The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-12-26
THE ART OF TRAPPING
BY Captain Frank Winch

ny SdpLStn FRANK winch
There's one. uncertain thing about
hunting-the weather. MANY a man
has planned for months,> tied up
considerable sum of money! in his out
fit and at no inconsiderable expense
got himself TO the big game destina-
ton only to find q siege of untoward
climatic conditions that makes hunt
ing impossible The alternative of
munching the cud of dissatisfaction
by the cabin fire is offered in the
fact that knowledge of trapping
may turn an otherwise ruined vaca-
ton into one of fun and profit
The matter of traps and other para
phernalia for the game is best left to
the individual choice. guided by local
conditions of the fur to be taken.
Traps are important, but the lure to
be used in their connection is equally
so. Scent alone or traps alone is in
sufficient. He who would run trap
line must know something of the
habits Of the game and this with jul
dicious use of snare, bait and lure will
do the trick. Be careful in locating
and making the SETS Do not use too
much scent, a few drops is a plenty.
and these near the trap. Commercial
scents are on the market in a great
variety at prices that range up to
dollar a bottle The homemade ar
ticle will do as well in some cases
better For those who prefer to make
their own, the following notes wiz be
of interest.
For WolF-Pint of oil, one-haIf fish,
one-half musk glands and a little oil
of rhodium. Muskrat scent glands
have the most musk in the spring.
Fox-To half a pint of lard add
musk glands and scent bag of skunk.
IT possible in place of lard use oil
made from the fat Of skunk or coon.
(Note-If you have any value for your
domestic relations. do not mix this
concoction in the wife's kitchen) For
those of you who plan to play the
trapping game for the first time, boT-
row gas mask when fussing with
this stuff. Another suggestion. Tip
off the board OF health that nothing
serious has happened in your home
Coon, Mink, Etc.-FTsh oil is best.
Bottle up some small fish and place
in the sun ror an hour each day until
an oil forms. Pour off the oil The
| process takes several days (keep the
| gas mask handy Other scents used
! by trappers are Beaver castor, made
/ from the glands and anise oil.
! Trapping with bats is more inter
testing from the olfactory point Of
view and is conceded to be just as
| successful. For marten, wildcat,
weasel, fox, skunk, Jpposum, coon and
mink, use fresh and bloody tidbits of
rabbit, fowl or fresh meat
Settinu the Trap.
The proper manner of setting the
! trap is important Study the animals
/ haunts and set for him on a knoll
under vines, at a hollow stump. tree
or hole. In the winter months eZ-
lperienced uappers prefer to use scent
/ One way of attracting animals to the
tran is to take a small sponge, run
a string through it. pour on the scent,
| then fasten the sponge to the hollow
of the shoe under the instep Ordl-
narily most animals will follow this
scent to the traps.
Set your beaver and otter trap at
the foot Of their slides just under the
water. If you use poison for wolves
or fox. make a meat bali and nut the
pcison in the center Mink are us
uallv found near swamps, along
streams and their waterways. Skunk
in open fields near small shrubbery.
and in winter on the high ground.
Coons you viii find in the dense
foods. Land annals are the first TO
20 prime in the late fall and early
winter. water animals the last. Keep
the skins loose and straight. Don't
roll them up Never apply heat III
driving skins. Remove all fat from
the skins and always take. out the
bones. Never handle your traps with
bare hands, clean and smoke traps
and oil them to prevent rust. It is
well to mark your traps with file,
and fasten them SO they can't get
away
With the exception of the coon
small fur bearers should be skinned
whole by cutting around both hind
4 legs below the knee and straight