Trapping 101

Tips, tactics, and techniques for all skill levels. The ancient art of trapping goes back centuries, almost to the beginning of civilization. Native Americans used the pit trap, deadfalls, and snares, the Chinese documented the use of nets and pits in the fourth century BCE, and virtually every civilization can exhibit some example of the use of a trap in one form or another to procure meat, hides, or fur. The fur trade across Europe was dominated by the Russians, which provided furs to the greater part of Western Europe and Asia during the Middle Ages, which prompted the exploration of Siberia and its game rich forests. In North America, trapping was one of the primary reasons why settlers pushed West, taking advantage of the bountiful game across the continent. Fur was used not only for coats, hats, and mittens, it was used as a form of barter. The taking of a fur-bearing animal was and is a big accomplishment, as fooling a crafty animal on its home territory is no easy feat. In Trapping 101, veteran trapper Phil Massaro reveals all the secrets of the trade, from knowing where to set traps, to understanding and using various types of traps, to properly using scents. Tips and tactics for taking beavers, muskrats, weasels, raccoons, skunks, otters, and more are all covered. While there is a wealth of information in here for beginners, information that will help them pick up trapping with relative ease, there are many subtle tips and tricks that even a veteran trapper will appreciate. Times have, of course, changed since the days of the voyageurs and rendezvouses. There are many more people in this modern world, many more dwellings, many more towns and cities. But there is a place for trapping in all this, just as there are places for hunting and fishing. A knowledgeable trapper, following game rules and respecting the animals he is trying to trap, fits right into the grand scheme of Mother Nature existing in harmony with humankind. This book will help you achieve that.

Tips, tactics, and techniques for all skill levels. The ancient art of trapping goes back centuries, almost to the beginning of civilization. Native Americans used the pit trap, deadfalls, and snares, the Chinese documented the use of nets and pits in the fourth century BCE, and virtually every civilization can exhibit some example of the use of a trap in one form or another to procure meat, hides, or fur. The fur trade across Europe was dominated by the Russians, which provided furs to the greater part of Western Europe and Asia during the Middle Ages, which prompted the exploration of Siberia and its game rich forests. In North America, trapping was one of the primary reasons why settlers pushed West, taking advantage of the bountiful game across the continent. Fur was used not only for coats, hats, and mittens, it was used as a form of barter. The taking of a fur-bearing animal was and is a big accomplishment, as fooling a crafty animal on its home territory is no easy feat. In Trapping 101, veteran trapper Phil Massaro reveals all the secrets of the trade, from knowing where to set traps, to understanding and using various types of traps, to properly using scents. Tips and tactics for taking beavers, muskrats, weasels, raccoons, skunks, otters, and more are all covered. While there is a wealth of information in here for beginners, information that will help them pick up trapping with relative ease, there are many subtle tips and tricks that even a veteran trapper will appreciate. Times have, of course, changed since the days of the voyageurs and rendezvouses. There are many more people in this modern world, many more dwellings, many more towns and cities. But there is a place for trapping in all this, just as there are places for hunting and fishing. A knowledgeable trapper, following game rules and respecting the animals he is trying to trap, fits right into the grand scheme of Mother Nature existing in harmony with humankind. This book will help you achieve that.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hunting and Trapping! A collection of tips, tactics, and anecdotes from the finest trappers the United States has ever seen, The Trapper's Bible is an essential reference guide for hunters, trappers, and historians. Taken directly from some of the upmost authorities on the trapping profession, hundreds of photos and illustrations adorn this fascinating compendium. Broken up into sections, this volume details a wide variety of different traps and contains an extensive section outlining the behavior and nature of a long list of animals commonly hunted and trapped. The Trapper's Bible offers the best of the best — an informative look into life as a trapper. From a complete listing of steel traps to constructing a variety of deadfalls, pens, traps, triggers, and snares, the collected sources take you through the ins and outs of trapping, including practical how-to instructions as well as personal stories and letters from real trappers.

Using a specially made, inexpensive and rugged heat-detecting camera, you can view wildlife up close. Camera Trapping Guide gives you the trapping techniques and knowledge of animal behaviors so you can get the best possible photos and videos. Includes 37 species common to the eastern U.S. Large and small mammals, squirrels to bears, deer, and moose, plus birds and even the American alligator—are covered. With photos and range maps each entry gives details on physical characteristics, tracks and sign, diet, habitat, and breeding. Also included are specific camera trapping techniques pertinent to each animal. You’ll learn the characteristics of the various cameras, where to place the camera and the camera settings to get best results, and how to minimize impacts on the environment.

• Complete guide to trapping raccoon, muskrat, mink, otter, beaver, and a variety of other species • Authoritative advice on matching the right trap--whether leg-hold, body gripper, or snare--to each furbearer • Species-specific instructions for making sets that deliver and tips for preparing and marketing pelts to maximize profits Trapping has become somewhat of a lost art, but interest in the sport is as strong as ever thanks to a stable fur market and a growing need to control mammal populations or remove nuisance animals. In Guide to Trapping, Jim Spencer covers strategies for successfully harvesting popular species such as raccoon, muskrat, mink, otter, beaver, coyote, gray fox, red fox, bobcat, skunk, and opossum. His entertaining and informative writing will appeal to trappers of all levels. Spencer discusses trap styles and the basics of establishing and working a trapline, including techniques for fastening and adjusting traps and a species-by-species review of trapping tactics for the country's most pursued furbearers. The field-tested techniques, carefully explained and illustrated, will help trappers make sets that deliver maximum results.

“Practical and sized just right, for places where Google can’t always be summoned. Includes a guide to what’s edible for foragers and key illustrations, in addition to recipes.” —The Washington Post What to eat, where to find it, and how to cook it! Renowned outdoors expert and New York Times bestselling author Dave Canterbury provides you with all you need to know about packing, trapping, and preparing food for your treks and wilderness travels. Whether you're headed out for a day hike or a weeklong expedition, you'll find everything you need to survive--and eat well--out in the wild. Canterbury makes certain you're set by not only teaching you how to hunt and gather, but also giving you recipes to make while on the trail. Complete with illustrations to accompany his instructions and a full-color photo guide of plants to forage and those to avoid, this is the go-to reference to keep in your pack. The Bushcraft Field Guide to Trapping, Gathering, and Cooking in the Wild helps you achieve the full outdoor experience. With it, you'll be prepared to set off on your trip and enjoy living off the land.

A classic of wood lore, this guide provides well-illustrated directions for constructing traps for large, small, and feathered game. Additional information covers animal habitats, camping, building simple shelters and canoes, and recipes.

A Beginner’s Guide to Trapping Trapping Tips and Techniques Table of Contents Introduction Chapter One Trapping for the Beginner Land Trapping Chapter Two Wildlife Tracking Chart Water Trapping Tanning Hides Chapter Three Selling your Hides Chapter Four Trapping Safety, Basic Regulations, and Recommended Tips About the Author Introduction Hunting and Trapping has been the bread and butter of humanity since the dawn of time. Man has taught himself how to acquire food from animals and how to properly hunt them. This book is a beginner’s guide to hunting and trapping. In the pages that follow you will get a better understanding of “The Hunt” the do’s and don’ts and by the time you have read this book you will have all the basic information on this fun and amazing sport.