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Post by trappnman on May 6, 2016 13:07:15 GMT -6
Do you want 3 pounds of hamburger or do you need 6 pounds? Two big onions or 4 big onions? One quart of skunk juice, or 2?
yet- in mixing ink, I can get the exact color when mixing in small quantities (grams worth) far easier vs when it needs 2 lbs
and look at bulk in another way- in a drum, would the inner stud have the same chemical balance as the outer (temp difference, whatever)
perhaps the variations in lures reported here- could be explained by just that?
IDK
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Post by trappnman on May 6, 2016 6:44:33 GMT -6
I love this time of year for many reasons- and one of them applies to coyote trapping.
At no other time during the year, can you see (in a macro sense) the lay of the land.
with all the fields bare ground, you can see how everything connects, where likely denning locations are, where layout cover and travelways occur. You can see how the landscape interlocks if you will.
During fall, everything blends in, and vision for distance is eliminated.
and why this is important in farm country, is that what is now bare and open ground, will be barriers and obstacles for most of the summer, and the layup/habitat areas will be quite clear not only on their own, but in relationship to each other.
prevents me from setting up isolated areas that "might" have a coyote but in reality how you are setting up in effect on an island.
and another factor- is now I know WHAT is going to planted- what is going to be old hay, and new seeding and most importantly what is corn or beans. (beans good, corn no)
anyone else do similar?
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Post by trappnman on May 6, 2016 6:34:14 GMT -6
an interesting question is does the lure hold consistency better if made in small batches, or large batches?
does making a gal of lure, with measurements small and precise, have a batch come out different than if one used a 55 gal drum and put ingredients in in large amounts?
I'd make a bet, that on 90% of all lures, if 100 bottle were sold, it would be a good year. Obvious exceptions to that of course.
one thing I note, is that it seems like the more fur someone traps, the less the rely on store bought lures. For example- try to sell beaver lure to someone that traps a couple hundred beaver- or traps 500 rats, etc. Most of those people, IMO, tend to have a lure or two they make, and that's their go to lure. Same with coon.
Some, like me are exceptions- I hate making lures, and haven't made my own for decades, or even dabbled in it. I don't want the bother, or the experimentation. Stef once told me that when someone asked him- how do you get a good lure- he replyed "by dumping lots of lure down the drain".
And I suspect that's true of most lure makers.
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Post by trappnman on May 5, 2016 6:15:34 GMT -6
guessing the drum is for urine?
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Post by trappnman on May 3, 2016 7:09:06 GMT -6
I've never understood why some claim to want a non digging reaction to a lure. To me, that means a lure that they really want- want it so much they take the time and effort to dig it out.
I've also come more and more to the thought that sticks, or lure holders etc, unless one truly digs every hole 12+" deep- its so very easy for a coyote to fish that stick or holder out of the hole- which is why we tend to smear the lure into the hole, and either take the stick (we use popsicle sticks) away, or push it deep into the backing
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Post by trappnman on Apr 29, 2016 13:16:59 GMT -6
I agree with much of what you posted.
and while I agree that there are going to be slight variations from batch to batch, the proof of a lures success is, to me, being able to duplicate that lure time after time, keeping the "being" of that lure, with the variations being in the undertones if at all. And while I too have done nothing beyond dabble in simple lures decades ago, I know that in other chemical endeavors that the order of ingredients, length of time etc are important.
I had a friend who makes weasel lure, from real glands- bring me up a competitors jar and asked me to smell- it smelled nothing like weasel, and then smelled his jar and the weasel leaped out at me. And as never says- skunk essence that doesn't smell of skunk? I mean, I'm a simple guy.....but.
Over the past 20 years, I've bought very few lures. I've been given many to try, but usually follow a line that has been proven to me. If someone I respect as a coyote trapper tells me to try something- I usually do. And I always have success.
Never, you scent test aka Charlie Dobbins, and I commend you for it. I'm not so sure in my mind, how transferable it is to have a test hole, with a singular scent going from it next to 1 or 2 similar- I suspect that the addition of a dirt hole, or visuals might have an impact of scent reactions, but I don't know.
going back to using lures that others have success on, I have to say I've not found that to be the case. one exception is rat lure, to the day I die I'll contend I'll catch the same rats, just as fast, using no lure or bait (have to qualify in fall/winter, never spring trapped)but other than that- if someone says- "this lure really slays the coyotes" I find it to be true. But again, I seldom try lures that aren't highly recommended.
go to a trapping convention, there are hundreds of lures to buy- I have trappers smell the lures, some not- and often hear "why smell, I'm not a coyote"
I'm one who smells a lure, and while I'm not a coyote, I know what I like in a lure. I like skunky call lures, and I like call and/or food lures that have some sort of sweet tang to them- give me those smells, and I know I'll do well on them.
and dang it I like stuff loud- not saying there isn't a place or time for subtle, but overall I want STRONG- which means carrying power.
Whew-
any comments?
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Post by trappnman on Apr 27, 2016 8:14:08 GMT -6
today last day on gophers- been thinking about this for a spell- both specifically to the issue you bring up, and lures in general. stay tuned.
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Post by trappnman on Apr 25, 2016 6:51:59 GMT -6
15 st days- tires one out for sure. We have been very lucky, even with 4 days of spotty rain, were able to get out every day. Yesterday, drips off and on, decided to go pull 2 farms (suppose to be rain most of this week) before the rain- as we left town it started pouring, got out of the river valley and up in the hill maybe 8 miles from home- never rained a drop. Suppose to be raining all day today ,but right now partly cloudy and we might miss it.
We got it down now to 3 pastures to set up to hopefully set up today in a 1 and done- if we can, then next time we should be able to get last farm set up, and then DONE until they start chopping around May 22. Then it gets easier, we always have a farm or three with hay up to do. This first rush is so time intensive, that I have zero time to work on projects . Got Loris bike done for spring (new tire, chain, etc) and mine as well- but just fired mine up, haven't had time to ride anywhere.
Still having that problem of 1 or 2 a day, the trigger wires bind on the cinches (if it really pisses me off for whatever reason). Tried everything so if anyone reading this has a solution, please share
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Post by trappnman on Apr 24, 2016 6:13:05 GMT -6
someday, I have this dream- the dream is yo uwil lactually recognize what a fact is, and what a fact is not.
and a non fact, repeated over and over- is still NOT a fact-
but here is a fact for you- the ONLY time the 2nd has been to the SC to decide if it applied to ONLY militias, and not private citizens, was done under the LAST GOP president- and Bush's justice dept argued, to the SC, that the 2nd was meant to apply ONLY to "organized militias"
thank god the REPUBLICANS didn't get their way
so are so lose with the facts- that I was willing to bet $20 on every statement either of us made to be paid if it was a lie-
YOU declined- and trust me, I understand why- your wife wouldn't like all the money you would be sending to Minnesota.
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Post by trappnman on Apr 24, 2016 6:08:27 GMT -6
TC- if you want to sound like you know what is going on, then you MUST read further than just the headline.
1) United came to the table last
2) as such, they got the most "uninsured" ie the ones with real health care problems (do I need to elaborate or do you get this?)
3)United is the SMALLEST insurer under the program
and just for the record, since it will be like the roof to you: the biggest problem with HC, is it is NOT a single payer system
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Post by trappnman on Apr 22, 2016 6:12:36 GMT -6
explain? sure= people like you yelling the sky is falling, the sky is falling for 8 years.
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Post by trappnman on Apr 21, 2016 7:48:01 GMT -6
wow- that's a lot of sap-
seems like the buckets here in town weren't up very long compared to other years
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Post by trappnman on Apr 21, 2016 7:46:57 GMT -6
how hard is it to understand, that guns are a urban vs rural issue?
THATSA the lesson we all need to understand- ESP when both parties have been for/against guns depending on the person- and while TC looks to little cuts as the ultimate- anyone with any form of logic and common sense, can see that it wasn't the left that tried to DESTROY the 2nd FOREVER
its not something to sweep under the rug- if Bush and his justice team had been successful- the 2nd WOULD NO LONGER APPLY TO INDIVIDUALS
its NOT something to pooh pooh as TC does- that was the LAST GOP president who took that route.
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Post by trappnman on Apr 20, 2016 7:37:21 GMT -6
everything is ahead of schedule- right now crocuses done, daffodils and hyacinths been blooming 3 weeks or so, miniature iris in full bloom and tulips just starting to open. the Brunia is flowering, as are the jonquils. Everything else looks good and came through the winter just fine.
Lilacs in bud- so morels must be close
Talked to Roy in UP last week, still had snow-
so- how IS your garden growing?
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Post by trappnman on Apr 20, 2016 6:16:00 GMT -6
I don't know- haven't talked to Mark lately.
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Post by trappnman on Apr 19, 2016 9:03:56 GMT -6
the farms we have been on, badger, badger everywhere. they are more in the fields now cause few mice, shrews, carrion so gophers are it
rainy night, will be going out shortly and do what we can- the next 4-6 days are going to be busy- hard to schedule it when everyone wants you there now! hope this is end of it (rain), a few days off and I won't catch up
I keep having a problem, 1 or 2 a day, where the trigger arms catch on each other, and trap doesn't fire. Its' always the wire that goes to the direct trigger, that somehow twists the next wire so it binds halfway up. I've tinkered and tried various positions, but still here or there and would be curious if anyone else has this issue, and if so what solution
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Post by trappnman on Apr 17, 2016 6:23:01 GMT -6
it looks like the Mississippi border counties have pocket gophers- even their own subspecies this link shows range en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plains_pocket_gophersame here back in the day Bryce- I think we got $.25 bounty, and $.05 on streakies (local term for 13 striped). I do get $.10 on streakies in a few townships. and the farmers never paid us. But back then, time was available, and farmers and more likely farm kids, kept the gophers down- today, time is at a premium and there are very few others tapping gophers- I do see a stake out here and there, mostly a farmer trapping his 1 or 2. Hydrous kills them, but many farmers here don't like it on rotated ground
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Post by trappnman on Apr 16, 2016 6:06:40 GMT -6
Mark wanted to do one last year, but the timing never worked out
our best year we got around 3300 gophers
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Post by trappnman on Apr 15, 2016 7:47:30 GMT -6
you read that right Mike- these are pocket gophers- about the size of a hamster, with cheek pouches on either side of their mouth (the "pockets") in which they carry grass, roots, etc. I've often seen these pouches packed with grass.
They dig large tunnel systems under ground, bringing the dirt to the surface and depositing it into large mounds. They are always expanding, and can make many new mounds over a night, and a working gopher can leave 30-30+ mounds- and since most of these are in lawns and hayfields, the mounds make mowing and haying harder
imagine cutting hay with hundreds of these dirt mounds. And they bred like rats- early litters have litters, and adults have 2 much of the time. It is impossible to get rid of them, but you can keep them under control.
this is the crazy time- everyone wants you there, NOW- and its about a 3 week period until hay is too tall. Then its wait to May 22 or so and the choppers start (and then for them its every 5 weeks on the calendar) then the ones that bale start- so it becomes more staggered, with always having a few farms ready to go. and milkers cut before beef guys do.
I charge the farmers $4, and I keep the feet for bounty (the front feet are clawed almost like a muskrats front feet)and get from $1.50 to $2.50 from the townships in bounty.
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Post by trappnman on Apr 13, 2016 8:30:11 GMT -6
finished up with the motorcycles (old iron needs TLC each spring) Monday, packed the truck for gophers to start yesterday, bought new traps, new stakes, heck even a new trowel to start off-
farmers calling now that its dry enough to get out (saw a lot of guys out in fields yesterday that's for sure) and to put me off schedule, one called Monday, a guy that has a bunch of big paddocks in addition to lots of hay saying the cows would be out of all paddocks this week, could I possibly hit them. Last year was first year for this farm , an organic farm, and I took 700+ gophers off last year- but the pastures were allowing gophers to move to the hay- so wanted this opportunity so agreed-
set out yesterday morning, got literally 100 yards from home and a clattering noise from rear of truck. Turns out it was muffler hitting driveshaft, and that occurred because of a broken leaf spring. Dang it gopher trapping is hard on vehicles- had a spring break in the Nissan, 3 on 2 different F-150s, in the Chevy Silverado, and now this is 2nd on Ranger.
All those tuff truck tests- gopher trap for a season and then tell me how "tuff" they are- hey, maybe I could be sponsored by some truck company bahahaha!
anyhoo- got truck to my guy (he lives 3 blocks away), unloaded it and loaded up the Suburban and set up the pastures, plus another farm. Grandpa was tired last night!
in any case, the season is upon us, and looking at a week at least of upper 60s-mid 70s and DRY-
anyone else after gophers yet?
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