There's A Hole In My Bucket
There's a Hole in My Bucket
Trapping in the USA often invites visions of rugged mountain men exploring and opening up the western United States. We've watched as they come out of the mountains with their pack-horses heavily laden with furs. They shoot straight, brave frozen waters, fight off Indians, wrestle bears, and walk miles on foot over frozen mountain passes.
I shoot pretty straight, don't like cold water, hate fighting Indians, and I simply refuse to wrestle bears! I do trap.
Learning the basics of trapping will enable you to have yet one more option should you ever find yourself in a food crisis. Traps are hunting for your food 24 hours a day giving you time for other duties.
Your first step is to gather your equipment. I use a couple of basic trapping tools and my everyday stuff.
From left to right:
1. Wire
2. Saftey Latch
3. Body grip trap spreader
4. Leatherman
5. Hatchet
6. Conibear 220
The picture below is one of my buckets that I've caught many critters in. It was clean once but the critters like to keep it dirty. Right now the bucket smells like apples as we've just finished apple season. I'll add some other pungent smells when I set the trap.
I try to cut a circle in the middle of the lid. As you can see, my holes are not perfect circles. That's okay, animals are not accustomed to perfect circles so relax, have fun and cut your holes.
Now you need to cut slots from the top of the bucket down. The top diameter should be approximately 1/2" (15mm) tapering to about 1/4" (7mm) at the bottom of the slot. This allows you to wedge your trap into the bucket. Do this on both sides of the bucket.
Next, use a body grip setter (or some other device to take the strain off your hands) to set your Conibear 220 body grip trap. Wedge your set trap (safety latch on) into the bucket. You do it the same way in the woods. If you're a little nervous your first time out, just set your trap at home (safety latch on) and transport it to your site.
Placing Your Trap
My dog Prince always traps with me. He loves the excitement of the catch and waits faithfully beside each critter as I remove it from the trap. He's also taught me a lot about animal habits. One of the most important parts of trapping is where you place your traps. Animals follow the natural trails through the woods; natural for them but not necessarily for humans! Before I set out traps Prince and I will take a hike through the woods. I watch where he goes. Of course he follows scents but even when he is just exploring he is following the… highways of his fellow critters. I observe his actions and then begin to set my traps. Prince is a big part of my trapping and a very faithful companion.
I built the following… set along side one of critter trails that Prince showed me. I secure my bucket by wedging it back into a stump, a tree, a rock, or in this case a fallen tree. The sides are also wedged with rocks and sticks to prevent the bucket from moving as an animal enters. Use sticks pushed through the trap outside the bucket to firmly secure the trap into the ground. Next, tie off your trap with wire to a nearby tree.
Use sticks to create a funnel effect into your bucket. Place a stick or two horizontal across the front to get them stepping straight into the bucket. Animals are very curious and want to check out the bucket. Once your sticks are in place it's time to begin really blending your set into the environment. I start with whatever is on the ground near the location of the set to cover it. Then I begin to add the flora that is in the area to make it a bit more enticing.
When the look of my set satisfies me, I'm ready to bait my trap. Bait can be just about anything. See if you can find out what the local trappers use. I've tried all sorts of baits and lures from different trapping supply houses; some work and some don't. I'm sure they all work in the area they were developed for. If I catch a mouse, it becomes bait. Whatever the cat drags in becomes bait. Many times I'll just throw in a couple of sardines---seems to be a critter delicacy in my area.
Set your trigger being careful to center it. Now you need to remove your safety latches, one inside the bucket and one on each side of your trap on the outside. The inside safety latch takes some careful practice but becomes quite easy when your hands stop shaking as you realize you can do it without catching your own fingers!
All done and waiting for a curious critter to become dinner.
As you're leaving the area make it look as undisturbed as possible. Cover your tracks and don't leave anything behind. I'm going home for the day and will be back tomorrow to check this set. My bucket is now ready to catch food for me 24 hours a day. Sure saves me time.
The next morning it's time to check the trap¦Prince is excited!
That's a nice Raccoon that will make a great stew. The hide will be tanned for later use.
I use the same bucket traps in the snow. It works great without freezing up and they're always out there hunting for me.
This is a nice Fisher Cat that couldn't resist one of my sets.
There's nothing mysterious about trapping. You build the 'set' and your bucket hunts for you all day, every day!
Knowledge is Power Learn and Live!