Ode to Uncle Elton
- Thread starter Big Fin
- Start date
shoots-straight
Well-known member
Way to go Randy and Uncle Elton. Those that are critics of trapping have no clue as to what it really is about. This thread speaks well of the heritage we pass along.
BTW, last year while I was cleaning the grass of my 330 coni when it jumped up on my forearm.
You know it's damn tough getting one of those off, with only the use of one hand.
Maybe I should have kept that a little secrete between me and every animal inside a quarter mile that knew about it.
BTW, last year while I was cleaning the grass of my 330 coni when it jumped up on my forearm.
You know it's damn tough getting one of those off, with only the use of one hand.
Maybe I should have kept that a little secrete between me and every animal inside a quarter mile that knew about it.
Another morning of checking traps resulted in an afternoon of skinning and fleshing. I almost hope I don't catch anymore beaver, after skinning and fleshing these two today. But, given the beaver are starting to move a lot, I suspect I will get some more time on the beaver blades.
You saw this "before" pic in an earlier post. Here is another "after" pic. Two beaver in two checks, at this trap. good thing I only had three beaver sets. Put out one more today.
Here is what a 40# beaver looks like after he sticks his head in a 330 conibear. You can see what kind of a bind Shoots would be in to have one of those on his arm.
Ten muskrats make are worth twice what those two beaver are worth, and about one tenth of the work, of one beaver.
You saw this "before" pic in an earlier post. Here is another "after" pic. Two beaver in two checks, at this trap. good thing I only had three beaver sets. Put out one more today.
Here is what a 40# beaver looks like after he sticks his head in a 330 conibear. You can see what kind of a bind Shoots would be in to have one of those on his arm.
Ten muskrats make are worth twice what those two beaver are worth, and about one tenth of the work, of one beaver.
recon6036
Well-known member
Wish I knew more about trapping.....looks like a great time!
MinnesotaHunter
Well-known member
Great thread Randy! This what family and the outdoors is all about. God bless, uncle Elt.
shoots-straight
Well-known member
Sorry about the beaver. You know you should try and eat one.
EODRay
Active member
What a very cool thread. That huge smile on uncle Elton's face says that it's all worth it, regardless of any extra cash that comes from the effort. Bringing that kind of joy and re-kindling the love of the outdoors to someone in the latter stages of his life is what it's all about. Well done Randy! I think this thread makes us all want to go trapping…….and have an uncle Elton
elk_hunter
Active member
That is just super cool right there! Good stuff guys!
Put out a set yesterday that seemed like one of those "can't miss" locations. Well, this guy wanted to prove it was a "can't miss" location Must not be many guys trapping this section of the river, given the age and size of the rodents I am catching.
More skinning and fleshing than I care to do. But, the landowner walked down to the set with me and he was very happy to see this web-footed logger in the conibear.
Why beaver like to travel these narrow little channels to make scent mounds at the back end, is beyond me, but surely makes them easier to catch. This one has made his last scent mound.
Found five muskrats in my short string of traps this morning, covering the gas money, Starbucks, and a little to spare. Should have had seven. A mink or otter got one that was in a conibear and another got away.
The one that got away had the last laugh, today. I walked up to a set and a rat was below the lip of the three-foot river bank, in about an inch of water, gnawing on my carrot as if he had not a care in the world. As I snuck up to dispatch him, he dove in the water, disappearing, and straightening out trap wire to its end. He popped up about twenty feet from shore. WTH? I only have about two feet of wire on the trap.
I walk down to the set, reel in the wire, and find only a toenail in the trap. Damn it. As much as he loves carrots, he will not survive his next carrot thievery. The last laugh will be mine.
More skinning and fleshing than I care to do. But, the landowner walked down to the set with me and he was very happy to see this web-footed logger in the conibear.
Why beaver like to travel these narrow little channels to make scent mounds at the back end, is beyond me, but surely makes them easier to catch. This one has made his last scent mound.
Found five muskrats in my short string of traps this morning, covering the gas money, Starbucks, and a little to spare. Should have had seven. A mink or otter got one that was in a conibear and another got away.
The one that got away had the last laugh, today. I walked up to a set and a rat was below the lip of the three-foot river bank, in about an inch of water, gnawing on my carrot as if he had not a care in the world. As I snuck up to dispatch him, he dove in the water, disappearing, and straightening out trap wire to its end. He popped up about twenty feet from shore. WTH? I only have about two feet of wire on the trap.
I walk down to the set, reel in the wire, and find only a toenail in the trap. Damn it. As much as he loves carrots, he will not survive his next carrot thievery. The last laugh will be mine.
twodot
New member
Wow, you are quite the fur catcher for sure! Looks to me like Elton taught you a whole lot more than just trapping. Good job done by both of you. That has to be about as good as we get on this world.
shoots-straight
Well-known member
The good news is you caught a beaver. The bad news is you caught a beaver.
hearteater
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2014
- Messages
- 280
Anyone eat muskrats?
In the Chesapeake Bay area, they do have it on some restaurant menus. Steven Rinella saw how many I had caught and sent me a recipe for muskrat "hams." Haven't tried it yet.
dcopas78
Well-known member
I have a friend here in Ohio that traps beaver and makes jerky out of them. He says it is pretty good but I haven't got a chance to try it yet.
swilly
New member
Great Story
Randy, You have the ability to really tell a great story, whether it's here on-line, on OYONA or Freash Tracks. Thanks for sharing and I hope you will continue.
Randy, You have the ability to really tell a great story, whether it's here on-line, on OYONA or Freash Tracks. Thanks for sharing and I hope you will continue.
mn taxidermist
Active member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2010
- Messages
- 180
Awesome story Randy,I'm sure you and Elt have been having a blast.I can only imagine the stories being told while riding in the pickup.Any of you that know Elt realize that is where Randy got his gift of storytelling.The only difference is Elt's stories need more use of the bleep button.Seeing that open water sure gives me the fever to get out and catch some of them beaver, we still have feet of snow on the ground and everything is froze up tight.
twodot
New member
I've eaten muskrats a couple times. Tastes too much like they smell in my opinion. Not bad, just not very good. Beaver are another story, I would rather have a freezer full of beaver straps and rear quarters than elk any day. Pull the backstraps out and eat them however you want. Take rear quarter, bone out and in roast pot with carrots, taters, celery and onion. Simply can't be beat. Throw tails in enemy's yard on way to work. nasty
AZ402
Well-known member
Real good stuff Randy!
Just finished with today's haul. I am about done with the beaver skinning operation. They are a ton of work, especially when they are the size of these ones.
This big male came from the same location as on Monday. Two checks of the trap and two big beaver. Hopefully that is all who live there.
A good morning of rats. I am pulling a few traps every day, thinking they are getting thinned out in some spots. Ten of them are worth the time, gas, and effort to take care of them. The beaver, not so much.
Thinking I might pull everything in the next week. Got plenty of reorganizing and planning to do in preparation of a new filming season.
This big male came from the same location as on Monday. Two checks of the trap and two big beaver. Hopefully that is all who live there.
A good morning of rats. I am pulling a few traps every day, thinking they are getting thinned out in some spots. Ten of them are worth the time, gas, and effort to take care of them. The beaver, not so much.
Thinking I might pull everything in the next week. Got plenty of reorganizing and planning to do in preparation of a new filming season.
