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THE LURE OF THE TRAP LINE | |
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By CLAYTON G. GATES
Another season has hurled itself into the chair of the past, and the most successful of them all. It was the trappers' harvest. It was his good fortune to cash in the "long green," never before found available from the same catch. And, upon all this to me, the sport was keen — the furbearers never seemed quite so shy, or so hard to lure to your sets. Hut all this was sport and I took it as it came — pitting my knowledge, just how much that was, against the old sly fur prize with fair success. Furthermore, the weather was none too good. The streams took those leaps and bounds that surely handicapped water setting, and you all know what bagging a big catch on land is. Also, the water was frozen over a great deal, which also did no good as far as picking up the pelts was concerned.
But, anyway, it was a great time and I only wish opening day were here again, that I might shoulder my weapons and start out and establish a trap line. My! What sport it is.
But, as I bided my time for the arrival of last season with enthusiasm, so I will try to await the gong next fall. The very signs of fall make the good trapper feel the lure of the trap line. It's that way with me. To see the leaves sifting down through the boughs and the cool nights, just put the trapping spirit on edge; and what enthusiasm you've got when at last the day arrives. Hence, let's go back to that good old 1920 season and see how I rounded up the fur prizes.
Well, I admit in just plain language the blunt truth. I figured I did remarkable that year. All summed up, I think I never enjoyed such a season before. Surely, my roll was not as big in previous seasons, so why should I not be satisfied? The answer is, I am satisfied, and I want to tell the readers of the good old Hunter-trader-trapper just how I work the downfall of Old Man Muskrat
Well, it's simple enough! All you have to know is that the proper set is the one that will catch most surely. And beware of the strong, sharp jaw traps and leave the little weaklings behind. Never underestimate the strength of your prize, lest you get in a hole. But use a good No. 1£ square edge trap or a double jaw of the same strength. Never set a No. 1 trap unless you are sure you can drown your rat, for, if he doesn't get well in the jaws he stands a good chance to pull out, especially if he gets ashore. This is why I like the No. 1J. But a No. 1 Giant Victor is ideal, because its spread insures a higher grip. But, as I said, the No. 1J Victor or Jump was my favorite. I mean I prefer them to the No. 1 traps, because the No. 1J did not break a single leg for me last season and, strange to say, I found a badly damaged rat in a No. 1. This I attribute to the fact that a No. 1J is considerable heavier than a No. 1 and possibly the weight carries him under before he can get ashore or twist his leg in a bad shape. Anyway, I have produced best results with No. 1£ than any other size and strange to say, I only got one foot that I did not get the rat all last season. That was some record and best appreciated when you remember the old wise fellow says, "More feet are caught than rats taken." True it may be, but as a rule I have been exempt from that disappointment.
Now, about setting the traps or where I set them, to be best understood. I would like to say I have a variety of good sets and when an old sly toe pinched fellow gets too free I slipped them on him and as a rule I soon have him on the board.
My first set is at the foot of a slide. This is as a rule my first set of the season, as I generally find the animals less wary after a long summer's layoff, and consequently they have a great deal of fun on the slippery banks. But a No. 1J, well under the surface of the water, will soon tell them danger is about. Then is the time the creek muskrat get sly, and this is when you have to put your nose to the ground.
At this season of the year, I slip a trap in their doorway and stake well to the bottom. He will surely come out and when he does, "bing" goes the trap and you have your prize. But the fact that their dens are hard to find, make this set very difficult, excepting for the observing eye. After you can locate a den by the appearance of grass, apparently to have floated to a root. When such is seen a careful examination will often reveal a muskrat house. Last season I caught six nice rats, sold I think for about $12.50, from one den and on slides in the vicinity, and I didn't get them all. Then the set often made on boards that extend from the bank into the water, will produce good results and the set on the end of logs or other material that shows signs of muskrat frequenting, will add more pelts to your bag.
Then last, but not by any means least, I want to speak of the bait set. Yes, there are different kinds of bait sets, but none will surpass the turnip or carrot, hung over a trap, or the chopped carrot or apple spread on the sandbars, guarded with several traps.
But, experience has taught me that what applies to one lot of rats will not necessarily apply to another. Hence, the trapper's own judgment is often the best. But kind advice is beneficial and surely gives you a clue. So don't pass up my tricks when you put out your set of traps next fall or winter.
Hunter-Trader-Trapper. October: 1921,
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