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Gophers
May 12, 2018 4:22:57 GMT -6
Post by braveheart on May 12, 2018 4:22:57 GMT -6
I have seen a lot of corn shooting up. Most farmers here are on to beans.Gophers here are digging like crazy in the road ditch. Seems like there is way more of them than normal.Must be the no till farming.
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Gophers
May 12, 2018 13:13:01 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on May 12, 2018 13:13:01 GMT -6
not too bad out with mud- pulled 3 farms, and left a couple on 2 neighboring farms that I'll pull tomorrow
just starting corn planting here
last fall I put Trial guide All Terrain tires on the suburban- a reasonably priced tire- finished the last 3 days of coyotes with it, and was impressed with the way they performed om muddy soybean fields, etc
so put them on the trapping truck- VERY impressed with them on slick mud field roads- no breakway, just steady. honestly think they are one of the best if not the best tires in slick mud that I've had- a true mudder is not what I want- so always trying to compromise and feel this is it.
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Gophers
May 14, 2018 8:55:14 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on May 14, 2018 8:55:14 GMT -6
DONE! 436 gophers in 2 weeks- thats 2 rain days, and a 1st set up day, and 1 day off. So 43.6 gophers per check average- high was 67, low was 12 on last day.
so time to get things done and enjoy a little time off (as if I haven't been off all winter Ha!). cutting might be a tad late, but somewhere around Memorial Day they will be cutting- and then its a farm or 2 or 3 all summer long.
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Gophers
May 15, 2018 3:31:05 GMT -6
Post by braveheart on May 15, 2018 3:31:05 GMT -6
That is knocking them out. What is your main go to trap? I thought I was done beaver trapping got a call 2 counties away. Has beaver chewing there trees in yard. I guess better than sitting around I can do some coyote scouting. It will pay well.
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Gophers
May 15, 2018 6:12:33 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on May 15, 2018 6:12:33 GMT -6
I'm using cinches almost 100%- a few footholds here and there- but mainly the cinches. Took me a while to figure them out but since I have I love them. Footholds are about the same %- but far more work to set- with cinches, its a minute or two and on our way. Been seeing lots of coyote sign- might have a few new places this fall
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Gophers
Jun 23, 2018 6:54:44 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Jun 23, 2018 6:54:44 GMT -6
holy smokers is it wet here. MN and WI as well as other places Im sure have had nothing but rain- had some gopher traps out sunday, couldn't get into fields to check til yesterday. Didn't even touch te gophers...lol
Seems to be lots and lots of both badger and coyotes out and about- and rabbits everywhere. hopefully a lot of pups raised this summer. Last year, some areas were pretty barren. Time ot start thinking of fur season- I'l lbe getting my peat this week to start drying it. Every year I go through more peat- probably cut my dry dirt use by 2/3 over years ago. I think 8 bales should be enough- had 7 last year and skimping at the end.
Real happy with the traps and the wolffangs, so not much prep work to do but can't get in the mood to do traps until sept.
Also will water trap in a small way for a short time. Missed it last year (until the ice/snow really took over lol)
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Post by braveheart on Jul 9, 2018 4:09:00 GMT -6
How is the new truck treating you on the gopher line? Getting the 2nd. cutting of hay hot and dry going to get started on my dirt for this fall.
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Post by trappnman on Jul 9, 2018 7:42:33 GMT -6
Love the truck. I get about 16 overall, and since most of the driving is in fields or gravel roads, I'm ok with that. Love the room- will be real nice for coyotes.
Been working 2nd crop on and off between rains last few weeks- those cinches work so good I'm driving myself out of business catching to many!
Went to Menards last week and got 8 bales of peat- punched holes in bags and got them in a metal shed so should be good and dry by season. Last few years have been using less and less dry dirt each year- 2 years ago had 1 barrel left from 5, last year had 1 and 1/2 left from 4- so only need to fill 2 and 1/2 barrels and they are the smaller ones. Find myself using more and more peat- last year with 7 had to skimp at the end, 8 I hope will do it.
Been seeing lots of coyote and badger sign- at one field yesterday had 9 gophers eaten by badgers. bumper crop of bunnies this year. and we are lucky in the fields- for those that got corn in early (most) its head tall and more, and some fields are tasseling already. Barley turned, and oats starting to show color. Hope its all gone by season, and not like last year when 99% of corn still in and 60+% beans for opener.
How was Marshfield? We went to WTA for many many years, and con stuff was king- last couple of years you could hardly give it away. Coyote stuff was ok- but I wonder how long that will last?
Tuf f times to be a fur trapper indeed.
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Gophers
Jul 9, 2018 11:42:21 GMT -6
Post by bblwi on Jul 9, 2018 11:42:21 GMT -6
Sign of the times. We had dozens of demo guys wanting to coyotes and cats and few that would do other species. Here in WI our main fur bearers are rats, coon, beaver, coyote, fox and minnk, none of which are attractive in the market now. Sign of the times is selling beaver in the grease by the pound and having them shave the fur off and toss the hide. Rats are about low cost for size as they are linings for expensive coats with the belly being the valuable part. Not much of an advantage to catch good winter heavy furred rats. Coons look to make some advance. Found out one of the main reasons 2xl coons are so unwanted. The template machines for handling coons are 30 inches. 2xl coons are 29 inches. Look at the price breaks from 3xl coons to 2xl coons.
Bryce
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Gophers
Jul 10, 2018 3:41:30 GMT -6
Post by braveheart on Jul 10, 2018 3:41:30 GMT -6
It was hot for sure. Sold a bunch of stuff and a variety of everything.For the amount of people they bought a lot of stuff. Ran into storm after storm all the way home. Got in the 4 in. a hour stuff in Ankeny Iowa. Got the heck out and kept moving.On line orders things have been moving very good.I got me 3 bales of peat drying like you do it as well. Got my first beaver call and several coon calls to do today the boots will feel good in the 90 degree weather.
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Gophers
Jul 14, 2018 9:11:53 GMT -6
Post by trappnman on Jul 14, 2018 9:11:53 GMT -6
sure glad for those new tires- had rain thursday night- but had a few traps to pull. @ set ups were waterways. first almost dry- no problem and reset a few traps. The next, 1/2 mile away (same waterway just 2 farms down) was a surprise- went into it, and a ways in was standing water. Lori goes turn back, turn back- but I was committed. Never had a moment it seemed like I was stuck or close to it- but I will say I was glad to be back on gravel!
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Gophers
Jul 15, 2018 3:47:38 GMT -6
Post by braveheart on Jul 15, 2018 3:47:38 GMT -6
I have been in that situation to many times in early Fall. It sure does feel good to out on the road again.
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