The Science of Trapping: Old-Time Lessons on Catching Animals for Fur

Introduction

Among the many outdoor occupations, trapping furbearing animals is perhaps the most pleasant and in many instances is also very profitable.

Although trapping was one of the earliest industries of this country, the occupation has not passed away along with the vanishing wilderness, for there is more trapping done today than at any time in the past. Scattered all over North America, in both the thickly settled portions and the more remote districts, are thousands of trappers who are deriving both pleasure and profit from this unique calling each season.

Trapping in itself is an art. Many of the wild creatures are exceedingly wary, and the trapper must match his reason against the instinct, the natural wariness, and the acquired knowledge of the animals. This wariness alone has saved some species of animals from extinction, and although man is superior to all brute life, such intelligent animals as the fox and the wolf frequently prove a match for the most expert of trappers.

In order to be successful, one must know the wild animals as a mother knows her child. The trapper must also know and use the most practical methods of trapping, and it is my objective to give in this work the most successful trapping methods known.

These modes of trapping furbearing animals have, for the most part, been learned from actual experience in various parts of the country, but I also give the methods of other successful trappers, as I know them to be as good as my own. I am personally acquainted with some of the most expert trappers in North America and have also followed the Indians over their trap lines and in this way have learned many things that are not generally known to the white man.

—Elmer Kreps

CHAPTER ONE

THE TRAPPER’S ART

During past ages, many of the wild creatures of the forest and stream were hunted and captured in various ways by the inhabitants of the wilderness—the flesh of these animals being the principal food of many tribes of Natives and the skins being used for clothing—but it was only after furs became a staple article of wearing apparel among civilized nations and the traders had learned of the profits to be made in the fur trade that wholesale and systematic trapping began. For many years after the commencement of the fur trade in this country, the occupation of trapping was monopolized by the Native inhabitants, but later some of the bolder of the white race pushed into the wilderness and learned the trapper’s art.

Today there are thousands of trappers scattered over the United States, Canada, Alaska, and Mexico, and the catching of wild animals for profit is no longer considered to be an occupation fitting only for Natives, for there is scarcely a farmer, ranchman, or other person whose calling brings him close to nature who is not more or less interested in furbearing animals. Wild animals are not all hunted for the sake of their furs. There are some, such as the wolf, coyote, mountain lion, and bobcat, which have become positive nuisances because of their destruction of stock animals, and for such the government—and in many cases the stockmen—pay a bounty. The capture of wolves and coyotes, especially, has become a profitable business.

As to the profits to be derived from this occupation, there are professional trappers in the North, South, and West whose catches amount from five hundred to two thousand dollars or more each season, but the number who do as well as that is comparatively small. By far the greater number of trappers are those who follow other occupations and devote only their spare time to the capture of wild animals, and they are, for the most part, farmers and country boys who, in this way, add considerably to their yearly income.

It is not at all necessary to go into the wilds in order to do successful trapping, and almost any farming section will be found to be a paying trapping ground. Indeed, the country man or boy will, in most cases, do far better in his own home district than he would by going into some place with which he is not familiar even though the furbearing animals may be more plentiful there than at home. In his own territory, he will learn the haunts of each kind of furbearing animal, its route of travel, the dens, etc. This knowledge will be of great value when the actual trapping commences.

Of course, all the various species of animals will not be found in any one section, but where one is missing there will be some other found in fair numbers. Muskrats are most numerous, as a rule, in the settled parts of the country, and wherever the muskrat is found, there the mink is also. Skunks are found almost everywhere, and the ease with which they may be captured makes the trapping of them a lucrative business. Foxes are found in most of the hilly sections, and while they are not so easily captured, one can make a success of it if he gives the matter careful study and uses sufficient care in setting and attending the traps. In many parts of the South the raccoon is found in abundance, as are the opossum and the otter. The bobcat and other animals are found more sparingly in many parts of the country.

The trapper, no matter where he is located, is certain to meet with many hardships, but it is a pleasant calling for all of that. There is a certain amount of pleasure in even the roughest experiences. Once one has followed trapping for a few seasons, it is almost impossible to give up the wild, free life. The study of the habits of the wild creatures that is necessary if one wishes to become a successful trapper brings one into close touch with nature, and the work is extremely fascinating.

In the early days, before the steel trap came into general use, the deadfall and the snare were used almost exclusively for the capture of the furbearers, but at present, when steel traps have reached a high state of perfection, are sold at prices that place them within the reach of all. They are preferred by most trappers, and many of the most expert have discarded wooden traps entirely. However, both the deadfall and the snare are good traps for certain animals, and it is good to know how to make and use them, for one may sometimes see a good place to place a trap but may not have a steel trap along. In such cases, the knowledge of how to construct a practical deadfall will be of value. It is true that many of the furbearing animals are too cunning to be captured by such a contrivance, but some of the most wary fall easy victims to the snare. Some of the most expert fox trappers use the snare in preference to the steel trap, but the number is comparatively small.

Many styles of traps have been invented, and some of the most promising styles were placed on the market. However, it is doubtful if any trap will ever be designed that will equal in popularity and general usefulness the old-time jaw trap, commonly known as the steel trap. These traps have been improved in many ways until, at present, they are almost perfect and are made in sizes and styles to meet all requirements and all conditions of trapping.

The jaw traps possess decided advantages over all other styles of steel or wooden traps. They are light and compact, may be moved from place to place without inconvenience to the trapper, will capture the most wary animals—as well as the most stupid—and will work perfectly under all conditions, whether set in the water or on dry land, on the snow, on a log or stump, or set on the side of a tree. They may be used with or without bait, and if the proper size of trap is used and it is set in the right way, it will capture almost any animal that comes its way. What other style of trap possesses all these advantages?

As most of those who have never done any trapping know practically nothing regarding the use of traps, I will outline briefly the methods usually employed for the capture of furbearing animals before proceeding further.

Most of the animals that are caught in traps are decoyed by means of bait—something in the line of food that appeals to its appetite—that is placed so in an attempt to reach it, the animal places its foot in the trap. The most common way is by setting the trap in the entrance to some natural enclosure, such as a hollow log or stump, a hollow between trees, a hole in the rocks, or under a stump, with the bait placed in the enclosure beyond the trap. Failing to find a natural enclosure, the trapper constructs one using such material as may be found on the spot. It is advisable as a rule to make as little disturbance as possible and to give the enclosure a natural appearance.

It sometimes happens that an animal cannot be tempted to approach the bait, and in such cases the blind set is resorted to—in other words, the trap is set without bait in a trail where the animal travels or at the entrance of its den. Failing to find such a place, the trapper carefully studies the route of the animal and selects a place where some natural or artificial obstruction will crowd it into a certain spot, where he carefully sets his trap in such a way as to catch the animal the next time it comes along. These blind sets are, as a rule, very successful, and many trappers use such methods exclusively.

In setting steel traps, great care is advised for the one who learns to do this most neatly. Leaving everything natural is, as a rule, the most successful. One should always be certain to get the trap in the right position, for to miss catching an animal not only means its loss for the time being, but many of them will also become wiser from such experiences, and their capture will be more difficult afterward. The trapper is also wise who gives sufficient attention to the fastening of the trap, thus reducing the animal’s chances of escape after it is caught.

To properly set a steel trap on dry land, one should dig a nest for the trap that is deep enough to allow the covering to be flush with the surroundings. The nest should also be just a little larger than and of the same shape as the trap when set. This hollow should be lined with dry leaves or moss and the trap placed therein. To make the trap rest solidly so there is no danger of it being tipped over and to make the jaws set level, the spring should be twisted around toward the jaw, which is held down by the trigger, or dog. The trap should then be covered with some light, dry material in keeping with the surroundings—a few dead leaves or a sheet of paper used first to prevent the covering from rolling under the pan to prevent the trap from springing. Instead of doing this, some trappers place a bunch of cotton or dry moss under the pan, but I do not think this advisable.

Trap Set in Correct Position at Den

In all cases when setting traps at dens, on trails, or at the entrances of enclosures, the trap should be so placed that the jaws will be lengthwise of the animal’s approach so it will step between the jaws and not over one of them. If the setting is reversed, the rising jaw will sometimes throw the animal’s foot out of the trap.

There are various good methods of fastening, and the proper one to use depends on the nature of the surrounding and the species of animal that one is setting for. Water animals should be drowned as quickly as possible after they are caught, and in order to secure this result, the sliding pole is used. This is simply an inclined pole leading into deep water and of a size that will enable the ring of the trap chain to travel its entire length easily. The most common way of using the sliding pole is to thrust the small end into the bed of the stream and fasten the other end securely to the bank. The pole should have a few branches near the small end to prevent the ring from sliding off. All water animals, when caught in traps, plunge into deep water immediately, and the ring of the trap chain sliding down the pole makes it impossible for the captured animal to again regain the shore. In order to make this outfit more certain when setting for large animals, such as otters and beavers, a stone of six to eight pounds should be tied firmly to the chain but not near enough to the trap to interfere with the action of the swivel.

In trapping for muskrats and mink, the usual practice is to simply stake the trap the length of the chain