As an outdoorsperson and fur trapper who dreams of living in the Alaska wilderness, "The Last Alaskans" quickly became my favorite show. Heck, I hardly watch TV at all, but eagerly purchased every episode and watched intently....over and over again. The show documents the lives of a handful of families who have chosen to live a unique lifestyle, isolated from civilization, … [Read more...]
The Conibear Trap: Description, Origins and Uses of the Conibear and other Bodygrip Traps
It's hard to imagine the trapping world without the conibear, or bodygrip trap. This revolutionary device is an indispensable tool for fur harvesters and animal damage control operators everywhere. It produces quick, effective catches and humane dispatch of animals. It also has its challenges, and must be properly used for the right outcome. What is a conibear trap? The … [Read more...]
What’s the Best Trap for Beaver?
The beaver is an abundant furbearer throughout most of North America, and trapping is an enjoyable and rewarding activity that can produce high quality fur pelts for mittens or hats, and meat that makes excellent table fare. Beavers are quite easy to locate, and easy to trap once you get them figured out. A wide variety of traps are used to catch beaver. The best beaver trap … [Read more...]
What is a Fleshing Beam, and Why Do You Need One?
If you're just getting started trapping and fur handling, you may not be familiar with fleshing beams and what they do. A fleshing beam is quite simple, but it's a critical tool for processing fur. It's basically a piece of hardwood or pvc in a specific shape or size that holds a fur pelt while you 'flesh' it, or remove the fat and meat from the skin with a fleshing knife. … [Read more...]
In the Land of Wilderness: Marty Meierotto
Many of us have dreamed of living on a remote wilderness trap line, and believe it or not, a few have actually done it. Marty Meierotto is one of those few. You might remember Marty from the hit TV show “Mountain Men”, which followed his adventures trapping in the Alaska bush for eight seasons. Marty grew up in northern Wisconsin where he began hunting and developed a love … [Read more...]
Best Coyote Trapping Lure
Having the right lure to attract a coyote to your trap set can be one of the most important aspects of making the catch. While there is not 'magic' lure, some formulas certainly work better than others. Let's go over some basics on the different types of coyote lures, and then I'll give some recommendations you can try out. Types of Coyote Lures There are three basic … [Read more...]
Trapping Lure Formulas and Recipes You Can Try
Trapping lure formulas are the stuff of modern folklore. Or maybe witchcraft. Nobody talks about their formulas. All is secretive. Popular lure makers cling to their formulas and take them to the grave......and that's for good reason. You can make big money with a lure formula that works. And if you're a good marketer, the combination of a scent's effectiveness and human … [Read more...]
Bodygrip Setters and Sandals in the Fur Shed
I'm back! In this episode we catch up after a month off, recap what I've been doing in and out of the trapping world, and talk fur prices and bodygrip/conibear trap setting tools. Enjoy! OnXMaps: use the code 'TRAP' for 20% off your first purchase at www.onxmaps.com. Check out the Trapping Today Store for merch, lures and more! … [Read more...]