OUTDOOR

Tales and Trails

Last week I told you about getting back into trapping and how I was embarking on my very first fisher trapping season. That season has now come and gone and I had so much fun. I enjoyed everything about the process from learning about fishers, to building box traps, to selecting a spot to trap. I only wish the season would have lasted a little longer.

I borrowed a box trap setup from a friend and used that as a template to build more traps. When it came to setting them, I placed them in a drainage that emptied into the Rush River valley. I had a lot of confidence in the first trap site because that is where I had two different fisher sightings during the bow season.

By law it’s mandatory to visit each trap daily. I didn’t have a problem with that but I also put a cellular trail camera on each site. I thought it would be pretty neat to see what critters came and went but I was also hoping to see the elusive and private fisher make an appearance. After baiting the trap, it was all about the waiting.

The first few days were pretty uneventful. Fake fishers did provide moments of excitement until closer scrutiny revealed their true identity: Squirrels. Every time I received a picture from my cameras and every time I checked my traps, it was cause for excitement and high expectations My first great near miss occurred about ten days into my trapping season. I had physically checked the traps in the afternoon and right before sunset a squirrel set one off. As the dark and cold set in I resolved to wait until the next day to reset the trap. An hour after sunset that decision proved to be a mistake. A huge male fisher came into my setup. It posed for a great picture, had a quick snack, and was never in danger of getting caught because of that dang squirrel.

With two days left in the season I was starting to think that it just wasn’t going to be my year. As the season wore on, I rechecked and rebaited my traps while my hopes wore thin. Then I received this picture from my cellular camera. There were only two scenarios: The fisher went into the trap or it didn’t. Unless a deer or a squirrel set off the camera, I would have to wait until the morning to see who won. To make a long story shorter, the fisher won.

With my first season as a fisher trapper in the books, I can tell you that I sure learned a ton that will help me with future seasons. If I were to look at this optimistically, I guess I could spin it this way: I am awesome at catch and release fisher trapping.

Didn’t get enough Dave this week? Visit “Outdoor Trails and Tales with Dave Beck” on Facebook for photos and video of Dave’s adventures. You can share your own photos and video with him there as well, or by emailing him at [email protected] Also, check out OTT content on Instagram @thepiercecountyjournal

Photos by Dave Beck

BY DAVE BECK