Need help new to trapping!!

[rustynail]

Hey y'all, my name is rusty from southeast louisiana. I am new to trapping and hope y'all can start me on the right foot. I am a avid hunter and always wanted to learn the trade of trapping. I am on a limited budget just getting started and need to know what basic items I might need to trap in my part of the country. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[gailkeller]

Welcome,Rusty,we are glad to have you as a member of the forum.If you would put your location and give some more information on what animals you would like to trap and the area you will be trapping,we will be better able to help you.You can read back through the back pages of this forum to find valuable information on different types of furbearers and the methods used to catch them.You can go to Trapperman.com and read through their Archives section to find other helpful information on furbearers and trapping.The trapping season started November 20 and is just getting in full swing,it does not end until March 31,to find more information on trapping and the regulations here in Louisiana,Google,"PDF LDWF Trapping Regulations 2011-2012".

[rustynail]

Sorry bout that thought i hade my location on here. I am wanting to trap any furbearer in my area beaver, otter, mink, coyote, fox, coon, skunk, possum, etc. I have a few promising spots to get started on. Like I said I have always had a interest in it and might even pay off a little but I will just have to take it slow and pay attention to what y'all have to say on these forums. What would be some good traps to get started with, already have many box traps.

[gailkeller]

Most furbearers can be divided into water trapping,beaver,otter,coon,and mink or land trapping,coyotes,red and grey fox,bobcats,and coons,skunks and possums to a lesser degree.Beaver and otter are easily caught in the water in conibear traps,330 or 280 size and otter and coon can be caught on land at crossings and in trails with 220 conibears,when setting on land every effort should be made to avoid unwanted,incidental catches of pets or hunting dogs in conibear traps.Traps used for coyotes and bobcats are usually #3 coilspring and #1.5 coilspring for fox and coon.A #1.75 or #2 coilspring trap is a good compromise for most predators in Louisiana,try to stay with #1.5 coilspring for coon and mink,on land or in the water.Otter,bobcat,red and grey fox,mink,and coon,with the meat sales,are the best furbearers to target this season if you want to make some profit back.It is always good to remove coyotes,skunks,and possums from an area to help the game animals and game birds as well as nuisance beaver,these nuisance animals can get you permission to trap private land.By box traps,I assume you mean wire cage traps for coons,these can be used,also.Start off slow,take it one step at a time,there is a learning curve to trapping that will last a lifetime,welcome to the club.Read,read,read and read again,then come back and ask questions.

[rustynail]

Thanks that gives me a good idea on sizes I need to get started. And this us kinda off subject but what us a cat toliet?

[lacoonazz32]

Promise you will Learn alot there are some good people on hear that are willing to teach and remember there is no such thing as a dumb question. I am still learning this being only my second season but I'm sure anyone else can tell you there is always something new to learn no matter how many years you have under your belt. And just a warning trapping is addicting just hope your wife or girlfriend can get used to the smell lol

[gailkeller]

Rustynail,a bobcat toilet is a location that most of the bobcats in a given area will use at one time or another to declare their presence and communicate other facts to the other bobcats,such as coming into heat for the breeding season.I do not find many here in Louisiana but,they are more common out West in New Mexico,they are bobcat magnets and should always be gang set when found,no matter what time of the season.Scent post sets with droppings,urine,and gland lure work best at these locations,as well as blind trail sets or exposed walk through sets on the trails that that lead in and out of these toilet areas,traps on drags will preserve the set areas most times.Snares set on the secondary trails,back a ways from the toilet location,that funnel onto the primary trails are good sets to take an extra bobcat or two and maybe even a curious coyote intent on giving a trapped bobcat a hard time.Never let a bobcat toilet location go unset,they will continue to produce season after season,look for protected locations near their travel ways.