92 FUR FACTS 



Winner of Second Prize 

 "The greatest trouble is to find a place to set the traps. I find, 

 after fifteen years' experience, that fall trapping must be done in 

 water, and I must make places for my sets beforehand in the follow- 

 ing manner. 



Follow the streams you intend trapping along, dig pockets in 

 bank at water level; dig back two feet; have them eight inches wide; 

 dig under bank so nothing can get the bait except from the front; 

 place clam shells in back of pocket; stick brush slanting out over 

 pocket to hide from view; get short pieces of small, hollow logs, bed 

 them in mud at the edge of stream so water will run through; cut small 

 hole in top of log to drop bait through; settle stone or short log in 

 mud at edge of stream; cut a small trench to turn water around stone. 

 In this way you have your fall trapping grounds ready, and the game 

 finds them in hunting for frogs and crawfish, and they can be baited 

 beforehand. 



Use a piece of wire to reach deep water, fasten stone to outer end; 

 bend long loop in wire near stone; set trap at front of pocket in two 

 inches of water, and cover with wet leaves; drive stake out in water 

 the length of the chain; slip trap ring over wire and fasten wire to 

 stake. Use live frogs or crawfish for bait, and Funsten Animal 

 Bait. Set trap at each end of all hollow logs you have fixed; fasten 

 cord to live bait, and drop through hole in log and fasten. Set trap 

 in channel where you have turned water around stone and logs, 

 and cover with wet leaves, staking with wire and stone. 



Cover up all dens you find carefully with brush for spring trap- 

 ping. Make nice water-sets near all dens found. If trapping on 

 open prairie or ponds and sloughs find all tile outlets; set in water 

 at mouth of tile, and cover carefully, also all small bridges. Make 

 place to set by staking across with small sticks, leaving an opening 

 for trap. If too much water, build up with trash. If on dry ditch, 

 set small stakes across, leaving an opening for trap; lay four or five 

 tile in ditch with live bait in center; trap at each end. Look out for 

 runs in banks or ponds dug back by rats, which mink cut through- 

 To set here, cut a hole in runway near the water; set trap in hole, 

 and stop up tight. Also all small branches where water runs. 



Winter trapping — This is the best and easiest time to catch them, 

 as they are forced to the streams to find food. Many trappers know 

 they disappear all at once, but are at a loss to know where. They 

 find their way to streams and live under the ice during cold weather. 



