Knowledge is a good thing.

[Guest billy boy]

Dear Ditch Shitter,

You do sound to me as If you know alot about these Trapping situations, I'm really pleased with that . I've been interested in all these activities for many years now and all other things regarding the countryside. I do know alot of the Irish Fellows also. Do you know any of the guys from Waterford, good dog men and Trappers also.

 

Good Luck!

Billy boy.......

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Hullo, mate. How pleasent to enter into a one to one with a fellow enthusiast!

 

Now, if you'd asked me, a couple of years ago, if I was that good, I'd have locked eyes with you and sworn up and down that there wasn't much I hadn't and didn't know how to catch. Yep: I was a Bull Shitter! Now I've found this place ~ about a year ago, I'd imagine ~ and have sat in and listened as guys who could patently wipe the floor with me have held court in the most gentle, instructive and giving way. It's humbling to see the Real Deals in action and more so to be allowed to soak up the hard won knowledge they so willingly shared here. (Come to think of it; Don't take my word for it. Just click back to the first page of this board and read for yourself. Some of the photo's have sadly been lost. But there's still a wealth of brilliant stuff there )

 

Well, the Most inspirational part of all that - to me - was when " Peg & Gun " announced he'd found sign of a mink on his ground and declared he'd snare it. I'd never before seen this done in a forum. Plenty of guys out there claim to be experts. Watch them closely. Maybe once every few weeks they might slap up a shot of something they've caught! But we know they're out there, blundering around, finding their traps empty, day after day. They only wave the one's they were amazed and delighted to have actually caught at us, once they catch one.

 

But, no. P&G said a mink had come. Said he's snare him. Had that bugger inside about 48 hours! Now That Is Real! Mark of a Professional. There's a few such as that have posted here. See above.

 

But back to me? I - like most of us - must have absorbed enough Theory to fill a large book. But having the oppertunity to put it all into practice hasn't been so easy for me, up untill now. LOL! And how the theories get tested by real life, eh?! No book I ever studied said; " But you'll be plagued by badgers which, in your place and time, you won't be allowed to touch. Thus these sacrosanct creatures will blunder into, wreck and steal from every set you make! " That, I'm finding, is My reallity. I set traps within my own compound? My own bloody dogs go mental and attack the traps, as soon as I catch anything in them! Just as bad as the badgers outside. They destroy the set and render each site untenable there after. Honestly, Bill; I'm at my wits end here with it all

 

Anyway, as you know yourself; The Need to do it is born into us. There's no helping the impulse. The drive. I'm still trying everything I can think of. Much of it I'm pubishing here ~ a sort of Triers Journal. Why not join in? Do the same? You'll see my diatribes actually attract a huge number of views. People must be drawn to read it, for what ever reason. I know I always enjoyed the Experts stuff. I'd certainly be absolutley desperate to read of your own efforts - what ever your level. Please do join in and tell us how You get on, day to day.

 

And that's why I was drawn to this forum in the first place: All styles served here. Far less bullshit. And at least we're all out there, having a go

 

 

 

 

PS. Waterford? No, mate. Way out of my range. I'm a right Home Boy. But I Was told, before I ever got here; " The Trappers are all gone from Leitrim now. The mink hold sway. " Well; We'll have to see about that, in time. Badgers or no! I'll get the hang of it. Watch me!

[Guest billy boy]

Dear Ditch Shitter,

Many thanks for your reply to my earlier question. Have you done alot of Trapping over the year?For myself, like everyone else also we learn every day new things. My brother and myself had the privilage to know one of the finest Trappers in the game. He could snare or Trap anything. He was from the old school!

Good Luck! Billy boy......

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

'Old School' ? Aye, I did have the privelige too of being instructed by an old school man myself, in my youth. Stuff handed down from father to son for generations.

 

But there's the rub, isn't it? Whilst he told me the correct size of Gin Trap to set for a cat, I'm hardly about to go out and do that today, am I? Even if I could aquire such a trap. Which I very much doubt.

 

Still, just as he had to - more or less! - 'mend his ways' with the abolishon of the traps he was used to, he also went on to bend those old ways to suit the modern tools he was left with. Stoat still likes to see light at the end of that tunnel, wether there be a Gin or a Fenn between them.

 

There are still true experts out there though. Some have graced us with their presence here and may yet do. Some again, I know, would have nothing to do with a computer. I listen to them all.

 

Right now though, I'm rather wishing I had (or hadn't?) listened to myself, this morning. You see, the hoodies are booming around here. Land's shadowed by them every where I roam. I know it's fanciful of me to say so, but; I feel they mock me!

 

Now, if I just sit here and turn my head, I can see a distant rise on a hedge. Just a slightly taller spot. To one side stands a clean fence post. As good a marker as I need. It's all in plain view from this very chair, through my window. It's also 'covered' by a few good, tall trees. 'Crows Nest' look outs. I was going to set down there today. Going to yesterday ~ had my bag all loaded and ready! Never did. Thought of those damn badgers destroying everything over night sickened me and I never bothered. But it's been a long day and it's still quite bright out. I reckon I could have started on those crows and then taken in my kit by night fall. I'll get up tomorrow and get straight down there. I may not be too clever with these mink snares. But I reckon I can bag a crow pdq.

 

What's your take on that one?