For those who enjoy my trapping pics... today's gray fox

What do I need to catch Coyotes? I have three or four packs and have not seen a single deer this year. I usually kill three or four deer by Turkey day. Its bad... really bad... Alabama DNR kept them protected until we were over run. Our government at its finest.

 

Muzzy, I'm out running around town right now ... When I get back to my home office I'll give you a rundown of everything you'd need to get going.

 

PM sent Muzzy.

 

Thanks... got it. More to it than I thought. I also read up on the Alabama Game Laws concerning trapping. The 4coil trap you suggested looks pretty strong. I don't imagine a coyote hide from Alabama would be worth much?

 

It's extremely strong.

My guess is your yotes are worth about what ours are... next to nothing. I'd bet you might could get $7 or so for them. Trappers aren't in it for the money; I assure you.

Now, if you lived way out West or up North... I'd be trapping cats like a fool; they can bring upwards of $350 each -- but their fur, when prime, doesn't look anything like our fur at the same stage.

 

Cool pics as usual Greg...

But when you do catch a "non-target" animal, how do you release them, without getting mauled?

 

I have a catch pole with me... serves two purposes: it's the preferred method for putting down cats, and it's invaluable in assisting with what you asked about. A catch pole is a six-foot long or so piece of PVC with polyurethane-coated 1/4" cabling ran through it with a loop formed at the end. You can cinch it down and you have to release it via a spring stop at the rear.

One of the last raccoons I caught just needed to grow some more. Slipped the noose around its neck, tightened it about as tight as a dog's collar, held it down to the ground, quickly opened the trap, freed its paw and then opened the loop for him. He scampered away totally unharmed and I was too. Catch poles are great.

 

So when you catch a bobcat, the basically put it in a choke hold with your catch pole? You don't dispatch it with a .22 because the fur is so much more valuable?

 

Those catch poles are exactly what I use for bowfishing! Made my own but use uncoated ss cables for a better bite. Slip it behind the gills pull noose tight and pull it over the side of the boat. Only necessary for really, really big fish where gaffing is impractical (gator gar or HUGE Asian carp)...plus they are fun to mess with! Lol

I'd love to trap but don't have the dedication or patience for it. Love the pics tho!

 

I was about 15 or so when I caught my first and so far, only dog. It was a big german shepard mix. I had no choke stick with me (the un-politically correct term for a 'catch pole' ). So I had to kneel down right in front of the dog's face and depress the springs on the trap that was holding his front paw. Happily he just stood there and wagged his tail at me. After I let him out, he followed me around on the rest of the line.

Any cat (feral or housecat) that I've caught in a foottrap, I've released also... even tho' I think only one was a pet. The rest were strays based on appearance, behavior and location. But I'm a softy for cats so I let them go. The one that was a pet, ran up and stood on my shoulders after I let it out of the trap. It was still almost a kitten and you could tell that it clearly didn't trust the ground in the area where that trap was. I let it stand on my shoulders until we got up onto an old road and then it happily scampered off.



I feel bad for the guys who have to release mountain lions, bobcats and otters. Talk about a challenge.

 

Great thread Greg !! Best of luck on the tapline !!

Tim

 

Cole, it really doesn't have anything to do with the fur being more valuable, but that cats go down so easy with a catch pole and you don't have to worry about getting blood on the fur. I'd love to dispatch everything with a catch pole, but fox and yotes don't choke nearly as easily.

 

Great pictures, as a former trapper I enjoy seeing them. Unless you have trapped before some will not understand. If trapping is ever banned, bowhunting is next.

We are all in this together!!!

 

I usually don't engage in this type of stuff, but the ironic thing is that when I used to trap......we got called to trap coyotes several times that had killed and injured peoples dogs and other pets. Growing up in a vet clinic, I've also seen dozens of pets that had awful injuries from predators.

Trapping when done correctly is one of the most effective means of controlling populations of predators. The only thing I know of that's more effective is running them with dogs and killing them when they bay. I'm not a fan of running them with dogs, but if it's legal in your area and if you enjoy it I'm not going to judge people for it. Just MHO.

 

My dad trapped quite a bit when I was a kid and I really see no problem with it as a whole. It's certainly not my favorite thing in the world, but I understand it needs to be done and fully support the trapper's right to do it. To each their own.

However, I just don't see the value of taking pictures of the animal while still alive to post online. Especially with the kids in the background. The animal, while not suffering, surely isn't having a very good time and is seconds away from probably being choked to death. IMO putting it out of it's misery quickly and safely would be first on my agenda, followed thereafter by photos.

Atlas - as for your comments about the dog. Probably some of your most ignorant yet. Well done.

 

Bout to put out my yearly line myself. Going to be longer and more traps than ever. Trapping is really something. This will be my third year.

Nice pics Greg. I saw a nice red twice on the opener of rifle and plan a set somewhere close

 

Now your talking my language! :D

 

Pretty cool, Greg. I always look forward to these posts.

I honestly think I would have a difficult time choking an animal to death but understand it is the preferred method. I shot a fox last year and discovered it was not dead when I got to it ten minutes later (still calling to other foxes and didn't realize it was still alive.) I tried choking it with a rope and the experience was horrible. I'm sure the choke pole would work better than the method I used.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

Yep, don't choke canines... cats go out in a blink, not so with everything else.

 

I am fascinated with this subject .... my nephew Adam, who is stationed in Alaska, has started trapping .... he has been home for a few weeks on leave and I shared this thread with him. We are going to start running lines when he gets discharged next September .... I can't wait