December, 1918 
FOREST 
AND STREAM 
707 
PREPARATIONS TO MAKE FOR TRAPPING 
THE ACTUAL SETTING OF THE TRAPS IS THE SMALLEST PART OF TRAPPING 
AND THE NOVICE CAN SPEND TIME PROFITABLY IN MAKING READY 
T HE young pelt hunter imagines about 
the only preparation necessary for 
getting skins is the possession, of 
steel traps. Later, to be sure, he is forced 
to change his opinion, but in the meantime 
he has lost many opportunities to take 
game—and not a little money which he 
might just as well have earned. In order 
that the beginner may be as well equipped 
as possible for his line, a few suggestions 
will be given on what preparations to 
make, and when to make them. 
The successful trapper is generally busy 
weeks in advance of the fur season. He 
spends his time when the animals are ac¬ 
tive, before cold weather, locating dens 
and runways. Later, he knows just where 
to arrange his sets and about how many 
he will need in any particular place. On 
the other hand, an inexperienced pelt hunt¬ 
er trusts to luck, for the most part, then 
wonders why he does not get more fur. 
Generally speaking, there are small ani¬ 
mals with valuable hides in almost every 
rural community. At first glance, it seems 
really an easy matter to select a trapping 
territory, but after a trial most are con¬ 
vinced that considerable skill is necessary. 
For the boy who has two or three hours a 
day, it requires judgment far greater than 
is usually expected. 
The examination of several hundred trap 
lines during the past few years shows con¬ 
clusively that locations away from home 
invariably appear best to the beginner. He 
will ignore signs of promise only to make 
sets a mile or so farther on where results 
are bound to be less certain. This peculiar 
trait of human nature is responsible for 
small catches and a maximum of time 
wasted. The trapper spends most of his 
effort in visiting the spots; that is, travel¬ 
ing back and forth many miles and looking 
at but a few sets rather than many, com¬ 
paratively speaking. From these state¬ 
ments of facts, other things being equal, 
the pelt hunter ought to have his line as 
near to his home as possible. 
Frequently, one may be able to use an 
automobile, bicycle, horse or other convey¬ 
ance to good advantage. When this is 
true, naturally distance is not so impor¬ 
tant. Most of the trapping grounds, how¬ 
ever, must be traversed on foot and when 
it is hard traveling the taker of skins is 
sure to appreciate what it means to do as 
little walking as possible. In fact so clear¬ 
ly has this been demonstrated that “incon¬ 
venient sets” miles from home are not at¬ 
tended to as they should be and as a result 
have been shown unprofitable. 
I N order that the beginner may make his 
selection of territory to the best advan¬ 
tage, it is well for him to know just 
what kind of locations the various animals 
select. The skunk and civet cat, for in¬ 
stance, like rough, stony ground. Weed 
patches and brush ought never be over- 
By G. J. THIESSEN 
looked. Catches often can be made along 
hedge fences, under abandoned houses, near 
barns, sheds and the like. Most wild life 
seeks to avoid its natural enemy, man, 
but the skunk and civet show but little 
fear. On the other hand, they seem to 
welcome the nearness of human habitation, 
for generally an abundance of food can be 
had without much effort. 
If such a thing were possible, the civet 
seems even less particular than the skunk 
so far as its burrow is concerned. Among 
the places they have been taken are from 
dried-up drains, under roots of stumps and 
fallen trees, around post piles, and the like. 
Roughly speaking, the trapper ought not 
be surprised to see signs almost anywhere. 
Look for the raccoon where there are 
woods and water. This animal washes its 
food carefully before eating. Tracks are 
most numerous along shallow creeks, 
swamps and marshes. In many ways, the 
opossum has similar habits and may be 
found practically in the same locations. It 
is understood, of course, that this fur 
bearer does not range very far north, while 
the ’coon is distributed both in warm and 
cold climates. 
Successful pelt hunters have the best re¬ 
sults for ’possum along the very small 
creeks and ditches. The animal travels, as 
a rule, where there is thick timber; an 
abundance of brush and weeds. By seek¬ 
ing spots where food is plenty, the trapper 
is sure to find places for sets. 
T HE male and the female mink have 
different habits, in many respects. 
The former is a traveler, going 
sometimes ten or twelve miles in a night. 
It explores unused dens and pockets wher¬ 
ever they may be found on its route. The 
female, on the other hand, rarely ventures 
far from the burrow. It feeds in but one 
or two places nearby. Unless frightened 
away or there is a scarcity of something to 
eat, the female mink does not wander about 
as does the male. 
In general, the fur bearers prefer the 
small meandering streams for their dens. 
These, as a rule, have the banks overgrown 
with weeds and brush; the current choked 
with debris. Among this there is conceal¬ 
ment. Dens can be hidden. Best of all, 
the creeks contain mussels, frogs, minnows 
and other food easy to get. 
Since signs of the mink will be found 
most numerous in the places just men¬ 
tioned, this does not mean that rivers, 
lakes and other open water ought be given 
no attention whatever. The pelt hunter 
undoubtedly will be able to get many skins 
on other than the small creeks. 
During the cold weather, tracks can 
usually be discovered near springs and 
flowing tiles. The mink, unlike most of 
the other smaller animals, never finds the 
thermometer too low to travel; neither will 
it overlook a chance to enter open water. 
Do not overlook hollow logs partly sub¬ 
merged, runways under bridges nor signs 
about muskrat houses. Skins can be caught 
in all such places. 
S O far as the weasel is concerned—this 
animal is known as the “ermine” when 
prime to the trade—it may be found 
almost anywhere so long as there is plenty 
of food near. As soon as this runs low, 
the fur bearer travels. For this reason it 
is almost impossible to describe the best 
places to make sets for the fur. Perhaps, 
since this is true, the mention of the most 
likely locations for signs would be of 
value. Let it be remembered, however, 
that it is altogether possible to get the bulk 
of the hides in spots other than mentioned. 
Along rocked-up banks, under log piles, 
near abandoned and partly filled wells, sets 
can generally be made. Do not overlook 
muskrat and mink dens when they have 
been unused for years by the animals. 
Along hedge fences, under roots of trees, 
about stumps—all these are locations where 
it is possible to catch the weasel. That 
there are many others is admitted. 
In connection with the weasel, it might 
be interesting for the reader to know that 
the fur bearer is not sought after to any 
great extent by the Southern trapper. The 
reason for this is that few skins get of 
even fair quality. Most are brown, or 
nearly so. Such are hardly worth stretch¬ 
ing and drying, being worth not to exceed 
ten or fifteen cents in value. When the 
ermine is prime the coat is pure white with 
the exception of the tip of the tail. 
The weasel in the South is smaller than 
that of Canada and Alaska. Hides from 
the latter section, for quality and size, are 
not noticeably inferior to the genuine Rus¬ 
sian ermine. The resemblance has led to 
the general name being applied to weasel 
all over America by dealers. 
M USKRATS are always found near 
water. The fur bearers prefer shal¬ 
low streams, lakes and marshes. 
Where there is little current, houses will 
be seen, usually. On the other hand, along 
the very sluggish creeks and rivers, if the 
depth is comparatively greater, burrows 
are most likely to be noticed in the banks. 
While such is the rule, exceptions are fre¬ 
quent. It is not unusual to find houses in 
rivers nor burrows along lakes. 
So much for the location of the trap¬ 
ping grounds and the places to look for 
the various fur bearers.- But after the ter¬ 
ritory has been determined upon, the dens 
and runways known, there is still much 
which can be done to insure good catches. 
While these details may appear unimpor¬ 
tant to the novice, let him remember that 
they are far from so. Without a knowl¬ 
edge of them, he will not be getting all he 
could for the time spent along the line. 
(continued on page 721) 
