Produced by Linda M. Everhart, Blairstown, Missouri
FOX TRAPPING
[Frontispiece: FALL CATCH]
FOX TRAPPING
A Book of Instruction Telling How
to Trap, Snare, Poison and Shoot
A Valuable Book for Trappers
EDITED BY
A. R. HARDING
Published by
A. R. HARDING PUB. CO.
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Copyright, 1906
By A. R. HARDING
CONTENTS.
I. General Information
II. Baits and Scents
III. Foxes and Odor
IV. Chaff Method, Scent
V. Traps and Hints
VI. All Round Land Set
VII. Snow Set
VIII. Trapping Red Fox
IX. Red and Grey
X. Wire and Twine Snare
XI. Trap, Snare, Shooting and Poison
XII. My First Fox
XIII. Tennessee Trapper's Method
XIV. Many Good Methods
XV. Fred and the Old Trapper
XVI. Experienced Trapper's Tricks
XVII. Reynard Outwitted
XVIII. Fox Shooting
XIX. A Shrewd Fox
XX. Still Hunting The Fox
XXI. Fox Ranches
XXII. Steel Traps
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Fall Catch
Almost Dry Enough To Turn
Vermont Hunter and Fox Skins
Left for the Foxes to Devour
A Good Runner
Some Pet Foxes
Silver and Black Fox Skins
Live Silver Fox
November Catch
Awaiting the Trapper
After the Chase
Trap and Grapnel
Caught in Maine
Caught by a Missouri Trapper
White Fox Skins
A Rhode Island Scene
Grey Fox
Sacking Foxes
Wire or Twine Snare
The Wire Loop
Spring Pole Snare
The Runway Snare Set
Some Canadian Reds
Caught in a No. 1
Caught on His Own Farm
Tennessee Trapper and Traps
Thirty Silver Fox Skins worth $5000
California Trapper Visiting Traps
Pennsylvania Fox Trapper's Cabin
New England Trapper's Catch
Pack of New England Fox Hounds
The Spring and Sod Set
Odorless and White as Snow
Canadian Trapper and Fifteen Reds
Adirondack Trapper
Fox Traps with Drags
Killed Before Breakfast
Result of a Three Day's Hunt
Always Hungry
Black Fox Skin Valued at $1500
Northern Fox Trapper's Dog Team
Fox and Other Steel Traps
[Illustration: A. R. Harding]
INTRODUCTORY.
If all the methods as given in this book had been studied out by one
man and he began trapping when Columbus discovered America, more than
four hundred years ago, he would not be half completed.
The methods given on the following pages are principally taken from
articles published in the H-T-T, and as the writers give their own
most successful methods, the trapper of little experience with fox
will find them of great value.
Their articles are from all parts of America, so that trappers from
any section will find a method or methods that can be used. The red
fox is the one most sets describe, yet what is a good method for one
species is apt to be for others.
A. R. HARDING.
FOX TRAPPING
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL INFORMATION.
Foxes are found in all parts of America, but probably most numerous
in the New England States and parts of Canada. The range of the red
is from Virginia to Alaska; grey, Southern and Southwestern States;
cross, Northern New Jersey to Manitoba; black, Alaska, and the
territories several hundred miles to the South and East; swift, the
prairies or Great Plains; white and blue, the Arctic Regions.
While their fur has been one of value for many, many years, and they
have been hunted, trapped and snared, yet their numbers are holding
up remarkably well owing to their shrewdness. While many tricks are
claimed for foxes that they never did, yet they are very cunning
animals and also fleet on foot.
In hilly and mountainous countries they travel much on the highest
ground, and have regular "crossings," where the experienced hunter or
trapper often makes a kill or catch.
Foxes are carnivorous--living on flesh. Their principal food consists
of rabbits, squirrels, mice, birds, bugs, eggs, etc. In some places
where the food named is not plenty they visit creeks, lakes and ponds
hunting crabs and fish. While they prefer fresh meat, they take stale
and even decayed meats in severe weather.
Most wild animals can be attracted a short distance by "scent" or
"decoy," and the fox is one of them. Several good recipts for scent
are given, but if there are no foxes in your neighborhood you can use
all the "scents" and "decoys" you wish on a hundred traps all season
without making a catch. There is no "decoy" that will attract a fox a
mile, but there are some that are good. That many of the writers made
good catches is bourn out by the various photographs, and in some
instances by personal visits by the author to the trapper.
Foxes should not be trapped or shot until cold weather. In the states
bordering on Canada about November 1st, while to the north they
become prime sooner, while to the south they do not become prime
until later.
The pelt should be cased, that is skinned without ripping, and drawn
upon a board. Several tacks or small nails can be used to hold the
skin in place. Leave on the board only two to five days, according to
the weather. When removed, turn fur side out. In drying, keep in a
cool shady place and free from smoke. The number caught and killed
annually is not known, but of the various kinds--red, grey, cross,
white, etc.--it is several hundred thousand.
[Illustration: ALMOST DRY ENOUGH TO TURN.]
The following letters cover trapping and snaring pretty thoroughly,
and all who read carefully and set their traps according to
directions (if there are any foxes) will probably be successful.
While the No. 2 Newhouse, which is a double spring, is known as the
fox trap, the No. 1 1/2 single spring will hold the animal. We have
known of several instances where fine "reds" were caught in a No. 1
trap. In those instances, however, the trap was fastened to a loose
brush and every time the fox made a lunge the brush gave. In using
the larger size, we advise using a brush or clog that will give with
every pull or jump of the fox. Traps should be visited every other
day, if possible, but never go only near enough to see that nothing
has been disturbed.
Owing to the wide distribution of the fox and the fact that they
often have crossings near buildings so that their tracks are seen,
etc., makes many inexperienced trappers think the number of animals
larger than it really is. The fact that foxes travel during the
coldest weather as well as any other time, gives the trapper an
opportunity to show his skill when such animals as bear, coon, skunk,
opossum and muskrat are "denned up." Fox skins at such times are at
their best.
As mentioned elsewhere, the greater per cent of the methods published
in this book are taken from the Hunter-Trader-Trapper, an illustrated
monthly magazine, of Columbus, Ohio, devoted to Hunting, trapping and
raw furs. New trapping methods are constantly being published in that
magazine, as experienced trappers from all parts of North America
read and write for it.