those that talk like a pirate on that Pirate Day they have every year? LOL
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Post by bobCATching on Mar 20, 2006 10:35:18 GMT -6
lynx, I spent a lot of time antelope hunting in some of the area you chase cats in. I can see where a GPS would help a lot out there. Most of my cat country is "above ground" and I can see it for miles. That country was below eye level and had certain sameness to it. Deep canyons. One of these years I might have to get one of those GPS units.
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Post by bobwendt on Mar 20, 2006 10:40:46 GMT -6
i run vast roadless areas , some 50 miles across and countless 10-20,000 acre pastures, new country, old country, overland, roads whatever. I do tie a ribbon on a fence post for unexpected blizzards or in monotone sagebrush country. never lost a trap yet and set often 100 land sets over 200 miles. I just took it for granted everyone could remember where they set their traps! seriously, I can`t hardly beleive you guys need gps or notes to remember something so elementary. for gosh sakes, how you find your way home at night? 20 years later I can drive by a spot and say I caught x number of critters over there, etc.,etc. I know I`m no smarter than anyone else here. I don`t think I could forget where a trap is if I tried. I am so anxious to run them I have them each and every one memorized in my head, the trees, sage , 2 tracks, everything and actually run my line in my head each evening and play a game at how accurate my catch is compared to my predictions and even so far as what is in which traps. maybe I just think trapping 24/7 ,and other folks have a life, I dunno. maybe I am more uncontiously attune to directions, sunrise and sunset, the stars, wind direction, inanimate objects that imprint in my mind wirthout me even knowing it. who knows, but I know everey trap I ever set is memorized like written in stone. I cou8ld see 200 traps in a 1,000 acre cattail marsh might be tough, but not land traps!
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Post by primetime on Mar 20, 2006 10:43:44 GMT -6
Thanks Steve. I saw Lori in the hall on Wednesday, but she was to quick for me. I figured she would find out though. I'm going to be a very busy man.
Pirates crack me up, but never heard of the Pirate Day. ;D My wife always tells me I'm "Driving her nuts." Or "Mike stop driving me nuts"
And I always reply with a hearty, "Arrrrrrrrrrrr".
If you do it, don't forget to sell it and squint that right eye!
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Post by trappnman on Mar 20, 2006 10:52:03 GMT -6
If you have 100 traps out in featureless territory and you get snow, you are going to need some type of system.
Much easier when you have 2 traps here, 2 traps there.
but in woods or marshes where you have a lot of traps set at one location- wind storms, high water or snow will change things enough so a map can save the day. I don't use it often- but its invaluable when needed.
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Post by primetime on Mar 20, 2006 10:58:30 GMT -6
For me land trapping was no problem - Water trapping Muskrats was.
I was setting on sign, and not on features that were easy to remember. I could put out sets fast and some days my dad was helping, so it got really confusing. Along one area all the banks looked the same --- grassy. My traps were tucked up under grass on feed beds and on crawl out areas - I thought I'd lost some for sure, because once a catch was made the trap and any sign of it was at the bottom of the creek. All I had to go by was there were a dozen traps out there. I found them all - but it was by counting and if I came up short I had to search. After a few checks I didn't need to count anymore. If you miss a trap on that second check, you'll continue to miss it from then on out, so it's best to have some sort of notes right away.
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