Nice mix today!

[davidlt89]

Headed out after worship band today to see if anything was on the trap line. Landed a good beaver at my buddies. I then came home and went outback. I had set some footholds under a bridge where rats where coming in and digging. Had one in the footholds and one in the colony coming in.

I headed down the train tracks and checked the beaver set and had a XXL otter by the front paw in a 330. All in all, good day!

Here is the quarry.


Here is the otter on the board.

God Bless.

[gitano]

Paul

[farmboy]

How long does it take you to skin and get those hides preped?

[davidlt89]

Depends on the animal and the size farmboy. From skinning, to fleshing, to boarding, I was almost 2 hours with otter. Could of been a little faster but I took my time. The rats take me about 25 min for the same process. The beaver in the picture is fairly large...he is what they call a blanket beaver (will stretch over 65"), he would take some time...at least 2 hours or more. Beaver are the most labor intensive. I am taking the castors out of this guy and he is going in the freezer and will be coyote bait. God bless.

[farmboy]

Yesterday s catch by the time you checked reset the traps etc you had an eight hour day.  If you have a great day and catch more than you can skin etc can you do it the next day or does it matter at all? Any ideas how to catch raccoons? I had a cat that was walking around with one front leg chewed off. Thinking it was a raccoon. The neighbor has them and has lost all his cats. I can't use anything that would hurt my other cat's.I have a skunk trap will they fit in that? Anything I can bait them with that I will not attract cats? Where would be as good place to set the trap

[davidlt89]

You most certainly can wait! I let all my fur dry for a day, unless it is an otter. They need to be done wet to avoid singe on the guard hairs. I have been skinning my rats, rolling them up and freezing them in bags of 5. when I am done trapping I will thaw them and flesh and board them. I also only have dozen wire hangers, I would not have been able to keep up. Will do 10 at a time and let them dry, then thaw more.

Any ideas how to catch raccoons?

I have more than just ideas! Raccoons are one of the easiest things to catch. live traps work even without bait. I use "coon cuffs", AKA, dog proof traps. I set them with fish oil to get their attention and put something below the trigger so they reach in and pull up.

http://www.fntpost.com/Categories/Trapping/Traps/Dog+Proof+Coon+Traps/

http://www.fntpost.com/Products/Coon+Grabber+Baits/Coon+Grabbers