Trapping - The Years of the Cat

Jason Pence posted on January 27, 2006 01:11 :: 3752 Views

The activity of trapping has run a wide circle in the history of the United States. In years gone by it was a means to obtain clothing and eventually became a primary economic driver of the frontier. In this century trapping has gone from a family endeavor and hobby that could make a few dollars to a pursuit that in recent times attracts the extreme wrath of some animal rights groups. In the words of Bob Dylan, “Oh the times, they are a changing”.

I have not trapped animals in over twenty years. However, I do have fond memories of Christmas breaks from school spent trapping with my grandfather. The draw to a kid in junior or senior high is easy to see. A love for the outdoors coupled with the challenge of matching wits with an intelligent animal, that has exceptional survival instincts, was a natural.

In those days good local raccoon pelts sold for about $25.00, beaver $25.00, mink $30.00, fox $35.00, coyotes $40.00,and bobcats around $100.00, even the lowly opossum often fetched up to $5.00. A successful two week Christmas break trap line could fund lots of gas, pizza, movies, and outdoor pursuits for a focused teenager in the late 70’s and early 80’s.

I was fortunate enough to often trap with my grandfather. He was a master trapper, hunter, and outdoorsman in every sense of those words. He believed that the ability to target a specific intelligent animal and influence that animal to place its foot on the one square inch of all creation you wanted it to was an ultimate challenge. He often showed me a set he had made for a specific animal and would then also tell me exactly with which foot he would catch that animal. The vast majority of the time he was correct.

One of the most important elements needed to be successful was the insight to think like the animal you were after. The ability to view the world through the eyes and responses of the target species was essential to success. The possessing of skills that can read predator and prey tracks is important, but in his words, “Moving from the track to the trail was more important”. In short that means cultivating the ability to read animal sign and to translate that sign into what the animal’s intents and thinking were. A step beyond that is to then predict with certainty what the animal will do next and why it will do so.

Preparation for trapping began in the summer. Traps had to be dyes and waxed. Baits and lures had to be prepared. Lures and baits come in three main types. One is a food base that draws on an animals feeding drive. A second would be matrix bases that appeal to the reproductive urges. The third is curiosity lures. A good example of curiosity lures might be catnip based paste that was used to attract bobcats. In summer I would float a flat bottom boat down one of the area creeks and gig a stringer full of carp to use as a component for food based baits.

The most lucrative of pelts we had available at that time was that of the bobcat. They were often targeted for that very reason. Many family members and neighbors raised turkeys or chickens and often had birds killed by bobcats or other predators. They were only too thankful for us to catch animals from their farms.

Three types of traps were normally used. The first was a coil spring trap that closed by the power of compressed metal coils. A second was the long spring that derived its strength from v shaped metal springs on each end. Both had strengths, weaknesses, and applications where they excelled. A third trap was the live box trap. If there were any chance of accidentally catching a domestic animal the live box trap was opted for. It allowed you to catch an animal totally unharmed in a wire cage. If you caught Aunt Millie’s cat Tuffy then you simply opened the door and let him out. He had a great meal, a nice nap, and was none the worse for wear. We made our own box traps with mechanisms that allowed the door to close more quickly than any commercial model of the day.

The ability to make a good chunk of change over Christmas break, spend time with a Grandparent I admired, and learn the life rhythms and habits of the creatures that lived around me were all a teenage boy could ask for. The great respect I gained for the animals we pursued never leaves.

The days of trapping may well have seen their setting sun here in the lower 48. I suppose time will tell. The memories of time with family, love for creation, commitment to conservation so my children may enjoy it also, these are the permanent things I walked away with. Although they may well never happen again in my life, I am thankful for a Grandfather who helped me grow up in “The Years Of The Cat”.

Connecting With The Outdoors,
Jason “The Fisher” Pence

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Posted in: Learn How to Hunt

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