Gov't Trapping - you trap for the state or gov't agency, here in Texas, it is the Texas Wildlife Services, formerly called the Texas Animal Damage Control Service. Back when I was hired in the early 80's, they were part of the Texas Dept. of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

You are trapping depredating species, primarily coyotes, but they do a lot of work with beaver, raccoons, mountain lions and feral hogs. They do have some urban trappers that work on rodents, bats, raccoons, skunks, armadillos, etc.

You won't get rich doing this job, but you will learn a ton and get so much better at trapping, because depredation work is completely different than fur trapping. It WILL make you a better fur trapper!

Kyotee1 hit the nail on the head as far as explaining what a Gov trapper is and does. As far as answering your ? about weather to pay for the high price of a MB-650 or buy some other brand that's cheaper because you are not sure if you will like trapping as a hobby or not. Well let me put it to you like this buy what ever you want to but If you do buy a better quality trap to begin with. Than if it turns out that you do enjoy trapping as a hobby. Then you already have a few great traps to work with. If you decide that trapping is not for you then you can always sell good equipment faster than the cheap stuff. Keep in mind that's just my 2 cents. I hope you find a trap that works for you and hopefully you enjoy trapping as a hoppy as well. TTYL Skinner

Skinner, whats your favorite set for grey fox? Ive taken a bunch in just regular old dirt hole sets. I guide the heck out of them and it doesnt seem to bother them. Just wondering what your favortie set would be

i have some of my grampa's old victory #4s and I have caught bobcats and coons in them and that is what he primarily used for yotes too. for fox and smaller critters he used smaller traps. last year i caught a cotton tail in one of my #4s

Txtrapper10 my favorite set for greys was a dirt hole but after catching 187 greys in 2007 I can confidently say that a flat set is now my favorite. You can squeeze a grey so that he steps right on the pan most of the time. But with coyotes things change a bit you don't have to use much to get him to step right wear you want some times a small pebble will do the trick. And its hard to beat turds and urine as a bait it worked for me on greys and cats allot. Their are allot of other great baits out their and they are all kinda like whine they get better with age.

I have had great success with the beaver medley bait produced by charles dobbins. Never have used much urine though. You think it would be better to squirt some red fox urine on my backing to make my set a little better?

I'm in Frisco if anyone traps near me love to learn. Been tryig to get into trapping for a while.

I love trapping the little critters. its a lost art that is necessary for conservation.

Yes pop. it is! I dont know of anyone in goldthwaite that traps

Sounds like a few of folks on here would be willing to come out and learn how to trap for a variety of furbearers and predators.

I wouldn't mind arranging a weekend for some instruction which I have done before a couple years ago at my place for some folks that were on one of the Predator forums.

Or, the Texas Trappers and Fur Hunters Association have their annual Spring Rendezvous in Jacksonville.
http://www.txtrappers.com/

It's not on their website as of yet, but should be right after the first of the year.

Txtrapper - I'll be trapping next year in that area with obtaining a lease there.

You trappin dudes got y'alls own language!!! I would be interested in meeting with anyone who might be in east Texas depending upon distance to get some firsthand lessons. Thanks for all the info.

Skinner, That is prolly good advice about which traps to get.

Also, I have seen on trapping sites that 4-coils are much better than 2. Can I buy them with 4 so I do not have to mod them? Also, should I start with just a few traps, like 3 maybe? Then go from there...

Thanks all, you guys have me interested in a new hobby!

Ok, time for my dumb question of the day...

After you trap a critter, how do you dispatch him?

Most use .22 short if using foot-holds, conibears no need to worry, and drown wires on foot-holds no need to worry.

On shooting them, I always try for the ear canal since you won't leave another hole to mend and it's the quickest way to the brain.

So I gotta buy another gun, too!!! lol I think I will "develop" another way if I proceed. I am wanting a cheap and time consuming way to get outside.

Like Koyotee, i go for th ear canal with a .22 doesnt mess up the fur. Fur isnt worthmuch but it doesnt matter to me. Maybe one of these days the fur market will get better. Its just a great way to get outdoors and do something fun and challenging.

The only trapping I've ever done was running snares on a fence line... cheap and easy!

To dipatch cyotes I used a tee ball bat to the base of the skull.

There is a lot of info out there about trapping. It takes a lot of time to be good at it. You learn a lot about wildlife and see things you might not when you just go out deer or varmint hunting.

Many trappers think that you should target coyotes only and then if you catch anything else it is just a plus. There are many sets you can use to target each species. It takes time and money and is a lot of fun but a lot of work.

Check out trapperman.com for some info. Keep in mind that everyone has a different way of doing things and learn from those that have been doing it for a long time. if you are going to trap it is worth learning how to do it right. I have done a lot of things wrong over the years and continue to learn more and more all the time about it. The more you do it the better you will become. Koyotee can tell you a lot about it.

Another thing that you should always keep in mind is being humane. Many trappers start out not knowing how to properly secure the trap. Wild animals are very strong and you don't want one running off with your trap attached to their leg. Make sure you check your traps regularly because you don't want the animal to be in there any longer than it has to be. Use the correct size trap for the animal you are targeting. You will catch non-target animals in traps that may not be designed for them so checking your traps regularly is good practice. Trapping has gotten a bad name from people who didn't take time to do things right.

Trapperman.com has great info on it. Can learn a lot by just looking through the archives.

Kyotee I'm in if your close to DFW. Just need a free weekend Whig is the hard part. Any excuse to get in The outdoors

Close to 4 hours away from DFW, but, if someone can find a location to do some practice trap setting or has a little bit of land, I'd be up to coming up and put on a demo.

Any place with a facility just in case of inclement weather would be nice too...sometime City Hall have a meeting room for use at 'no cost' as well as some fireman's hall or Bank Community rooms.

Or, there's always the Spring Rendezvous with the state trapping association.

Yep. Supressed .22 for late night...

I'm a member of a lease in Anna north of Dallas to pratice training my dog beat we can go there for a lesson. Then maybe some pen quail hunts afterwards

Went home a couple of weekends ago and put about 4 sets out just around the house in the pasture. 2 nights got skunk 3 coons and a nice grey.

Ready for christmas break to put out a good little trapline to run. Probably be runnin around 30 traps.

Very nice gray fox...I have around 4-6 that come up to the front of the house to pick up any leftovers I through out. I can sit on the front porch to watch them come out of the woods and eat what I throw out. Them dudes will even eat sunflower seeds and wild bird seed if I don't have anything else. Can't see trapping the ones around the house since they aren't worth anything and not to just kill them. Not mad enough at them...coyotes are a different story!