Today is the day!

[deputydawg]

Today is the official opening of trapping season for me. Try to finance Christmas with trapping, but haven't done much good the last few years. <br /><br />This morning I woke up with a sore throat, headache, fever and soaked in sweat, and the usual aching back, legs and shoulders. Kids gave me the crud they had last week. Even at that I made it to the river and hiked back into the swamp to set a few. Between carrying traps, my pack, stakes and my 2 year old son the half mile through the marsh I only set about half of them. See what they catch tonight if anything.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Today is the day!

Did you see any vultures flying overhead?

 

[technostingray]

Re: Today is the day!

Whoa!!!!!!!!! my head is spinning. All that pain and the cause of it. Is there a message here? :big grin w/wink:

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Today is the day!

No vultures but a few turkeys were in the trees. Then as we were on a sandbar in the weeds 4 deer came walkin out of the tall weeds right next to us within 20 feet. They snorted and ran off. <br />Oh and there was a pheasant that I about stepped on. When he flew up I pretty much soiled my drawers. But no vultures. They will probably give me another day or two to get weeker.

 

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: Today is the day!

YIKES!! BIRD FLU

 

[cpj]

Re: Today is the day!

Sweet DD i would love to trap but dont have the time to check traps everyday.Here in Missouri, they started allowing the use of "cable restaint devices" as the conservation dept calls them. I still call them snares but they claim that there is a difference.Suppose there is but cable restraint device doesnt have the negative connotation (sp?) that the word snare does, so maybe the anti's wont notice as much.You must complete a training course and pay a fee that is above and beyond the normal trapping permit in order to use them.I would love to try my hand at any trapping, but dont have a place close enough to me that I could do it.Good luck this year! By the way, what critters are you after and what are the skins going for this year?

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Today is the day!

Late getting back on....starting off after raccoons, then in December on to Bobcat fox and coyote. In January when it gets cold I will see what beaver is doing.<br /><br />Right now raccoons are around $5. Not quite the $45 back when I ran hounds. Last year bobcat were between $75 and $100. Badgers were around $15, fox around $50. The coyotes were so infested with mange that they weren't even worth the bullet. This year they all look good. Beaver don't bring much until we have a few weeks below 0 for temp.<br /><br />I used to check at night after work, but last year happened to locate one of the mountain lions that ventured into this country. Now I try to get them checked before dark.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Today is the day!

Is that taxable income?

 

[DJ]

Re: Today is the day!

DD,<br /><br /><br /> Go for it. I always enjoyed trapping with my buddies dad, and him. I't' allot of work.<br /><br />To answer "Techtoosweet". It's none of your damn business.

 

[cpj]

Re: Today is the day!

Originally posted by Techtoosweet:<br /> Is that taxable income?

What DJ said.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Today is the day!

all my income is taxable, just look at the forms. if thats what I listed that must be what I made .<br /> deputydawg, man you could get a few bucks here, dang coons are overrunning me. <br /> the other night I had 4 trapped by midnight. but I use a tender trap and just relocate them to a place where they can be someone elses issue its illegal to kill fox here and possums aint worth the time. no coyotes here either,nor bobcats in my area.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Today is the day!

Originally posted by DJ:<br /> DD,<br /> To answer "Techtoosweet". It's none of your damn business.

And of course it is your business to answer questions not posed to you. What got your panties all in a bunch?

 

[technostingray]

Re: Today is the day!

Originally posted by cpj:<br />

Originally posted by Techtoosweet:<br /> Is that taxable income?

What DJ said.

Another bubble from an unstirred pot. <br /><br /><br />Yes, Rod. Do you know the difference between Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion?

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Today is the day!

But you know, between the traps, bait, gas to and from the river, license fee, and all of the other expenses that go into it, I lose thousands for every dollar I earn! <br /><br />Actually it is taxable but with all of the work getting feul receipts together, splitting that between trapping and other, license expenses and all the other paperwork to keep track of. That and the fur buyers do not record who they pay what to, it would be more of a pain to everyone than it would be worth. Probably only add to an extra $50 paid in income tax. With the child tax credits, and all of the other tax breaks I get because I am poor, they would just give it back to me anyway.<br /><br />By the way, second day on the trap line. Had a deer step into a trap and set it off the first day (trap too small to hurt a deer). Had a coon paw at another one and set it off but missed the catch. Today had a pack rat in one of the box traps I made, and had a puff of hair and a few drops of blood in another trap. The trap happen to pick up a stick as it closed allowing an escape.<br /><br />Not a good stop, but still fun. It is great taking my son out with me, even though he is only 2. Teaching him to be an animal rights violator early!

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Today is the day!

Do vermin have a price on their head or do you trap for the pelts/meat?