Sunday, November 10, 2013

Year 30...Here we go...

Well, started out the day today a little under the weather.  ...but it wasn't enough to miss an opening day.  Thus far, only got out some fox sets and some weasel boxes, but enjoyed all of it.  There's lots of season to go, and it'd be nice to have some dang snow.  Setting for fox without snow brought me back to the days of burying traps in dirt.  I think this is the first time I have EVER carried my sifter and Trapper's Cap with me since coming to Alaska.  Many times I have wondered why I keep them around, as I have gotten used to trapping in snow exclusively.  Today I got to 'dust them off', and it was kind of fun.

Here's some shots I took of our Weasel crew:  Jason, Warren, and Cooper.  It was blowing and blowing COLD.

And here's one of a set location -  behind some sheet metal leaned up against the back wall of a fish camp shed:

And another of the boys...with the not-yet-frozen Yukon in back:

And here's one example of today's fox sets made in dirt/chaff.  We'll see how frozen these sets are in the morning, with all the rain/sleet we've been seeing.  heh heh....


The set location with the trap bed chipped out.

Another, closer.  I like to keep the bed as close to exactly the size of the trap as I can when doing the 'dirt' thing.  Using buckwheat hulls or dry dirt back in PA was the same way - as passed on to me by Pappy. :)

Trap in place.  Put the Trapper's Cap over the pan and sift away, careful not to get junk underneath it so it can travel freely.

And the covered set.  Call lure smeared on tree about six feet up.  Lure and stick in the hole.  Chain buried back underneath where the trees come together, wire goes from there up under the mossy clump in the V-notch and wraps up and around trunk on right.  These fox don't have nearly the phobia of wire that those PA or even WA fox did.  Less pressure does those sorts of favors for you.  Until I see a refusal I can pin on it, I'm not changing things up either.  That said, my wire has no scent on it, just in case. :)  Pan is offset to the right here based on approach, which is not readily discernible from these iphone pics - but, steps have been taken. :)  If they don't get caked with sleet or rain, they have a prayer, though of course the second-day-burn-off is likely in order, so we'll see how these first couple do.  Was a great day either way.  The first time Warren walks up to a bouncing red ball of fur with me is going to steal my show...



Saturday, November 9, 2013

Trapping....Year 30...




The writing on the back of this polaroid just says one thing...  " '83 " .    I can still picture every inch of this field in my mind's eye - back on the Schoonmakers' farm.  Many times I chased fireflies in that field, or chased Dad around with walnuts in one of our heated battles.  Not very far from that spot I had my first ever encounter with a buck, bow in hand, when I was just about twice as old as I am in this picture.  That number, 83, makes this thirty years now of digging in the dirt and snow.  From fox to coon to possums to lynx to marten...its been a heck of a journey.  There is something about trapping that gets into your blood.  Here, on the eve of opening day, here in my thirtieth year of setting steel, I am looking outside at the absolutely horrible conditions - blowing rain, ready to freeze -  and smiling with anticipation.  Because I know that no matter what, regardless of the weather, I will be out there tomorrow, making sets.  Whether those first sets of the year endure the weather and connect or not really doesn't change a thing.  Trapping is something I do, and love.  You have to love it.  If you don't, all that's left is just plain work.  It has become such a part of me that I cannot imagine going through Fall and Winter without it anymore.  After all, it's been a part of me for far longer than not.  Tight Chains to all of you setting steel tomorrow.  I'll be out there with you.