Yet you will be faced by conditions 
that makes a bait set very successful. 
By careful study you may learn at just 
what time of the year mink will take 
bait and just when they won’t. I can- 
not explain that phase of the art to 
you. It must be learned first hand, but 
the true secret of bait rests in your 
ability so to arrange them that the 
animal will step upon the pan in his 
effort to get the bait. 
OU will find that, regardless of 
how much care you have taken in 
planning and making a set, that cer- 
tain trap-shy animals will make a 
berth of your sets. I have puzzled over 
that very same thing more than once 
to reach the conclusion that there re- 
mained upon that set some odor for- 
eign to the place, which was detected 
by the keen nose of the “old ones.” 
This brings us to the necessary 
essential of properly killing the scent. 
Traps should be free from rust and 
any foreign odor such as being in con- 
tact with the human hand and of some 
animal that may have been caught in 
the trap. 
There are various ways in which to 
remove the objectionable scents about 
atrap. They may be buried in the bed 
of a stream several days before set- 
ting or left awhile in running water. 
Running water is a great advantage 
to the trapper when he will properly 
use its opportunities. 
HUS I account for the superior 
effectiveness of water sets. When 
the trap is fully covered with water 
there remains no trace detectable to 
the nose of a fox or mink, and if there 
were any figures available to prove 
facts I believe at least 90% of the com- 
mon furs caught, such as fox, mink, 
’coon, skunk and muskrat are caught 
in water sets. : 
The steel and iron, of which the trap 
is made, has more or less of an odor 
which a mink or fox can detect, but 
when set in water that odor is not sub- 
ject to their keen sense of smell. In 
fact, I know of nothing that will so 
easily destroy the defects of a poor 
trapper and conceal his errors from 
the fur-bearers as will a properly con- 
structed water set, and that is one of 
the chief essentials of successful trap- 
ping. It may not be an unknown art 
to every trapper, but a great many of 
those who know its necessity fail to 
realize its true value. A trapper may 
know every trick known to men versed 
in taking fur bearers, but if he does 
not put them to work he is none the 
better off for knowing. 
N this article I have touched upon 
a number of principles, containing 
the chief fundamentals of successful 
trapping. In the principles lie the se- 
In writing to Advertisers mention Forest and Stream. 
erets of success. I shall outline in a 
few short paragraphs what I consider 
the secrets of successful trapping. 
First, do not let any grass grow un- 
der your feet in late fall. There is fur 
handy and it is up to you to look it 
up. You must study animal nature 
and in particular the animals you hope 
to trap. 
Second, let specializing alone. If 
you own a muskrat marsh you may 
afford to trap only muskrat, but where 
your territory abounds in mink, ’coon, 
skunk, fox and other animals it will 
be wise to turn your attention to 
them all. 
Third, there are two kinds of sets—. 
the bait set and the blind set. Blind 
sets are most successful, because they 
catch when the animal’s suspicion is 
not aroused—a higher and firmer grip 
is the result. However, conditions 
sometimes exist when the use of bait 
is practicable, then it is successful. 
Fourth, all odors foreign to a set 
must be covered. A mink or fox may 
easily detect an unclean trap, but kill 
the scent and they are helpless in its 
grip. 
Fifth, water sets are the most effec- 
tive sets a trapper may use, whether 
blind sets or bait sets. 
In concluson it might be just and 
proper to add—use your own sound 
sense, study the animals you trap and 
apply the tried and proven methods of 
merit. The best trapper often fails, 
in spite of his skill and cunning, but 
if you will consider what I have rec- 
ommended as the secrets of successful 
trapping and apply them, I am sure 
you will be rewarded with greater suc- 
cess than the trapper who does not no- 
tice them. 

Chicken Hunting in 
Nebraska 
(Continued from page 725) 
The next day we wended our way 
back to Wood Lake, killing a few ducks 
and chickens, and left for home. Thus 
ended the most delightful small-game 
hunt I have ever made. The best of 
companions, ideal weather, lots of 
game, and the wide open spaces—how 
can you beat it? 
Bringing Home a Moose 
(Continued from page 709) 
down the river with the two canoes. 
The five miles paddle was a delight- 
ful ending to the brief trip. We had 
been in the wilds just long enough to 
enjoy in anticipation the amenities of 
modern existence. A warm sun beat 
down upon our backs belying the late- 
Tt will 




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