Team Fur News
Going Away and Coming Home
By FUR-FISH-GAME Editor, John D. Taylor
Theo, the new kid on the block. Photo: Nancy Whiting
Homecoming, typically a school-sponsored early-autumn dance in the high school gymnasium, was, and remains, a big deal for high school students. The young ladies get their dresses, special hairdos and gussy up for the event. The young gents generally do likewise.
When I was in high school, in 1978, that meant a tuxedo shop visit, to find a powder blue tux with navy blue sleeve and lapel accents, a ruffledy-shirt and a navy-blue bow tie. Man, did we look swanky – despite powder blue tuxes in various permutations sprinkling most of the gym. Back then, York, Pennsylvania, only had two tuxedo shops. Both carried the same inventory.
Naturally, a fella also had to get a corsage for his date, which meant a trip to a florist, likely the first time any of us went to such a place. Still, even working part time at the grocery store, homecoming took a big chunk out of my budget. All this expense, fuss and bother for a single evening’s outing? The young ladies had it worse. Their primping cost more. But it was a rite of passage then and now. Futures were cast during homecoming – budding relationships grew or disintegrated, college plans might be laid out, ideas to leave home or stay were originated. It was a big deal. It meant something.
I’ve had a bunch of goings away and homecomings recently.
One going involved Willa, our 3-year-old English setter. We lost her in late June, the first time we’ve ever lost a dog before age 10. Somehow, she ingested a round, silver-dollar sized, felt disc that had sharp edges. It looked like a big, felt furniture pad, the kind that makes chairs slide easier on floors. As it moved through her, it lacerated her intestines.
One of Willa’s most glorious days was when she pointed this South Dakota trifecta, a sharptail, a Hungarian partridge and a rooster, all from the same covert.
Our vet bent over backwards trying to save her life. Initially, this looked promising. Five days after surgery, she was given an 80/20 percent chance of pulling through. But by the eighth day, it became obvious we had to make the hard decision to put her down – a tremendous loss, because she was very much loved, and she was coming into her own as a seriously great bird dog. With sharptail populations booming, I foresaw a fantastic fall, a crackerjack bird dog really showing her stuff. Our other setter, Ellen, is approaching 13. She’s in good shape for an old gal, but I considered retiring her this fall. She hunts but is no longer capable of handling a full day.
What bothers me most about Willa is how she got what she ingested. It wasn’t carelessness. Ellen, Willa and I took our mile-long morning walk on heel on our gravel road nearly daily. I watched both dogs like a hawk to make sure they didn’t get into anything. And the only time she was unsupervised was when I was doing morning horse chores, a 45-minute period at most. Willa was in the fenced-in backyard on our property. We’ve never had anything like what she ate among our possessions. I don’t want to believe someone would hurt her, but this haunts me.
Another going, in mid-July, was a trip to the National Trappers’ Association Convention with F-F-G publisher Eric Schweinhagen, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Initially, plans were for me to fly from South Dakota to Harrisonburg, then rent a vehicle to drive north and visit family in Pennsylvania (nine years since my last visit), then fly out from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Willa’s passing changed that. During Willa’s time at the vet, we decided to get another English setter puppy, whether she recovered or not. When I contacted Flanagan Springs Kennel, Willa’s breeder, to update them on her condition and inquire if they had a potential litter soon ready to go home, serendipity intervened. A mid-May litter of 12 tri-color puppies, eight males and four females, would be 9 weeks old, ready to come home in mid-July.
I don’t trust airlines to transport dogs – too many horror stories. So, I figured I’d drive to Virginia, hop back over the Appalachians to Winchester, Kentucky to fetch the puppy, go north to visit with family – who were anxious to see the puppy – then drive home to South Dakota.
Brock and Susan Daugherty own Flanagan Springs Kennel. They’re special, good people. Both have equine backgrounds and have applied that knowledge to breeding and raising Ryman-type, foot-hunting English setters for many years. They do it absolutely right – Baer hearing tests on all puppies, hip, thyroid and other health tests to make sure they’re producing sound, healthy gun dogs. The kennel, in my opinion, is just the right size – big enough to offer regular litters, small enough to avoid the big kennel mistakes I’ve seen in other kennels.
Following the three-day NTA convention – where I enjoyed talking to and meeting many of our readers, along with a couple of writers for the magazine – I drove the six hours back to Winchester to pick up Theo, one of the eight males. The Daughertys chose him for me, and they certainly picked a winner. Since all my dogs have literary root names, Theo is named for a pair of Theos: Theodore Roosevelt, and one of my favorite turn-of-the-20th-century Southern writers, Theophilous Nash Buckingham. My first setter, also a tricolor, was Nash, named after Buckingham. Since we were kind of starting over, that seemed appropriate.
Theo and I began our northbound journey in an inauspicious way. As we left the kennel, Susan handed me Theo, to gently put him in the kennel crate on the folded down back passenger side seat, so I could reach a hand back and comfort him. We did this with Willa, and it worked out quite well. As the kennel door went shut, Theo began yodeling his sad, sad puppy song. He kept it up for the next 45 minutes up the road – I called my wife, Nancy, and she laughed at his singing. Then I got a whiff of something foul and exited I-64. All the excitement, trauma and worry of leaving his home, the Daughertys and momma, was splattered throughout the kennel. Yuck!
Fortunately, I was prepared to deal with this. I cleaned up Theo and the messy crate, and from then on, when Theo whimpered, it was time to pull over. He rode without incident the whole way to Dallastown, Pennsylvania that night – a long drive across Kentucky, into West Virginia, then northern Maryland on I-68. I refuse to drive the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as I've had some rough drives on that roadway.
I arrived at my folks’ home at 10:30 p.m. Sunday night. The visit would be short because I needed to get back to work and get Theo home. Nancy hadn’t seen him, and she was very excited to bring a new puppy into our lives.
My mother is 87 and while she’d love to have a dog, she simply can’t keep up with one. She was nuts about Theo. She called him a beautiful puppy and loved him up big time. Naturally, he thoroughly enjoyed all the attention she offered.
Monday, I rested after all that driving, hung around the house, took Theo into the backyard repeatedly. Jim, my mother’s friend, came by with a take-out pizza dinner, and my sister, Jennifer, her husband Brian, their daughter Rachel and Rachel’s daughter Riley came to visit Theo. Everyone adored him and he basked in the attention. It was really good to see everyone being happy and healthy.
Tuesday, Theo and I visited my uncle and aunt, David and Ann Reichard. We had a splendid visit, catching up on old times, family news, and other goings on. Ann especially loved having Theo around. She’d helped with the litter of 10 English setter puppies we raised in 2012.
Setter fishing: A pheasant tail makes great bait for English setters young and old. Photo: Nancy Whiting
After the visit, I took a brief drive through southern York County, my old stomping grounds. I’d heard development chewed up much of the countryside. Development had certainly grown from what it was nine years earlier, but I was surprised to see most of the farmlands there still in production, many of them now run by Amish families. Also, Muddy Creek’s fly-fishing-only area, where my F-F-G journey began, showed little change, other than more no parking and posted signs.
Wednesday, we headed home, for South Dakota. I was up very early. When I hopped into the downstairs shower my father and I had always used, a puppy head poked around the shower curtain, and Theo came the rest of the way in – until he got wet. I had to laugh. In just two days, he’d become my shadow.
We hit rain, rain, and more rain on the way home. Sometimes it came down so hard traffic slowed to 40 mph on the highways. We made it to the first rest stop west of Des Moines, Iowa, on I-80 that night at 1 a.m. I figured I’d sack out for a bit, get up and push the rest of the way in. I wanted to get home.
However, my 2012 Expedition, “Brandy,” disagreed. With 220,000 miles on her – 160,000 of them mine – the “Service Advance Trac” warning light monkey wrench flashed. I ended up being towed to Adair, Iowa, to T&C Auto, owned by Tony and Cindi Lee, to have the vehicle looked at. I hoped the fix would be simple and within a few hours I could get going. Not so. The code reader flagged a dozen codes. Tony needed to keep my truck to work on it.
So, I rented a Nissan Rogue with no cruise control and drove home. Nancy finally got to meet Theo, and all was good. I worried about Brandy, but in due time, Tony and Ty worked out the codes. I flew back to Des Moines, was picked up by Cindi at the airport, returned to Adair, and drove Brandy home.
Of all these comings and goings, the joy of a new English setter puppy and sharing some time with my family and another NTA adventure proved the most fulfilling, making a dent in some of the empty hole created by Willa’s going. When my time comes to shuffle off the mortal coil, skip the harps and angels. I hope to be greeted by a bunch of happy-tailed English setters and a couple of Tennessee walking horses waiting to hunt sharptails on South Dakota prairie.
A happy hunting ground, that’s my version of heaven.
Theo shows off some of the style I hope to see from him in the future. Photo: Nancy Whiting
Illinois, Ohio CWD updates
Illinois and Ohio wildlife agencies are concerned about the impact of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) on state deer herds. Illinois is holding a series of meetings about CWD in the state, and Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources confirmed 24 whitetails taken during the 2024-25 hunting season tested positive for CWD. Photo: Mister A/Unsplash
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will host a series of public meetings throughout northern and west-central Illinois to provide information on the status of chronic wasting disease (CWD), its effect on free-ranging deer populations and the department’s ongoing efforts to manage the disease in September. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that threatens the long-term health of Illinois whitetails. First documented in 2002 near Roscoe, Illinois, CWD has been detected in 25 northern edge and northeastern counties, and as far south as west-central Illinois. CWD was also detected in Adams, Marshall, Peoria, and Putnam counties in early 2025 following IDNR monitoring of hunter-harvested deer. Adams County is the first documented case recorded outside of the leading edge of the CWD endemic region of northern Illinois. At these meetings, IDNR staff will discuss current management strategies and answer questions. CWD is a priority in Illinois’ future deer management. Meetings begin at 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted, with a 45- to 60-minute presentation, discussion to follow.
Meetings will be held on these dates: Marshall County - Sept. 18, Lacon Area Community Center, 405 N. Washington Street, Lacon; Putnam County - Sept. 19, Putnam County Public Library, 214 N. 4th Street, Hennepin; Peoria County - Sept. 22, Peoria Public Library, 3001 W. Grand Parkway, Peoria; Bureau County - Sept. 23, Princeton Chamber of Commerce, Prouty-Zearing Community Building, 435 S. Main Street, Princeton; Winnebago County - Sept. 24, Winnebago County Forest Preserve; 5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford; Carroll County - Sept. 25, Ingersoll Learning Center, 7071 Riverview Road, Thomson; Jo Daviess County - Sept. 26, Stockton Public Library, 140 W. Benton St., Stockton; Lee County - Sept. 29, 5:30-7 p.m., Winifred Knox Memorial Library, 112 S. Elm St., Franklin Grove; Ogle County - Sept. 30, Oregon VFW Post 8739, 1310 W. Washington St., Oregon; Adams County - Oct. 2, John Wood Community College, 401 1301 S. 48th St., Quincy. For complete information, contact Chris Jacques, wildlife disease program manager at (773) 636-0819 or by email at chris.jacques@illinois.gov.
In Ohio, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) confirmed 24 whitetails taken during the 2024-25 hunting season tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) from a total of 5,783 deer tested. Hunters harvested 23 of these deer in Allen, Hardin, Marion and Wyandot counties. For the first time, a deer harvested by a hunter in Morrow County also tested positive for CWD. More information on Ohio CWD can be found at ohiodnr.gov/cwd. The website dashboard includes location and harvest information for all CWD-positive wild whitetails confirmed since 2020. CWD was first discovered in Ohio in 2002. Since then, more than 40,000 deer were tested.
North Dakota Pheasant Counts Up
North Dakota’s Game and Fish Department heard 6% more rooster pheasants crowing in its 2025 spring count compared to 2024. Photo: Bob Brewer/Unsplash
North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGF) personnel heard 6% more rooster pheasants crowing in its 2025 spring count compared to 2024. R.J. Gross, NDGF upland game management biologist, said two easy winters and warmer temperatures helped. Primary pheasant regions showed 31.1 crows per stop in the southwest, up from 28.8 in 2024; 21.3 crows per stop in the northwest, down from 21.5; and 18.6 crows per stop in the southeast, up from 16.2. The count in the northeast, which is not a primary region for pheasants, was 6.5 crows per stop, up from 5 last year. Gross expected more good news as the pheasant hatch peaked. Pheasant crowing counts are conducted each spring. Observers drive specified 20-mile routes, stopping at predetermined intervals, and count the number of roosters heard crowing over a 2-minute period.
Gray Fox Trapping, Hunting Seasons Closed
Illinois closed gray fox hunting and trapping indefinitely in July. Photo: Mitchell Hamilton/Unsplash
Illinois hunting and trapping seasons for gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were closed indefinitely in July. Research showed a substantial decline in gray fox distribution and abundance during the last decade. Even though Illinois hunters and trappers harvest very few gray foxes, this closure will remove any additional pressure and additive mortality. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will continue to conduct annual surveys and evaluate the gray fox population in Illinois. A state legislature bill to close the season was an IDNR initiative, with broad support from conservation groups, including the Illinois Trappers’ Association. Reasons for the gray fox decline are complex, but most research indicates that diseases such as canine distemper and competition from other canids, like coyotes, are the primary causes.
Wisconsin Hunting, Trapping Forecasts
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ 2025 fall forecast series, detailing the hunting outlook for popular game species, is available online. Photo: Roger Chapman/Unsplash
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (WDNR) 2025 hunting outlook for popular game species is available online. The forecasts outline what hunters and trappers across the state can expect this fall. In addition to information about specific game, the forecasts also include helpful reminders about public land access opportunities, game registration requirements and season dates. Although the forecasts are intended to offer predictions about upcoming hunting and trapping seasons, they’re based on a thorough analysis of available species data, including state and federal species surveys, WDNR research projects, weather patterns and the on-the-ground information from advisory committees and staff. To explore the forecasts, all in PDF format, click on the links below:
2025 Fall Deer Hunting Forecast
2025 Fall Upland Game Bird Forecast
2025 Fall Migratory Bird Hunting Forecast
2025 Fall Bear Hunting Forecast
2025 Fall Furbearer Hunting And Trapping Forecast
Larger FUR-FISH-GAME Metal Tack Signs
We are introducing a limited run of a larger version of our popular metal tack sign. Now available as a three-foot wide sign, and only $40.95, plus shipping. Get it here: https://www.furfishgame.com/store/product535.html or call our office Monday through Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm EST. (614)231-9585.
Bears Making News
Bears, including black bears, are making headlines across the country, including a Wisconsin woman being attacked by a black bear in her backyard. Photo: J. Hall/VFWD
Bears are making much news recently. For example, in July, a 69-year-old woman was attacked by a black bear in the backyard of her rural home near Comstock, Wisconsin. The victim reported the attack at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 12. She was able to call 911 and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The Barron County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Services investigated. These agencies monitored a series of live-traps and game cameras on the property. WDNR wardens and USDA Wildlife Services also attempted to track the bear using a trained bear hound, but the search was unsuccessful. After two weeks of round-the-clock surveillance, no additional signs of the sow black bear were seen. WDNR trapped and released two boar black bears, two yearling bears and two sows unrelated to the incident. WDNR also collected a dead sow found along a roadway 1.6 miles from the attack site. Necropsy results showed no evidence of this was the same bear linked to the attack. It’s unknown why the attack occurred. WDNR says that 24,000 bears live in Wisconsin and encourages residents to practice bearwise.org safety tips, like making sure bear attractants like food, garbage, bird seed and pet foods are properly stored, and to avoid bear contacts.
In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) reminded residents of Jo Daviess and Carroll counties that a black bear was seen late in summer by multiple landowners at private residences south and east of Galena. Seeing a bear may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Illinois residents, and a bear’s presence isn’t necessarily a threat to human safety. Still, it’s important to remember bears are wild animals and should be treated as such. People who encounter a bear should give it sufficient space while backing away slowly and quietly.
Further west, in Montana, the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department (FWP) unveiled its Bear Relocation Dashboard in an attempt to offer more insight into bear management and keep landowners and communities aware when black bears or grizzly bears are relocated. Rumors about problem bears being “dumped” in some areas were commonplace. However, this new dashboard displays general relocations on an interactive map. FWP relocates bears for a variety of reasons, and the map allow users to see information about the relocation, including the species of bear, general reason and the date of latest relocation. Visit https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/relocation.
North Carolina Walleyes?
North Carolina’s walleye fisher is improving, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Photo: Zab Consulting/Unsplash
Mention walleyes and most anglers think about the Midwest, where a passion for walleye fishing is almost a religion. However, don’t discount the South as walleye country. In North Carolina, for example, walleye numbers and angler success stories are on the upswing, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). Survey results from Lake James and Lake Hiwassee, along with angler reports, suggest that walleye populations are on the rebound in the mountain reservoirs. NCWRC has been managing walleyes for more than 70 years and working since 2000 to increase walleye numbers through a robust hatchery-reared stocking program. Prior to 2000, walleye populations in mountain reservoirs were self-sustaining. There was no need to supplement the populations. But, mainly due to impacts from illegally introduced invasive species (such as white perch, alewife and blueback herring), walleye populations declined. So, NCWRC began supplementing the populations with hatchery-reared fish. In 2025, NCWRC stocked more than half a million walleye fingerlings. Over the past six years, more than 3.2 million walleye fingerlings were stocked. These efforts are making a difference. During the past six years, the average number of walleyes collected during spring brood fish surveys in the Catawba River above Lake James increased by 404% and 227%, respectively. Stocking rates have also increased for Lake Fontana, Lake Hiwassee and Lake Glenville. NCWRC currently stocks these reservoirs with walleye fingerlings each May and conducts walleye population surveys each fall.
New Minnesota Fur Farm Rules?
Minnesota is looking at changing its rules for licensed fur farms in the state. Photo: Prazanthy Ramesh/Unsplash
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is seeking public input on proposed new rules for state-licensed fur farms. The proposed rules aim to strengthen standards for animal containment, disease testing and reporting, clarify requirements for carcass and waste disposal and establish protocols for the transportation of live animals and animal products. The proposed changes aim to reduce the risk of spreading diseases between farmed and wild animals, ensure humane care standards, and strengthen the state’s ability to respond to potential outbreaks. This is part of a broader legislative effort to update regulations for fur farms, game farms and feral swine. The draft rules were developed with input from a diverse working group that included fur farming industry representatives, animal advocacy organizations and state agencies. The public can also participate by filling out the online questionnaire available through Monday, Sept. 15. Visit engage.dnr.state.mn.us/embeds/projects/7944/survey-tools/26873. Or write to or email Jason Abraham, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – FAW, 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN 55155, email - jason.abraham@state.mn.us.
Washington Approves Lethal Removal of Two Wolves From Pack
WDFW Director Kelly Susewind approved the lethal removal of two wolves from Togo pack after three confirmed livestock depredations occurred in less than 30 days. Photo: Andrew Ly/Unsplash
In July, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) considered lethal removal of wolves from the Togo pack to change the pack’s depredating behavior in Ferry County. WDFW investigated three depredation events (two confirmed and one probable) in the pack territory, resulting in two dead calves and one injured calf belonging to two different producers. These depredations happened within a period of less than 30 days. WDFW staff discussed the depredations and the use of non-lethal measures in this pack’s territory, including daily or near daily range riding,?the presence of ranch staff and removing sick and injured livestock and carcasses. Ultimately, however, WDFW determined this wouldn’t work, so WDFW Director Kelly Susewind approved the lethal removal of two wolves from Togo pack. Susewind’s decision was consistent with the state’s wolf management plan. If three confirmed depredation events occur within a period of less than 30 days, lethal removal is justified. WDFW will provide a final report on this and any other lethal removal actions during 2025 in its annual wolf management report.
Invasive carp Found in Mississippi River Pool 8
Invasive carp were found in Mississippi River Pool 8. Photo: MNDR
Invasive carp, previously fitted with acoustic tags, have led the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and its state and federal partners to a school of invasive carp in the Mississippi River’s Pool 8, located of at the confluence of the Root River, near La Crosse, Wisconsin. A team of U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) biologists, who partner with MDNR to share tagged carp monitoring data, notified MDNR of 10 tagged grass carp and silver carp in the location. MDNR deployed commercial anglers to try to capture the carp. Due to high river flow, capture success was limited. MDNR managed to capture two adult male silver carp, releasing milt, indicating readiness to spawn. MDNR, USFWS and Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources continued aggressive efforts to track and capture the invasive carp using a custom net adapted to high flow. Invasive carp have been moving upstream and competing with native fish since escaping into the Mississippi River from commercial fish farms in Arkansas in the 1970s. Invasive carp captures in Minnesota must be reported to MDNR immediately by calling (651) 587-2781 or emailing invasivecarp.dnr@state.mn.us. Visit mndnr.gov/invasive-carp for more information.
Count Migrating Chimney Swifts
Swift Night Out in September aims to count chimney swifts and locate roost sites. Photo: Matthew Jolley/Shutterstock
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group are seeking volunteers to participate in Swift Night Out, and count chimney swifts between mid-August and early September. Monitoring chimney swift populations helps identify important roost sites and find ways to protect them. Chimney swifts are unique birds. They nest and roost in chimneys, and are beginning to migrate south, all the way to the Amazon, beginning in mid-August. Once dependent on cavities in standing dead trees, swifts now rely on manufactured structures, like chimneys, for nesting and roosting. The transition to chimneys began as forests were cleared and standing dead trees were removed. The North American Breeding Bird Survey shows chimney swift numbers declined by 72% in the past 50 years. Fewer structures now have usable chimneys, which could be driving the species' decline. During migration, something special happens: Chimney swifts become communal, gathering at dusk in great numbers, occasionally in the thousands. To count chimney swifts, watch for swifts swooping and circling near a chimney to determine if they might roost there about 20 minutes before sunset until 10 minutes after the last swift enters the chimney. Count (or estimate) the number of swifts entering the chimney. It’s useful to count in groups of 5 or 10 when they enter quickly in large numbers. A hand-held clicker counter can also be helpful. Then enter your data on eBird (ebird.org/home). Visit the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group website, www.wiswifts.org.
Kirtland’s Warbler Decline Addressed
Michigan’s Kirtland warbler numbers are down, but wildlife agencies aim to correct that through habitat creation. Photo: MDNR
A team of Michigan conservation experts from state and federal agencies and nonprofit groups is undertaking a long-term plan to stabilize the population of the once-endangered Kirtland’s warbler. The 2025 census of the colorful songbird indicates a population decline: The recent census found 1,477 breeding pairs in Michigan, home to 98% of the global population. Another 12 pairs were counted in Wisconsin, and Ontario's numbers have yet to be reported. A 2021 census estimated the global population at 2,245 pairs, with Ontario reporting 22 pairs. One reason for the decline is a reduced breeding habitat. Ground-nesting Kirtland’s warblers rely exclusively on 6- to 20-year-old jack pine forests to breed, with the vast majority of the birds living on state and federally managed acreage in northern Lower Michigan. With not enough young jack pine stands available to maintain a stable population, state and federal agencies – a collaborative team of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, American Bird Conservancy, Huron Pines and others – will adjust their tree-harvesting strategy to create more breeding habitat in designated management areas. The goal is to maintain at least 1,000 pairs of Kirtland’s warblers. By selling timber to clearcut mature jack pine, followed by planting jack pine seedlings – this mimics natural forest regeneration – land managers aim to provide a consistent amount of habitat to support this goal.
My First Trapline
100th Anniversary Article from February 1926
By Willard Reeve
It was the fall of 1917 when I first gave trapping any very serious thought. That fall, the United States had just become involved in the World War, and furs, like everything else, rose in value. I lived in a wilderness section of northern Minnesota where fur was and still is fairly plentiful.
Well, to make a long story short, it was this way. I was just a boy of 11 years of age at that time, and school, naturally, took most of my time. But I had a few hours night and morning to devote to catching wily furbearers. I live a mile and a half from school, which was located in a small inland town, and each evening after school I stopped at the post office and took the mail home.
Well, one frosty late October afternoon, I stopped at the post office as usual, and on getting the mail, I saw a long envelope from a fur company addressed to me. I started home, but out of curiosity to see what the envelope contained, I opened it. I found a trapper's guide, beautifully trimmed, in several colors, and a price list which quoted furs at a higher price than they had ever been before. There was a slip telling of the big demand for furs at high prices brought on by the World War.
After giving all this information the once over, I chucked it into the envelope and beat it for home. There, I again opened the envelope and eagerly drank its contents. I studied that old guide until the cover nearly fell off. I was fully determined to trap that winter. I’d planned – in a half-hearted way the past summer – to trap that winter, but the literature made me determined for sure.
I lived by a lake on which a muddy bay was located and harbored several muskrats. My outfit at that time consisted of eight old rusty traps, but as a beginner I didn't know a good outfit from something else, and I didn't lose any sleep over an inefficient outfit.
Most kids start in on muskrats, so I was up to date on that score.
Well, one evening I took a few traps and started out. Upon reaching the bay, I set the traps on rocks, logs, and bank dens, and then returned home after dark, thinking myself a real trapper. The next morning, I went to check the traps, and was apparently going to go home empty-handed, as I had looked at all but the last one.
When I reached it, it was not to be seen. As a beginner, I was too eager to get my traps set and had taken but little precaution to fasten them properly. A muskrat put his foot in the trap and got away, trap and all.
Fortunately, I saw a muskrat's back sticking up out of the water a short distance from shore, and getting a long pole, I pulled him out. He had my trap on his foot and got tangled up somehow and drowned. As a result, I went home a happy boy.
I was not successful in hanging up any more pelts for several days, but one day I noticed a muskrat swim into a den by our boat landing. I eagerly placed a trap there, but it was several days before I got my rat.
I now had two muskrats, and since it was Friday evening, I looked forward to the next day for a muskrat hunt. I was again successful and brought in a third muskrat that day. With three muskrats to my credit, winter fastened his icy grip on my trapline, and the rats ceased to move. I thought I would put out a few traps for weasels which were now nice and prime.
At first, I was unsuccessful, try as I would, but finally I determined to set some traps in a few rock piles in an old field. I chopped up some baits and again set out with my traps. I set one trap in the first stone pile and baited it. It was a pretty cold day, the snow was deep, and I had no skis. Wallowing in 2 feet of snow soon tired a fellow out. (I don't do such stunts nowadays. I have brains enough now to go on skis or stay out of the woods when the snow is deep.) But after setting the one trap, I returned home.
My father made me a pair of skis one day, and then one Saturday afternoon, my cousin and I set out for the traps in over two feet of snow. On arriving at the stone pile, I found a weasel in my trap. Then a few days afterward, I got the flu and was laid up until nearly spring. I had shipped my three rats and weasel previously, and now with nice weather again, I turned my attention to spring rats. I strung out the old faithfuls once more and succeeded in catching two more rats, which I sold to a home buyer for 40 cents each.
Thus, did my first trapping season come to an end. It was not a very successful one from a financial standpoint, but I just got a good taste of the trapline which served to keep me at it year after year. If a fellow ever gets a good taste of trapping, he is usually on the line to stay.
My catch that season was five muskrats and one white weasel, which brought $2.50 all told. I have since that time had several far more successful seasons on the line, but that first one was among the happiest of all.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Pennsylvania Trappers’ Association
The Pennsylvania Trappers’ Association’s District 10 Fall Convention will be held September 12 and 13, at the West End Fairgrounds, in Gilbert, Pennsylvania. Contact Bob at (610) 759-9203 for information. A cable restraint class will be held September 13, during the convention. Pre-registration is required for the class. Contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission (717) 787-7015 or visit www.pgc.pa.gov.
West Virginia Trappers’ Association
The West Virginia Trappers’ Association (WVTA) will hold its annual convention September 19 and 20, at the Gilmer County Recreation Center, 1365 Sycamore Run Road, in Glenville, West Virginia. Gates open at 9 a.m., Sept. 19, and at 8 a.m., Sept. 20. Free Trappers Education Classes for all ages are available. Demos, seminars and vendors will be present both days. WVTA will also host the National Trappers’ Association Southeastern Regional Convention, October 10 - 11, at the same location. Contact Jeremiah at (304) 916- 3329 or visit www.wvtrappers.com
North Carolina Trappers’ Association
The North Carolina Trappers’ Association will hold its convention September 26 and 27 at the Johnston County Livestock Arena, located at 520 County Home Road, in Smithfield, North Carolina. The convention features trapping and fur handling demos, a trappers’ auction Friday afternoon, followed by a fellowship meal Friday night and a kids’ contest Saturday morning. There is a one-time admission fee of $5 (15 and younger get in free). Contact Harold Dorsett (919) 732-7878 or Matt Bishop (910) 545-7760.
Kansas Fur Harvesters Association
The Kansas Fur Harvesters’ Association will hold their Fall Rendezvous October 3 and 4, in Belleville, Kansas, at 910 O Street, the crossroads of Highway 36 and 81. Admission is free, and the event includes vendors, food, a trap setting contest, a women’s skillet toss and a white elephant sale. Contact Eldon Dunstan (785) 243-4872 (evenings) or email Dunstanconst@gmail.com.
Illinois Trappers’ Association
The Illinois Trappers’ Association (ITA) will hold its annual convention at the Logan County Fairgrounds in Lincoln, Illinois, October 3 and 4. The event features hourly demos, many vendors, tailgaters and raffles. Friday night will be a dinner, awards banquet and auction, with proceeds going towards the defense fund. Saturday afternoon is the annual membership meeting. ITA reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate. For more information, visit illinoistrappersassociation.com or call President Ryan Ruhl at (309) 368-2523.
Texas Trappers and Fur Hunters Association
The Texas Trappers and Fur Hunters’ Association (TFHA) will host a fall rendezvous October 17 – 18, at the Gatesville Civic Center, 301 Veteran's Memorial Loop, in Gatesville, Texas. For more information, visit www.ttfha.com.
Maine Trappers’ Association
The Central Maine Chapter of the Maine Trappers’ Association will hold its annual Fall Fur Auction, December 14, at the Palmyra Community Center, 768 Main St., Palmyra, Maine. Doors open at 7 a.m. Contact Ted Perkins at (207) 570-6243.
Coming in our October 2025 Issue
Features
• Distressed Deer Tactics - Judd Cooney looks at some oddball ways to hunt pressured whitetail deer.
• The Lure Makers’ Craft - Want to know how trapping lures are made? Jeffery Miller interviews three lure makers to find out.
• Hunting the Elk Nest - Martin Frentzel and son Dylan explore an elk nest — elk habitat with all the fixings — and repeatedly connect on bulls.
• Follow the Bubbles - Pat Donnelly looks at his passion for beaver trapping and offers tips to catch a few more.
• Deer Hunting: Then and Now - Luke Clayton explores the deer hunting of his youth compared to how deer hunters experience the sport today.
• Isle Royale Lake Trout Adventure - Joe Shead embarks on an Isle Royale, Michigan adventure and catches the lake trout of a lifetime.
Other Articles
• 10-Minute Woodies – Phil Goes shares how he capitalizes on wood ducks in the few moments before he goes to work each morning.
• Mesa Gold, Chapter 2
• Your Clothes, the Cold, Your Life – David Darlington looks at how wool clothing may save your life when the weather turns.
• Coon Trapping on South Mountain – Robert Sellers recalls coon trapping in the South Mountains in days gone by.
• Catching the Marten Wave – B.P. Dinan tells how he and his trapping partner caught a marten “wave” – a sudden influx of martens – last fall.
• The True Ruffed Grouse (100th Anniversary Article) – H. G. Wilson discusses what ruffed grouse hunting was like in 1925.
• Something Worse – Kyle Wright shares a story about how a father comforts his son when the boy misses his big buck.
End of the Line Photo of the Month
Dean Hartwig, Green Isle, Minnesota
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