Nebraskaland Magazine
Back before Christmas I blogged about doing some trapping again this late fall/early winter, http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2012/12/line/ . I took a few more pictures than what I shared in that previous blog post; thought I would share some more of those with you.
Looks like a good place to trap some muskrats, and maybe mink!
I mentioned earlier that one thing I love about having a trap-line is that you have to run the traps every day, you get to be in the field every day. I have learned that the more time you spend in the field, or on the water, the more you see, the more you learn, the more in-tune you are with the wild, the habitat and creatures in it. Being a successful trapper is all about having an understanding of the creatures, their biology and behavior; it is all about being able to “read” what is going on when you walk along a creek or marsh. By the way, that time in the field or on the water, the honing of those observational skills, being able to “read the sign” is required on the trap-line, but also helps a lot while hunting and fishing too. I certainly believe cross-training as a trapper helps me as a hunter and angler too!
And when you are in the field frequently, you begin to notice other little things, little details, that you might have missed before.
I paused one day to snap some photos of bluebirds. I was sure none of those photos were going to be very good, and I know this one is nothing to brag about, but I was surprised when I saw that it came out this good.
Of course I shared some time with family members while on the line.
Uh oh, probably should have pulled the ” ‘rat” traps before the snowstorm hit.
Trapping is hard work. You better believe I busted my butt finding and then shoveling snow and chopping ice to find all my muskrat traps.
So, if the ‘rat line is going to be froze up, might as well switch over to some beaver trapping. Yep, that meant more hard work and ice-chopping.
And then you have to haul ’em out.
You think that one was big? This one weighed over a half a hundred.
Found a winter flock of “turks” on Christmas Eve. Took a couple pictures and wished ’em a Merry Christmas! (See you in about 4 months!)
