It feels like my 4 year old's preschool will inevitably be cancelled in the coming weeks. I figured I'd grab some traps to keep us busy through the winter now that deer season is winding down. He goes to a nature/outside orientated preschool and is not going to take to being cooped up all winter well if his school is shut down. We will mostly be targeting mink and rats in the swamp and creek behind my folks, but will be making a couple sets for coyotes as we had a handful on cameras this year. The place is covered up with racoons as well. I've already secured permission on a couple other places to fall back on in a month or so if we need it, as well as a ton of state ground about 20 minutes away.
I went over to my grandma's to see what was left of my grandfathers stuff but it was all pretty decrepit. Ended up with his fleshing knife, beam and some stretchers. I ordered a dozen 1-1/2 footholds, a dozen 110 coni's, and a half dozen Bridger dogless #2's, and was given a half dozen of the dogproof coon traps. Traps will be here tomorrow, and we'll spend the afternoon degreasing. Hopefully be dyeing, waxing, and getting some sets in the dirt/water this weekend. I read about spritzing the cleaned traps with vinegar to speed up the rusting so we may give that a shot tomorrow night.
Any tips or tricks, or overlooked things/suggestions would be appreciated. Bait/lure recommendations as well?
I'll try to keep this thread updated as we progress through our first season. He's pretty excited but has a strong concern about his fingers after I set off a foothold for him and had a talk about the dangers of them.
I went over to my grandma's to see what was left of my grandfathers stuff but it was all pretty decrepit. Ended up with his fleshing knife, beam and some stretchers. I ordered a dozen 1-1/2 footholds, a dozen 110 coni's, and a half dozen Bridger dogless #2's, and was given a half dozen of the dogproof coon traps. Traps will be here tomorrow, and we'll spend the afternoon degreasing. Hopefully be dyeing, waxing, and getting some sets in the dirt/water this weekend. I read about spritzing the cleaned traps with vinegar to speed up the rusting so we may give that a shot tomorrow night.
Any tips or tricks, or overlooked things/suggestions would be appreciated. Bait/lure recommendations as well?
I'll try to keep this thread updated as we progress through our first season. He's pretty excited but has a strong concern about his fingers after I set off a foothold for him and had a talk about the dangers of them.