Question for trappers

[Mixbaghunter]

Ok we have about a month and half to the opener. I skipped last year with fur not selling and I really miss trapping.so my question is I have some spots where I think I can pick I up some coons and maybe some mink is it worth trapping coons this year I do not want to trap animals that won't sell. And what are your plans for this year. On a side note seeing more coon pic on my training look camera then before. I think if we don't trap them then we are going to be over run with sickness

Thanks on your thoughts

[rgw]

coon will be at or below last years price, if your going to trap them wait till dec. when they will be prime and try only to keep the big ones. blue coon and smalls you wont be able to give them away. mink the bucks will sell i am going to guess around $7 females you will be giving away so if you can release the females for seed your better off

Edited October 2, 2016 by rgw

[Buck154]

Like rgw said wait for the cold for the coon to prime up. Try for fox if anything. They sell as long as the put up is good. And mink have to wait till Januarys/February. Prices will probably be down for a few more years. Labor of Love and not for profit

[Mixbaghunter]

I don't mind not making profit but I had fur at auction for two years . I was thinking of the last week in Nov first week in Dec before 6 day and then after Jan 1

[bt bowhunter]

You are missing the primetime for reds if you skip December.  Depending on where you trap, reds can start to break down in mid January.  Their window isnt long.

 

Wont be any money to be caught this year.  Good year to novelty trap and learn new critters or do what you really enjoy.

[rgw]

are you selling at nafa or space farms. this year. nafa the coon will probably sit, their news letter all but said dont send them unless they are fully primed, 2xl and perfect colour. they just put all their coon in a fire sale and yes they did sell (for next to nothing) but they still didnt go anywhere. all the pelts are still sitting there in storage

[rgw]

bt is right for reds. i drop my red line at the beginning of january

Edited October 2, 2016 by rgw

[Bucndoe]

If it has fur I'm trapping it

[Mixbaghunter]

Last couple of years sent to nafa and they sat.i will be selling at space farm this year.i guess I will trap when I have time and hope I can move what I caught. But will let go small coons . thanks for the input good trapping

[tinemaster]

Don't worry about pricing don't go overboard have fun learn from your experience get out trap and enjoy just keep in mind the market

[rgw]

^ wow he is alive

[ub1243]

i will be trapping, price doesn't matter much.

i won't be running all over the county for fur.

but i will be within 5 miles chasing critters. 

[redneck]

depending where you live will tell you what to trap. here in the southern part of the state our reds will last longer than the north same with the coon.  Rats are good till the end on fur but bites will be a factor. yet our rats don't really look good till Jan.

In low price seasons take the time to slow down and learn. numbers are not what you are looking for but rather learning. setting sets that you know you will catch setting on sign and really paying attention. Learning travel vs hunting areas, and how they change from one week tom the next depending on weather, pressure and the urge for romance. slow down and learn the critters.  For example on coon learning the circuit patterns and time frames. Sows will be a 5 to 8 day boars will be a 8 to 10.  where the boars run in the late season where the dens are.  Most folks in NJ do not realize that a large number of coon den in the ground. trapping is not catchin but learning to catch. Learn the how methods based on location is different than location based on methods. and when to use each.  I have been trapping 46 years now and every season I am still learning.  I caught more coon and turned them loose last season than I have in years. 

 

The difference between a good trapper and a real good trapper is not the numbers they catch.  The good trapper will do what they need to do when they see they need to do it, But the real good trapper will do what they need to do before they see they need to do it.

 

This is what you should be striving for!!!!!   IMHO

[SxSshooter]

Another question, I read in an editorial that leg hold traps are legal in NJ?  Is this true?  Not that I care, I'm just curios.

[Bucndoe]

Another question, I read in an editorial that leg hold traps are legal in NJ?  Is this true?  Not that I care, I'm just curios.

Nope