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MY FIRST TRAPPING EXPERIENCE | |
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One day in the fall I was taking a stroll through the woods. It was in 1913 and game was much more plentiful then than it is now. I was walking along the bank of the brook just below our farm and looking for tracks. I happened to spy two small holes in the bank about one foot away from the water and thinking it to be the den of some wild animal I began to look for signs. Well, I found a bunch of white hair with brown ends and was sure of game. I happened to have some bait with me, so I dropped some in one of the holes.
The next day was Friday. I went to look for more signs in the den, when I discovered my bait gone. I made a good search and found it dragged into one of the holes about a foot from where I had placed it, and also found half of it eaten. This was enough! I went into town and bought two small No. 0 Victor traps and placed them at the entrance and went home, thinking of what luck the following morning would bring.
Saturday morning came and I took my .22 single-shot rifle and went to visit my traps. When I came to the den I discovered one trap sprung and signs were plain of a hard struggle. Well, the next thing I did was to look at the other; but there was no other trap to be seen. This got me all excited and I was peering all around for it, when I almost stepped on a little bit of fur. I soon found the long pole I had fastened my trap to and lifted it up to find Mr. Opossum caught tightly in the jaws of steel. He seemed to be "playing 'possum." Soon I touched him with a stick and "whew," he showed a set of fine sharp teeth. He certainly didn't look dead then until my single-shot barked once and I had shot him in the ear. I skinned him soon afterward and now he hangs as a trophy in my den.
I have just started trapping again this year and wish for a 'coon. My friend found a dead 'possum, killed by stray dogs, and I am going to practice by skinning it for him tonight.
A New Jersey Trapper.
Fur, News. Fur News, January 1916.
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