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Post by musher on Jul 26, 2009 15:05:36 GMT -6
Seeing that fur prices are down we have decided to extend our line by 61 sq.km.'s. That might seem strange but when stock prices are down it's time to buy. Trappers are discouraged with fur prices and I found a fellow that would sell me his line. I've been working on this for 2 years! I got the nod over 4 other potential buyers because I have sled dogs. The seller used to trap by team and on foot. Here are a few photos of the camp. It is very sound with a wood stove and an oil stove. Buddy wasn't much for paint or cleaning. We have 5 trips to the dump so far and i figure we have five more. That last photo shows the wood shed. I've made a new one. there's some tearing down or repairing that's going to happen. Notice the 4 by 8 sheet of plywood on the side of the camp. It's to nail bear skins on. Buddy left everything there. Clothes, traps, boards, pots/pans/dishes. 5 trips to the dumps worth! (except for the good stuff. He even left a canoe, kayak and mountain bike. The guy is a hermit type. Philosophy graduate from university that lives off berry picking and trapping. He lived in the camp for 3 months a year. he definitely knew how to "make-do." The door is insulated with the felts from winter boots. He didn't throw much out and recycled stuff into other stuff. The prices from the last auction are what pushed him over the edge.
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Post by John Porter on Jul 26, 2009 15:22:28 GMT -6
Looks like you got a decent deal. Hope to see more pictures once you get things in place. Also, this winter we need pics on the line with the dogs. John AKA- Traplinemusher
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Post by trappnman on Jul 26, 2009 15:26:41 GMT -6
I didn't realize you trapped registered lines by you Brian- so does he have quotas for it? in any case, way to go
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Post by musher on Jul 26, 2009 16:33:36 GMT -6
Steve: I've been on a registered line for the past 20 years! I'm still going to trap the old one and now trap this one, too. That means exclusive rights to a total of about 130 sq. km.'s. And I have a few "free hole" spots, too. Mostly private property.
The quota is a joke. A trapper must trap a minimum of 15 critters( total) of 5 different species. If you don't they can take your line away.
Let's just say that I do a wee bit better than that!
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Post by collins on Jul 27, 2009 6:45:43 GMT -6
That's really cool, congrats!
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Post by Stef on Jul 27, 2009 9:08:52 GMT -6
That's cool Brian. Cabin is not as bad as I thought. Roof still in great shape for its age. A little love and you'll be in business.
Stef
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Post by michaelweese on Jul 27, 2009 10:25:56 GMT -6
what are the 5 different species that you have to trap?
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Post by Stef on Jul 27, 2009 10:35:13 GMT -6
From the weasel to Bear
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Post by michaelweese on Jul 27, 2009 10:40:27 GMT -6
do you guys have alot of mt. Lions, wolves, and different kinds of bears?
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Post by marbleyez2001 on Jul 27, 2009 12:12:07 GMT -6
Whats the main target on your old line and the new line?
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Post by Stef on Jul 27, 2009 12:18:44 GMT -6
No lion, we have timber wolves in the big wood or close to it and and we only have Black bears... Some polar bears visited us but its too far from us
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Post by musher on Jul 27, 2009 12:24:30 GMT -6
We have wolf and black bear.
My present line and the new one are quite close. They might be about 30-35 km. apart. Obviously it's the same species. However, the new line isn't cut. There should be more marten there.
There will be less beaver because the principle tree present is black spruce. Since there are no cuts, the hardswoods are scarce. There are alder patches by the water but poplar/birch seem rather rare.
What's really nice about this line is that it is an "old man's" line. I will probably never be more than 10 km. , in a straight line, from a highway. It is also full of looped trails of 3-4 km. I will have about 15 km. of road plowed all winter. On my present line I can be 25 km. away fairly easily. All unplowed. That's a long walk when things mess up.
Even though the new line is further away there are more people present on it. LOTS of expensive cottages are found in that ZEC. The old line is much quieter in terms of numbers of people even though it is closer to town.
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Post by mtcbrlatrap on Jul 27, 2009 12:24:53 GMT -6
A novice question for those with registered trap lines. 1. Are the square miles or area per line offered on a habitat basis or say potential catch of each species, thus good habitat is smaller and poorer habitat is larger in area? Or are the registered lines of somewhat equal size? 2. If size is similar than are their bidding or pecking order, seniority etc type methods of gaining the more preferred registered line areas. 3. I also see the "free hole" term. If the private property is "outside" the registered trap line domain are the quota or numbers that are allowed to catch etc. different or similar? 4. With the tougher laws as to dispatch time on killer traps etc. are there any differences allowed or allowable between registered lines and private trap lines?
Sorry for all the questions but hope to gain some insights here is possible.
Bryce
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Post by Stef on Jul 27, 2009 12:36:44 GMT -6
1- In most areas... closer to the towns, especially big towns, you'll find the smallest trapline but there's a but... Where my wife has her registered line... most traplines are far from the civilization and the smallest line (per square km's) are usually more productive in diversity because there's more lakes and Creeks and rivers. You know... you won't catch 80 red fox on a 100 Sq km trapline... The reality is more like 10-15 fox and its a heck of a season...LoL
2- Its a lottery system
3- On the free hole, there's no minimum but for examples, some year you can have a lynx quota etc.. Its divided by zone.
4- No and no check law here
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Post by Stef on Jul 27, 2009 12:43:49 GMT -6
We are locked with small traplines and we don't have enough for us.
Many hunters who wanted to have the possibility to have a cabin passed their trapper course and went for the lottery. A lot of them won when all this started and some traplines are not trapped at all. Its easy for them buying 5 red squirrel, 5 weasels, 5 rats, 1 fox and 1 beaver and they have their 5/15.
All around those traplines and in between... In Quebec, we have the "beaver reserve" in French is Réserve de Castor. This huge territory... I guess 75% + of all our territory is native ground. Hunting is allowed to white people but no white trapper there... Only natives people and let me tell you.... IT SUCKS!
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Post by musher on Jul 27, 2009 13:38:02 GMT -6
The cottagers are the reason why I'm lucky to have gotten this line. Too many shmucks want to have a moose camp/fishing camp. So they become "trappers." One internet course and $150 later they are eligible for the lottery.
As Stef said, 75% of the province is Native land with regards to trapping. Interestingly enough the other 25 % produces 80% of the fur!
Stef's fox numbers are a little low for my area. If there has been logging, you can triple his figures.
I have about 22 lakes/ponds on this new line. Lots of water everywhere here.
"Free hole" isn't private property. It is Crown Land. It belongs to everyone and hunting/fishing/trapping rights are permitted to everyone with a license. It can get a little cranky as usually someone is already trapping there.
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Post by bblwi on Jul 27, 2009 16:02:15 GMT -6
Thank you for the responses to my questions.
Bryce
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Post by bobafett on Jul 27, 2009 18:18:54 GMT -6
musher, What would you consider to be an average seasons catch on this new line?
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Post by bobwendt on Jul 27, 2009 18:24:16 GMT -6
if you don`t mind saying, what does that cost? do you pay annual or only once and yours till you sell? does the gov`t get the sale price, or you?
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Post by northof50 on Jul 27, 2009 19:03:27 GMT -6
Remember that every province has different regs on RTL's and their transfers. Most of the regs were created in the 1940- 50 and the old guard did not want to change the status quoa even up to today. Musher get that wodd split and fill that shed. Looks like you have some good eating moose up there judging by the racks on the shed. Got a GPS location so we can google some habitat of the area ?
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