AboutMongo Expertise I can answer most basic questions concerning predator trapping and some water trapping. Questions about lures, baits, sets, traps, trap treatment, modification, sizes, equipment, usage, etc. I have been certified by the Okla. Dept. of Wildlife Conservation, First Okla. Trapper`s Assoc., and the Okla. State Univ. Extension Service as a trapping instructor, and in years past have given classes to people wishing to learn the sport...I also have a number of years experience in predator calling and can provide some basic answers to these questions as well.
Experience
Past/Present clients As far as teaching what I know to others. I take this to be what you mean here... I have helped my son, and son in law, as well as a number of others in this area, to get started in trapping and predator calling... I have had personal instruction from professional government ADC specialists, and I have 30 years experience running my own traplines, and over a half century of experience in the outdoors...... I have a friend who is a troop leader with the Boy Scouts. In the past I have done several demonstrations on trapping and predator calling for the boys, and on a number of occasions have helped the troop to set up and run a trapline during the winter, with proceeds going to the troop.
Question QUESTION: hello mongo can u tell me what part of the country, would be best to set up in if i was going to run a long line. for coon,muskrat,mink,beaver, i live in upstate ny, thank u very much. roger
ANSWER: Hello Roger,
Well, Roger, that isn't necessarily an easy question to answer... Let me give you a "for-instance"...... Lets say you wanted to trap coyotes...well, the coyotes in your area and on up into Maine and Canada, are bringing some of the highest prices paid right now. The coyotes down in Oklahoma and west Texas are only bringing maybe half as much money per pelt, on average...but you should be able to catch ALOT more of them there..... And it is the same way with the animals you mention... Some states may have a serious abundance of the animals you wish to target, but they may not be bringing the prices that another area is, which contains much less of these animals.
It is difficult to keep up with the prices offered and received for the various furs, and the abundance of fur bearers, due to the quality of fur from different areas, and the varying numbers in different areas.
The best suggestion I can give for answering your question is to join your state trapping association, and request that you receive a subscription to "THE TRAPPER AND PREDATOR CALLER" Magazine. I believe that all of the state's trapping associations give a subscription to this magazine with a membership.... If not, type THE TRAPPER AND PREDATOR CALLER Magazine, in your search bar and it will take you there. Then sign up for a subscription...... Every issue has "THE MARKET REPORT", which tells you what the furs are presently bringing in the different sections of the country, and what they are expected to bring in the future... This report is a very valuable resource for anyone considering starting a long line and looking for the best place to go to do so.
Let me also toss this in... Your area, in upstate New York, is a pretty good place to start a long line for the animals you mention... As of now, the prices paid for many of them from your area are as high as anywhere else in the country.... Really, if you are thinking of hitting the coon, muskrat, mink, and beaver, pretty hard...you shouldn't have to look much further than just out your back door.
Hope this helps Roger, and good luck,
Mongo
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QUESTION: thank u mongo u were a big help .ps the only thing i see is are coon here dont get what the west states get.
Answer
Well, different states and areas have different animals, and of different quality... We have coon, beaver, mink and muskrat, etc. here in Oklahoma too, but the quality of the fur is not as good as you all have in New York for these animals.
Good luck with it Roger, and if there is anything I can do, just give me a holler.
