MDC / MTA District 5 Youth Trapping Clinic

Submitted by Cletis Richards

Actually there were more adults than kids.
I think everyone enjoyed themselves instructors included. There were about 29 signed up but had some no-shows and according to Area MDC the plan is for this to be an annual event. Missouri Trappers Association donated several publications and had several members contributing. There was a lot of experienced trappers sharing there knowledge. Two of the Instructors had attended the Trappers College in Ind. We have five stations so the groups would be small, and able to answer any questions we spent approx.. 30 min per station and students rotated to new station.
The stations consisted of Maintenance ,adjusting and cleaning preparing traps for use,

Different styles sizes and uses of traps,

Different scents, lures, baits and their uses including application at the sets.

Anchoring, the various types from baling wire, drags, rebar, cross-staking, different disposables their uses pro's and con's.

Basic sets and equipment to make and maintain them as well as dispatch and care of animals.

All in All we gave them some very good basics and use of the tools.

We broke up in groups and made some actual sets showing students land and watersets Saturday afternoon and checked and pulled them early Sunday morning , the catch as dismal as it was were used in the skinning demo. Hard to catch a coyote with a herd of people stomping around the set, especially ones set as late in the day as these were. At least they got to see a good representation of sets and set locations.

Everyone hopes that it will become larger and include more than basics that we focused on.

Doren Miller, vice pres of MTA gave a fur skinning and fur handling demo and gave a lot of tips on preparation of furs for sale and what buyers look for in quality of furs. Doren was a good source of info in this area as he buys furs and sells trapping equipment.

I was very proud of all of the instructors and their professionalism and willingness to share their knowledge. I knew several personally and know first hand their skill level and it is not at the bottom.

Also pleased to announce that it seems our Missouri Dept of Conservation is 100% for and behind these clinics.

I think this project will get bigger and better in the future.

Now here's some pictures;

Agent Barnes giving greetings.

Barnes on trap preparation.

Different styles and uses of traps.

Lures baits and their uses.

Anchoring systems by yours truly.

Scott Burger District Supervisor for MDC, sets and set making equipment
Baseline and his son to Scott's right;

Doren Miller vice president of Missouri Trappers Association giving tips on fur handling and skinning.

(Frank Boucher,  in green hat left edge of picture)

Cletis