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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 27, 2010 9:55:17 GMT -6
I think alot has to do with the size of the area shared.Smaller home ponds for a beaver pair or even a bachelor are territorial to a degree. Could be the beaver in such a small area may find rats in that case to be invaders and competitors for the same area. Thus causing the beaver to run the few rats off. Then once the beaver are removed the rats maybe more confortable once again to re inhabit the pool.Just my thoughts. I realize that many species co exhist in a beavers home range.I have caught many a rat comeing out of a beaver hut in my days also. So it is a given that some sort of tolerance or co existance takes place. But like other situations, like a moody woman, they change moods and tolerances at will. Who knows what ticks them off, guess they dont need a reason. Just their perogative.NO doubt animals in this scenario may be react the same at times.Two women in one household sometimes is one too many.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 24, 2010 21:30:22 GMT -6
Had one in Arkansas and one in Pa. over the years in Jan. and Feb that had been partially eaten. One in trackable dirt and one in 3 inches of snow.No doubt it was coyotes in those cases due to the sign.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 24, 2010 14:09:20 GMT -6
Ditto to all.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 23, 2010 13:10:39 GMT -6
He builds some good cages as does Mercer.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 22, 2010 14:22:06 GMT -6
Maybe you need a couple of us older crusty trappers to come with you to the meeting.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 22, 2010 11:15:44 GMT -6
Looks like you need to move to higher ground, suspend the trap a bit or just reset and start over.
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Skunks
Dec 19, 2010 8:28:26 GMT -6
Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 19, 2010 8:28:26 GMT -6
I put up 50 -100 plus each year. Sell them all. None sold this year yet. Years past $7.00 to $8.75 fur value. Tanned sales I get $25-$30.00 on good big ones.Taxidermy sales much much more.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 17, 2010 8:08:28 GMT -6
I have never found a reliable fool proof method for shooting skunks without discharge. It is great some of you have gotten the hang of it. Usually most trauma to the body of a skunk whether head or chest will initiate a reflex discharge in most cases.I have had a few no squirts in my days but very few.
I use the essence and want it all for formulation use so I prefer the chemcial injection method.I may get a very aggitated one on a rare occasion that causes a slight discharge upon working the animal. They give that warning shot on occassion.But not much.I pole 80 to 125 skunks annually and may have 1-2 that give me a problem.Most are routine lites out injections.My poles are 3-4 feet long. I have a rigid model that I carry in my trucks and a breakdown one that comes in 2 sections that I carry in a pvc case for atv work.Assembles with a conduit joint connector.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 15, 2010 14:11:58 GMT -6
You be careful Pap under those drift areas. Had one collapse once while diggin it out to find my location and set up.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 15, 2010 9:08:14 GMT -6
I wouldn't go to anything else when i stake it is so fast , plus if i have a trap i have a stake , as each trap already has it attached to it permanently.
simple and easy is why i use them , i never even give them a thought other than when talking about it here.
Bingo.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 15, 2010 9:01:57 GMT -6
If you attach your puller to the swivel or another attachment point other then the stake cable loop top you will pull open your J hooks alot and eventually weaken them too much.I have only seen the top ferrule slip when pulling stakes. I have pulled serveral thousand over the years and its always the top attachment ferrule that lets the cable slip when this happens. Never have broken a cable in my days. An additional single ferrule crimped on the lose end may help this alot. Going to make some up this summer and determine its merit when pulling next season or for summer ADC work.
Some find it easier and more convienent to hook the swivel body instead of threading the cable loop for pulling. I have done this also but opened my J hooks also.So no more.
If making your own staking system just allow more loop room on the top and this will make it easier to run your puller attachment hook thru the cable eye if larger in the future.I had to learn that early on about making the loops larger.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 14, 2010 17:13:55 GMT -6
MY driver only bends on the bottom 2 inches where it holds the stake. The main shaft never has bent . The lathe cut tapered bottom is the weakest part and where it tends to curl in rocky ground at times.
I have T tops on my drivers or like stated you would not get them out very easily only with vise grips or channel locks.I keep my shafts waxed so they pull pretty easy or have powder coated some that work great for a while.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 14, 2010 7:27:56 GMT -6
I rarely have one stick on the driver tip. If I dont clean one out that may have some wet clay in the tube or if the end of the driver tip extends beyond the stake tube and you hit rock you may get one stuck. Never have your driver tip extend beyond the stake end. Grind it off if it does.Then only the stake tube end takes the abuse not the driver.
Now I make sure all my driver tips are recessed at least an 1/8" inch and that is plenty of clearance. I carry a drill with me most all times in the truck with a 1/4" bit and spares. When I pull traps if I dont have my hand cleaning bit rig in hand when I pull, when I get to the truck I just take a couple of minutes and drill them all clean. Then I dont run into issues on the next set up.
Its all in knowing your equipment and tolerances. I always carry several drivers so if you break a few or bend them you just grab another. Bent tips are usually a fast easy fix in most cases.I tap the bent driver tip a few times with my digging hammer and its good to go.It is workable enough material that banging it on the bent side against my hammer head gets it back in order quick.
I usually break 2-3 tips a season of hard use. Doesnt cost much to make them and repair them. I just get a buddy to turn them all down on a lathe to the right diameter once again. Get a bunch done at the same time.I use the same rods over and over until they get too short to drive the length needed.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 10, 2010 18:32:48 GMT -6
The cable never breaks it is pulled from the double ferrule due to the exertion put on it during very hard pull outs.I dont think it is a bad percentage considering how many traps I am pulling and restaking in the course of a season.I think you would like them Todd. I think like Ron Marsh suggested. Adding on an additional stop on the lose cable might reduce this from occurring. There will be some you wont want to pull them out as they are in too good or into rock, roots etc. Those I just open the J hook and leave it in the ground.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 10, 2010 9:36:25 GMT -6
Changing ground, elevations, farm to farm, ranch to ranch the terrain differs greatly at times particularly those that travel to different states. One must have some alternatives to anchoring to keep things working in a productive manner.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 10, 2010 9:08:28 GMT -6
I used the original berkshires for a week then pulled that line and most if not all bent in half during the pulling process. I straightened them the best I could and reused some then I stopped using them a long time ago. After a few uses and in some hard ground one use I had many I blew the bottom out so they just didnt meet my abusive nature on my line.
The tubing stake just needs the plug cleaned out by a hand held bit with a T welded on it for twisting out the plugs or use a 1/4" bit and drill them out for cleaning.I carry a drill for augering my dirt holes anyways .These little stakes are quite durable.You get an occasional one that gets driven into a rock and distorts the end somewhat but it can in most cases be drilled out and put back into commission once again.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 10, 2010 8:44:31 GMT -6
John Epler sells these stakes also. Some of his drivers arent very durable that I have had in the past.Some come with replacable screw in tips.I have mine made at a machine shop all in one piece. They are more durable in my opinion.
I am sure if you pilot your holes like I don't do, you would have far fewer issues. They drive nicely in most cases. you will bend and snap weld nuts off once in a while on those stakes that didnt get good penetration between the nut and pipe piece. But not too often do I have that happen.
If you can get a good case hardened steel rod of the right diameter and weld a good grade 8 nut to the driving end of your pilot driver you will be good to go for a long time I would think.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 10, 2010 6:36:12 GMT -6
Like I said before with any staking system such as this or another cable anchoring system you will need several drivers and spare stakes on hand if you are running alot of traps and multiple lines set, pulled and reset. Just the nature of the beast.
I carry very few rebar any more but there are conditions that you will encounter that will require alternative measures.Drags, extension cable tie offs,immediate area material drags constructed on sight etc. all will be needed in time the longer you trap. You will learn to make due without sacrificing a good location.
I bend many drivers in a season that is why I have a few dozen of them. You can only bend them back to straighten them so many times and they will eventually snap off.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 9, 2010 17:18:59 GMT -6
Here is a photo of the staking system that I have used for the ages and one of my pullers.
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Post by Bob Jameson on Dec 4, 2010 14:07:09 GMT -6
Pulling a 100 trap line or so I will pop 8 to 10% or so. Some I know are 30 years old that are still in use, others are newer I made and some bought as many have copied them over the years.The early years I didnt have a crimper or know of them. Just hammered them as you do.I have had both methods of ferrule closure pop in the right conditions.
I am not sure how to post photos on here. I can post pics on Tman but have tried on here without success.
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