trapping

[oteps]

Anyone here into trapping critters? Im going to start this year. Probably just raccoons, fox and maybe coyote. Im going to a public sale tomorrow with a lot of traps but I don't know very much about it yet. My 7 year old son wants to try it and he doesn't have to be quiet trapping!!

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by oteps

Anyone here into trapping critters? Im going to start this year. Probably just raccoons, fox and maybe coyote. Im going to a public sale tomorrow with a lot of traps but I don't know very much about it yet. My 7 year old son wants to try it and he doesn't have to be quiet trapping!!

I know you won't like this post, but I have to say I really don't like trapping. Hunting is quick and the animal feels little or no pain. To me, trapping is torture to the animal. It injures them, causes them fear, stress etc. Even if you use "humane" traps that don't injure the animal still suffers the fear of being caught.

[bobj]

Fishing, hunting and trapping! Great way to spend time in the outdoors with your son. many kids make extra christmas money trapping muskrats that are tunneling through the dam on a pond, trapping raccoons out of the barn helps out too. Coyote are available just about everywhere and generally pay better for their hides(except eastern) but require more skill to trap. Fox are also more difficult for beginners. These are all available near to or in town, as well as out on the farm. btw some fur buyers still sell marsh rabbit and other carcasses to people who want them.

roaming farmland, woods and marshes is a great introduction to all kinds of hunting, trapping, plant ID, waterfowl ID, natural resource management etc.
Getting rid of the muskrats for a farmer is a good way to get permission to fish in his farm pond too.

get a subscription to Fur Fish and Game magazine, it is full of articles for beginners and advanced trappers and stories for the outdoors person.

https://www.furfishgame.com/

Free courses offered by state wildlife agencies. take the course with your son and you will learn the ropes together. You will make new friends there.
the address for VA. trapper ed is

https://register-ed.com/programs/vir...ion-course-vta

Local sportsmans clubs can help you also.

Good Luck!

[oteps]

THanks. Im going to learn with the small critters and then just target coyote once I get the hang of it. They eat a lot of the deer fawns as soon as they r born, plus peoples dogs and cats. I used to be able to hear them howling while I was outside but I haven't heard them in a while. And the stray cat population is up now. I guess they moved on but will be back.