lets see some pics-

[trappnman]

a farmer once told me- I wouldn't mind badgers if they weren't so poor hunters.

meaning that while they eat gophers, they make a huge mess while doing so. I don't know if they hear the gophers or smell them or both- but in digging up a gopher its not uncommon to dig a doz or more holes in the attempt- plus badgers are nomadic- having a permanent den, but throughout their travels they dig multiple temp dens.

yes, a real problem in pastures or fields

I really believe that coyotes are as much of or more a point or edge animal as is a mink

[trappincoyotes39]

Musher some guys do like to have badgers around, but them having the ability to do any real job of controlling gophers or prairie dogs to any degree is just not there.

If you go out in January around prairie dog towns and set using a good skunky loud lure badgers are easy to come by, they also love to lay claim to,road kill deer and will dig them a spot right under the carcass and lay claim to them, some think they are looking at mt lion activity LOL.

Good dead piles that have been established another great spot to find a good population of badgers as well. A good prime badger pelt is some really great fur.

In the west in the dead of winter you will come along a spot in the middle of a gravel road they fresh dug, they are amazing with their ability to dig, very strong shoulder muscles and built like a dozer LOL.

[trappnman]

no one likes badgers here- hay gets baled, and the holes are a problem, I've broken 5-6 leaf springs over the past few decades, from badger holes

they are good hunters insofar as killing gophers- its a matter of too few badgers, too many gophers plus the fact that here, they are just so nomadic that they are never in one place long enough to do much good

[braveheart]

They are thick this year the badger I catch 1 every check one day 3.Had a hay field gophers dug mounds and buried both traps never had that happen ever.

[trappnman]

I've found that I can't set close to gopher mounds, or 9 times out of 10, they dig into and plug my hole

[jim]

Usually when I let one go and they go back into the excavation they are gone the next day. One this year didn't come out until the third day. Had the hole plugged up behind himself. I wonder how deep he dug, guess I could still go back and try and find out.

Jim

[trappnman]

another today- this loop is been 1 every other day or so. You can't keep them in MI Jim?

[jim]

We can keep one. A few years ago we had to tag them now still only one but no tagging. I can always sell one for a wall hanger only because of the front claws.

Jim

[trappnman]

I sell mine whole, my guy either uses them in mounts, or makes little "bearskin" rugs out of them

[lumberjack]

Im no canine trapper by any stretch Steve, but it looks like you have sets in high grass in many of the photos when a foot or so out you could make one in low grass. What is the reason for this if I may ask?

[trappnman]

if I'm setting in high grass- its because I have no choice. I absolutely hate setting in high grass.

sometimes I have no choice.

like that red fox in high grass- usually this waterway is baled late, but this year 2 wet- so thus the high grass. picked corn everywhere around.

most times even in high grass if forced, will set in a bare spot.

given a choice-

1st choice is beanfields

2nd is short hay

[fishertrapper]

[natedawg]

Fishertrapper, what features make you decide on where to set for the fisher? Are there any sort of trails or 2-track running near your sets that the fisher follow?

I know nothing about fisher trapping, never even seen country like that. Just curious in thick woods like that how you pick out locations, particularly where there is no snow to see tracks.

[fishertrapper]

Good locations is the more important things for fisher trapping , you have to put a lot of gas in your truck I work with google earth to find the transition between two type of wood they travel just on the lines,,, i m a deer and moose hunter too So i find natural place where they don t have no choice too pass by ,,,between two lake,,,road .. Big montain of rocks ,,, beaver dam, ..old or new one
not this year but normally i m trapping mink ,so i stop at every little creek
In the begining of season they hunt gray and black squirrel..so a trap more in hard wood ,, old forrest with big pine trees are the best,,, Some year when the food is not very abbondant they are concentrate,, some year they can be like fantom,,,a line can give me 10 fisher one year ,,,and 50 the year after... With adult??
I m trapping with pole set To avoid trap robber and to
Check trap from my truck ,,,i m putting 1-3 pole set each place ,, sometime 1 each side of the road Or a line with 100 feet between pole So if a trap close with a coon or others critters Others traps still work Sometime it take 3 days ,,,or 3 months!! Im patient
For bait .. Beaver,,muskrat,mink..coon i d ont care ... A refusal its a refusal no mater for bait or lure or pole set or cubby Sometime one fisher refuse one pole and get caugh in the other 100feet away,,, the tree i m using never touch another tree ,,the fisher will stole the bait whitout being caugh..
one of the best video on fisher trapping is; fisher trapping by Bob noonan,the book also where i m trapping its like the forest of maine ,,adirondack mountain ,

[trappnman]

winding things down- just running a few traps close to home- places where I know I can get into if things turn bad quick-

pleated woodpeckers - used to be rare, never saw any, just heard thme once I na whilke or saw their holes- but last decade fairly common- but first one I've had a feeder here in town

[RdFx]

Nice pics Steve, Ive Pileated WP coming into my suet and peanut butter feeders every winter for the last two years. They sure make Hairy and Downy WPs look small. Always recognize their calls and their up and down flight patterns even when silhouetted.

[wally]

[trappnman]

nice- with all those spots we can see- I bet the belly is fantastic

[wally]

[wally]

The first cat I actually let go, not enough fur but it was very well spotted, I hope I can catch him again in a month or so