Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Ever wish it was you in the picture?

I'll say that running a trap line in Alaska was about as much work as anything I've done in the outdoors. I ran 100 traps plus snares one winter and that was about the death of me.

Was that your job or were you working elsewhere at the same time?

not that it's easy, but it's different if it's "spare time".

It weren't my 'job' but it was my 'job' since I set them and ran them.

I understand that as you understand my point.

I'd get up at 4am, run traps, go to work at 8am and then run them again at night. Weekends were non-stop 'work'

That's work all the way round. Guessing you have some pics?

Damn nice there Nemisis!

Gawd, that's a lot of skinnin!

I wouldn't mind spending a winter living the woods.

But as far as running a trapline as a business venture, it's way too little money for way too much work. About as apealing as mining for gold with a sluice. Working your azz off all day, day after day for minimum wage more or less isn't a tradeoff I'd be willing to make.

You call that work? Sounds like "recreation"!

I honestly believe trapping made me a better hunter. Trapping season started on 1 December and I remember heading out at midnight to set a string of marten traps.


I really miss that.

Me and a buddy are setting out tomorrow to put out a 100+ traps. We are getting a late start this year.

Yep.

RIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!

Mentioned that once to a gun-writer friend (Montana horseman) who heartily endorsed it.

He and a Pard had thought that they'd like to cross the States a-horseback from Canada to Mexico. They rode the Montana-Idaho line to Wyoming, where they eagerly sold their horses and gear.

They flat couldn't DO IT but still would've liked to HAVE DONE IT all the way.


Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeg differmints, all right!

(Ain't tellin' how I know! Or how many times I had to learn it! Ever bounce a BB off a boulder?)

..and I'm rusting traps right now, in preparation to dye and wax them.

I do miss trapping, it was such a QUIET time to be out there.

I'll never forget the night I went to check my wolf snares and saw a trio of wolf tracks in the snow heading the way of the snares. Walking through the dark with a flashlight, not knowing what I would find at the first group of snares had my heart racing.

Running beaver sets are a blast also

"This one time, at woof camp..."

Man - sounds awesome, wish we had the opportunity to do that here too.

I have a 15 year old son of a friend who has become my friend as well who I introduced to handloading, and he funds his shooting and hunting by trapping and has for a few years now. Great young guy.