Trapping Techniques for Beginners
(Trapline 2000 Revised)

By Hal Sullivan

148 pages

Introduction

1. The Trapper:
Renewable Resources and Conservation; Ethics and Responsible Trapping; The Future of Trapping

2. Traps and Equipment:
Foothold Traps – Basics, Theory and Application, Adjustments and Modifications; Bodygrip Traps – Basics, Theory and Application, Adjustments and Modifications; Snares - Design and Use of Snares, Lethal and Nonlethal Sets, Setting Snares; Other Traps; Trap Care and Maintenance – Cleaning, Coating; Miscellaneous Equipment

3. Fastening Systems:
Hardware – Swivels, Terminal Fasteners, Wire; Nonlethal Fastening Systems – Entanglement, Heavy or Immobile Anchors; Stakes; Drags and Grapples; Releasing and Dispatching Animals; Lethal Fastening Systems – Entanglement, Simple Drowning Systems, Slide Wire Drowning Systems

4. Basic Elements of a Set:
The Trap - Bedding and Stabilizing, Trap Placement, Forces and Guides, Covering Traps; Water Sets; Attractors - Sight Attractors, Scent Attractors; Location – Habitat, Animal Sign, Natural Features

5. Basic Sets:
Blind Set; Pocket Set; Dirthole Set; Flat Set

6. Furbearing Animals:
Muskrats; Raccoons; Mink; Canines; Skunks and Opossums; Beaver

7. Fur Handling:
Preparation; Tools – Gloves, Knives, Skinning Gambrel, Brushes and Fur Combs, Specialty Tools; Case Skinning - The Opening Cuts, Removing the Pelt, Special Considerations; Fleshing - Special Considerations; Stretching and Drying; Freezing Fur; Handling Beaver Pelts; Dimensions for Wood Stretchers

Conclusion

Glossary