hard to believe its mid august!

[trappnman]

the summer has just gotten away from me-

lots of things going on here this past 6 weeks, little time for thinking of trapping, but I NEED to do so

I do have about 1/2 of my dirt dried and stored, but that's about the extent of things

next week, its trap week- always the most time consuming or perhaps should say most labor extensive chore-

and still left to do-

cut screens
get peat moss
run lines to chat with farmers, etc

truck is going in Friday to get some work done, tires on schedule when that's complete


fur prices might or might not be a disappointment, but I'm going to hit it as hard as I can, and if nothing else, if I lose a penny on every pelt, hopefully I can make it up in volume

but so far, going into season in good shape with no major floods this spring or summer, creeks that were bare bank fr4om either floods, or later flood control last fall, should be covered with vegetation, we had a decent spring, so early canine litters should be in better shape than last year ( a dismally small % of YOY last fall) and I've been seeing a slow resurgence of coon this summer

thanksgiving is later again this year- so will get in a full 6 weeks on canines

2 months from today, I'll be skinning coyotes....

once again, can't wait!

is everyone else ready, or in the same boat I'm in?

[RonMarsh]

It seems like just a few have started. Still slow in the sales shop. I have been busy making tools getting ready for the convention runs. I hope to not get caught short again. NOT ready but working it.

[musher]

I finished my waxed sand last week. I have one truck line all checked out for marten box damage. I checked another line for my canid sliders only to find them all messed up due to the widening of the road.

We are finally getting a few days of rain. Once that clears, I'll be going back out to fix those sliders and check more marten boxes.

Traps are ready to go.

[blackhammer]

Summer has went super fast. The late winter I suppose makes it seem that way. Been the nicest cool summer I can remember. We could use a good shot of rain though. I get a feeling a replay of last winter is on the way. Got new permissions to work on , a little trap work but most important a plan as to what I'm going to do. Getting anxious to see how animal populations are and hope to incorporate a little more intense scouting in my preseason work. Getting excited for another season as usual I guess. My best year yet on the horizon. lol

[leghorn]

i been tuning traps for a few months , a few at a time , got things ready with the exception of ordering more trap tags and a few other odds and ends . its going to be a great year . its been real hot here all summer , come on winter . lol hope everyone has an outstanding season .

[skidway]

All set.

[primitiveman]

Still have a lot of trap work/prep to do...been spending a pile of time on web mapping looking for new locations....have a list of 25 new properties....have asked three....one yes/two no. I'm not so concerned about the no's, but I'm getting more and more "well can you show me how" or "can I ride along with you a few times." Unfortunately letting a guy tag along cost me a 700 acre farm (for those of you from Wisconsin a 700 acre track is pretty good chunk of land). Have trapped the property two years....last year the guy wanted to "tag along." This year he's gonna "give that coyote trappin thing a whirl on my own" because he's been reading a bit and thinks he has it figured out. Asked me what to use for bait....what size trap he should use. Told him "hell you went with me last year on the place, should be a no brainer....anything else, check the books you have.

Just have mixed feelings about "instructing" others too close to home if you know what I mean....this time came back to bite me to the tune of 700 acres.

[trappnman]

I get that as well- and my policy now is I do;t take anyone along, that could be considered local in any way

did make some progress yesterday- bought 8 bales of peat, and 2 rolls of screen- now Monday (if it doesn't rain) I'll start on traps. but do have some farms to set up..

oh well, as my dad used to say "chickens today, feathers tomorrow.."

[musher]

Checked another truck line yesterday. Only had one marten box to replace (squirrels) and a couple to reinstall due to bears. A grader did a number on a bunch of my slider wires for footholds. I had to remake a good ten of them. I did find all my stakes except one, though.

Saw a young female moose, a tailless grouse, and a black blob way up a popular tree. Thought it was a young bear only to find out that it was a huge porky.

It was a very wet day but at least it wasn't too hot.

[leghorn]

I have some old ground meat in the freezer. thought i'd make some bait out of it . How much sodium benzoate does it take to preserve about 1 gallon of meat ? thanks .