,,fox ,,trapping ,frontispiece3 ,,fall ,,catch ,,fox ,,trapping ,a ,book of ,instruction ,telling ,how to ,trap1 ,snare1 ,poison and ,shoot ,a ,valuable ,book for ,trappers ,,edited ,,by ,a4 ,r4 ,,harding ,published by ,a4 ,r4 ,,harding ,,pub4 ,,co4 ,,columbus1 ,,ohio ,copyright1 #aijf ,by ,a4 ,r4 ,,harding ,,contents4 ,i4 ,general ,information ,,ii4 ,baits and ,scents ,,iii4 ,foxes and ,odor ,,iv4 ,chaff ,method1 ,scent ,v4 ,traps and ,hints ,,vi4 ,all ,round ,land ,set ,,vii4 ,snow ,set ,,viii4 ,trapping ,red ,fox ,,ix4 ,red and ,grey ,x4 ,wire and ,twine ,snare ,,xi4 ,trap1 ,snare1 ,shooting and ,poison ,,xii4 ,my ,first ,fox ,,xiii4 ,tennessee ,trapper's ,method ,,xiv4 ,many ,good ,methods ,,xv4 ,fred and the ,old ,trapper ,,xvi4 ,experienced ,trapper's ,tricks ,,xvii4 ,reynard ,outwitted ,,xviii4 ,fox ,shooting ,,xix4 ,a ,shrewd ,fox ,,xx4 ,still ,hunting ,the ,fox ,,xxi4 ,fox ,ranches ,,xxii4 ,steel ,traps ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations4 ,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 ,no4 #a ,caught on ,his ,own ,farm ,tennessee ,trapper and ,traps ,thirty ,silver ,fox ,skins worth #ejjj ,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 #aejj ,northern ,fox ,trapper's ,dog ,team ,fox and ,other ,steel ,traps ,illustration3 ,a4 ,r4 ,harding ,,introductory4 ,if all the methods as given in this book had been studied out by one man and he began trapping when ,columbus discovered ,america1 more than four hundred years ago1 he would not be half completed4 ,the methods given on the following pages are principally taken from articles published in the ,h-,t-,t1 and as the writers give their own most successful methods1 the trapper of little experience with fox will find them of great value4 ,their articles are from all parts of ,america1 so that trappers from any section will find a method or methods that can be used4 ,the red fox is the one most sets describe1 yet what is a good method for one species is apt to be for others4 ,a4 ,r4 ,,harding4 ,,fox ,,trapping ,,chapter ,i4 ,,general ,,information4 ,foxes are found in all parts of ,america1 but probably most numerous in the ,new ,england ,states and parts of ,canada4 ,the range of the red is from ,virginia to ,alaska2 grey1 ,southern and ,southwestern ,states2 cross1 ,northern ,new ,jersey to ,manitoba2 black1 ,alaska1 and the territories several hundred miles to the ,south and ,east2 swift1 the prairies or ,great ,plains2 white and blue1 the ,arctic ,regions4 ,while their fur has been one of value for many1 many years1 and they have been hunted1 trapped and snared1 yet their numbers are holding up remarkably well owing to their shrewdness4 ,while many tricks are claimed for foxes that they never did1 yet they are very cunning animals and also fleet on foot4 ,in hilly and mountainous countries they travel much on the highest ground1 and have regular crossings1 where the experienced hunter or trapper often makes a kill or catch4 ,foxes are carnivorous--living on flesh4 ,their principal food consists of rabbits1 squirrels1 mice1 birds1 bugs1 eggs1 etc4 ,in some places where the food named is not plenty they visit creeks1 lakes and ponds hunting crabs and fish4 ,while they prefer fresh meat1 they take stale and even decayed meats in severe weather4 ,most wild animals can be attracted a short distance by scent or decoy1 and the fox is one of them4 ,several good recipts for scent are given1 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 catch4 ,there is no decoy that will attract a fox a mile1 but there are some that are good4 ,that many of the writers made good catches is bourn out by the various photographs1 and in some instances by personal visits by the author to the trapper4 ,foxes should not be trapped or shot until cold weather4 ,in the states bordering on ,canada about ,november #ast1 while to the north they become prime sooner1 while to the south they do not become prime until later4 ,the pelt should be cased1 that is skinned without ripping1 and drawn upon a board4 ,several tacks or small nails can be used to hold the skin in place4 ,leave on the board only two to five days1 according to the weather4 ,when removed1 turn fur side out4 ,in drying1 keep in a cool shady place and free from smoke4 ,the number caught and killed annually is not known1 but of the various kinds--red1 grey1 cross1 white1 etc4--it is several hundred thousand4 ,illustration3 ,,almost ,,dry ,,enough ,,to ,,turn4 ,the following letters cover trapping and snaring pretty thoroughly1 and all who read carefully and set their traps according to directions 7if there are any foxes7 will probably be successful4 ,while the ,no4 #b ,newhouse1 which is a double spring1 is known as the fox trap1 the ,no4 #a #a_/b single spring will hold the animal4 ,we have known of several instances where fine reds were caught in a ,no4 #a trap4 ,in those instances1 however1 the trap was fastened to a loose brush and every time the fox made a lunge the brush gave4 ,in using the larger size1 we advise using a brush or clog that will give with every pull or jump of the fox4 ,traps should be visited every other day1 if possible1 but never go only near enough to see that nothing has been disturbed4 ,owing to the wide distribution of the fox and the fact that they often have crossings near buildings so that their tracks are seen1 etc41 makes many inexperienced trappers think the number of animals larger than it really is4 ,the fact that foxes travel during the coldest weather as well as any other time1 gives the trapper an opportunity to show his skill when such animals as bear1 coon1 skunk1 opossum and muskrat are denned up4 ,fox skins at such times are at their best4 ,as mentioned elsewhere1 the greater per cent of the methods published in this book are taken from the ,hunter-,trader-,trapper1 an illustrated monthly magazine1 of ,columbus1 ,ohio1 devoted to ,hunting1 trapping and raw furs4 ,new trapping methods are constantly being published in that magazine1 as experienced trappers from all parts of ,north ,america read and write for it4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,baits ,,and ,,scents4 ,i prefer cat or muskrat for bait1 says ,g4 ,w4 ,asha4 ,cut it in pieces as large as an egg1 place it in a perfectly clean can1 zinc1 screw cover1 place it in the sun1 allowing the bait to taint4 ,this must be done in ,july or ,august1 or can be done about two weeks before using4 ,in regard to using scents1 many don't believe scent is a help to trappers1 but ,i'm one that believes in scent1 because if there's a heavy rain storm it takes the scent from the bait4 ,if a little scent is added1 your bait is fresh again4 ,even heavy frosts have the same effect in this case4 ,you have seen advertisements saying that scents will call an animal a mile4 ,don't take any stock in it1 because any animal can't smell at the most only a few hundred feet away if the wind is right1 not half as far if the wind is not right4 ,if any of you are beginners trapping fox1 scent is a great help1 if you happen to tuck anything around the trap that have effect1 if a little scent is added4 ,a fox can smell only one thing at a time4 ,if the scent is stronger than human scent1 they will not smell the human scent4 ,too many accidents in this way have their effect because the fox is a forest animal in existence4 ,i use for fall trapping the fox pure skunk glands and pure strained honey 7not sugar fed honey7 but clover or flower honey4 ,winter scent1 pure matrix from the female fox taken in the running season during the heat1 a little muskrat musk and pure strained honey4 ,this scent attracts the male fox and is the strongest scent in existence4 ,illustration3 ,,vermont ,,hunter ,,and ,,fox ,,skins4 ,here is a first class fox decoy which can be made very easily1 write ,irving ,brown1 of ,vermont4 ,take one half pint of skunk oil and the musk glands of a muskrat and one scent bag of a skunk1 and you have the celebrated scent of ,schofield1 one of the first water set fox trappers in the ,east4 ,this should be made in spring1 but it is all right made at any time4 ,it is not the best scent1 however1 but it is a most excellent one4 ,here is the secret of the best and it is hard to prepare because you cannot get the female fox in the running season1 which is ,february or ,march1 in this climate very easily4 ,take the matrix of a female fox taken in the running season or1 in other words1 cut out the entire sexual organs and place them in a pint of alcohol1 and the result will be the best scent ever made4 ,some do not use alcohol but salt the matrix4 ,this is the scent you will buy the secret for #e4jj1 and you will be told that foxes are just crazy to get it4 ,this is in a measure true1 but a red fox will not step into a trap unless you use care in setting it1 with any kind of scent4 ,i don't care how frantic a fox is to get at the bait4 ,they don't commit suicide if they know it4 ,there are many other ways to prepare for both mink and fox1 all of them possessing merit1 but my aim is to give the best1 not those which are no use to the trapper4 ,the more simple1 as a rule1 are the best4 ,some trappers are opposed to the use of scent1 but you will find that man far behind others4 ,the capture of fur bearing animals has become a science1 as mink and fox become more wary so does man become more skillful in overcoming their shyness4 ,we hear lots of secrets that were learned of the ,indians4 ,no doubt they had some good ones too1 but the white trapper in the same place will outdistance any ,indian ,i have ever seen or heard of4 ,my experience among those people is that they are too lazy to use the care that a white man will use in either setting traps or stretching skins4 99 99 99 ,i have had a fox get into my snowshoes tracks and follow a long way because it was better traveling1 says ,m4 ,h4 ,mc,allister4 ,now that shows he was not afraid of human scent4 ,now about iron4 ,how often does a fox go through a wire fence1 or go near an old sugar house where there are iron gates8 ,that shows he is not afraid of scent of iron4 ,once there was an old trapper here1 and the young men wanted him to show them how to set a fox trap1 and he told them he would4 ,so he got them out to show them how1 and this is what he told them3 ,remove all suspicion and lay a great temptation4 ,well1 there it is4 ,now1 in order to remove all suspicion you must remove all things that are not natural4 ,a man's tracks and where he has been digging around with a spade or with his hands are not natural around a spring1 are they8 ,no4 ,well then1 there is where the human scent question comes in4 ,by instinct he is shown that man is his enemy1 and when a man has pawed the bait over he uses his sense and knows that there is danger1 for it is not natural4 ,illustration3 ,,left ,,for ,,the ,,foxes ,,to ,,devour4 ,now ,i have a question at hand4 ,in one place he is not afraid and around the trap he is afraid4 ,now1 how does he know when to be afraid or not8 ,i think because when he sees a piece of bait in a new place it is not natural4 ,once last winter ,i knew where there was a dead horse and ,i used to go by it1 and one day my brother was with me and of course he knew ,i could get a fox there1 so to please him ,i set a trap1 and not another fox came near4 ,well ,i smoked that trap1 boiled it in hemlock and then smeared it with tallow1 but the fox knew and never came within ten feet of it again1 when they were coming every night before4 ,when ,i went by there before ,i set my trap ,i left as much scent as after1 and how could he tell when there was a foot of snow blown there by the wind after ,i set my trap4 ,now they don't appear to be afraid of human scent or iron in some places and around a trap they are1 so now why should they know where to be shy8 ,well1 because it may be in an unnatural place1 unless it is instinct or good sharp sense4 ,as for scent1 ,i know that rotten eggs and onions are not natural1 although the matrix of the female fox in the running season is very good4 ,also such as skunk or muskrat scent or fish1 as it smells rotten and makes a strong smell4 ,one word to the novice fox trapper1 and ,i will leave space for something more valuable4 ,you must make things look natural around the spring and smell natural1 and put before them the food that ,god has provided for them1 and you will have success by placing the trap in the mud of the spring1 and putting a sod on the pan of the trap that has not been handled by the hand of a human being4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,foxes ,,and ,,odor4 ,last winter ,i could not trap much because the river along which ,i do my trapping and the woods all around were full of lumbermen1 and ,i was afraid my traps would be stolen4 ,i did a little experimenting on foxes in their relations to the odor of man and iron1 says ,omer ,carmerk1 of ,quebec4 ,the results of my experiences confirmed my previous observation that foxes are not afraid of the odor of iron1 neither of the odor of man1 but mighty suspicious of a bait connected with both odors4 ,i made a trail about two miles long1 scattered about it pieces of meat1 chicken1 rabbit1 cheese1 etc4 ,i dragged a dead chicken1 but ,i set no trap4 ,prior to my baiting the trail foxes were crossing it and following it without hesitation1 but after ,i had put out the bait not a fox had ventured to cross that trail again4 ,one day ,i saw where a fox had come near the trail1 stopped1 wheeled about and bounded off like a frightened deer4 ,another day1 a fox tried to cross it at three different places but could not summon up enough courage1 and at last1 by making a long detour he crossed it at a place where there was no bait1 not #bj yards from my cabin4 ,one time a fox walked parallel to the trail several rods1 then came nearer to it1 stopped and turned back at full speed4 ,the same foxes which were so afraid of my trail were going every night on the public road to eat horses4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,good ,,runner4 ,i will now relate one instance showing that the foxes smell traps4 ,one day ,i chopped a chicken on a log4 ,i threw the big pieces in the middle of three traps ,i had set the week before and left many small pieces on the log4 ,the day after the snow around and on the log was all tramped down by foxes4 ,one fox walked towards the big piece of meat1 and when about two inches from a trap he stopped and turned back4 ,i have no doubt he smelled the trap4 ,when the traps are in the snow or wet ground the oxidation of iron produces a peculiar odor noticeable even to the human nostrils4 ,one day ,i was going to look at a trap in a swamp road4 ,my dog was trotting ahead of me1 and when about ten feet from the trap he stopped and turned around4 ,he detected the odor of the trap for he had not seen me set it1 and he had good reasons to avoid it because when young he had often been pinched4 ,perhaps my experience does not harmonize with that of other trappers1 but the ways of foxes as well as other animals are much influenced by their surroundings4 ,i have observed that foxes frequenting the neighborhood of farms are less suspicious than those living in the deep woods4 99 99 99 ,for years1 says a ,southern trapper1 ,i have invariably caught my fox1 whether in a path1 water or bait set2 but can ,i swear my success is attributable to my extreme precaution8 ,i always smoke traps to kill the smell of iron then handle them and everything around the setting with gloves1 to erase human scent4 ,i have found the summer and early fall months the best time to locate the haunts of the fox1 as they are sure to use the same territory in the winter season4 ,while on one of my recent investigating tours1 a few days after a rain1 ,i observed some facts that will be interesting4 ,i struck an old road running through a farm1 and readily noticed some fox tracks4 ,naturally ,i followed on and found they led under a wheat harvester1 which had been recently left in the road and on under an iron gate1 into the pasture beyond4 ,all know that a harvester is largely constructed of iron and steel4 ,now if the fox is so afraid of this metal1 as is supposed1 does it seem reasonable that he would walk under such a mass of iron1 or under an iron gate8 ,in fox trapping the smoking and smearing process is advocated as well as the handling with gloves and concealing under the ground4 ,in the light of my observations1 are all these precautions absolutely necessary8 ,on this same trip1 in question1 ,i noticed a fox track1 and as usual followed it4 ,to my surprise the animal went within a hair's breadth of a plow1 passing right on1 seemingly not either to care for red paint or iron construction4 ,how is it1 fox trappers8 ,does the iron and steel used in farm implements differ from that used in steel traps1 so that the latter must be handled with such care as is advocated by many of the trapper's profession8 ,or is it the covering of the trap with earth that arouses suspicion8 ,a red or grey fox will cross through or under a wire fence over the public highway at night1 although the roads are continually traversed by the iron bound shoes of the horse4 ,even the tracks of man are visible here yet we1 when trapping1 brush out our tracks with great care4 ,i have known a fox to follow where a plow has been dragged and have seen his tracks in the iron marked groove1 just made by the locked wheel of a wagon4 ,considering these facts1 does it seem possible that the fox has so great an antipathy to iron and to the human scent as supposed8 7,we believe that the conditions under which these are found have much to do with the foxes shrewdness4 ,a wagon wheel or binder never caught a fox1 but the scent coming from a trap--well that is different4 ,coming down to this would appear that the fox has some reasoning power or intellect4--,editor47 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,chaff ,,method1 ,,scent4 ,get some chaff1 a bushel will do1 and put it out in some good place where there are foxes1 writes a ,maine trapper1 ,j4 ,f4 ,miller4 ,put some small pieces of meat in the chaff1 7skunk1 muskrat or cat is good71 and take a shingle and pound the bed down solid all over4 ,don't have any soft place in the bed1 and don't handle any of the chaff with bare hands1 or the bait either4 ,leave it in this shape until you go on1 then get your trap ready to set1 but you want your trap clean and free from rust1 and this is a good way to do4 ,scrape with an old knife1 then use a clean pan and boil in clean water for twenty minutes1 and no fox can smell your trap4 ,set in edge of bed and cover in good shape1 and make it look as natural as possible1 and don't walk all around in snow1 stand in one place and walk in same tracks when you visit this place1 and don't go only every other day4 ,now ,i will tell you of a good way to make a scent that will draw a fox to a trap4 ,it will draw a fox a number of yards1 but it will not draw them one mile or one half mile1 and ,i doubt if it will one fourth mile1 or any other scent that was ever made or ever will be4 ,that is my idea of scents1 but ,i know that they are good to draw animals to traps2 they are like methods1 some are better than others4 ,this is not the best1 but it is good4 ,take a cat1 skunk and muskrat in ,april1 dress them and chop them up fine and put them all in a glass jar4 ,put cover on and set them where it is warm so they will rot in good shape1 and in the fall add a little fish oil and you will have something that will smell right loud4 ,illustration3 ,,some ,,pet ,,foxes4 ,most anything that will smell strong is good scent1 but no matter how good your bait and scent is1 you must have the trap so the fox can't smell it1 and know how and where to set it4 ,don't forget to set your trap where there are foxes4 ,this is one thing to keep in mind1 always set where you see signs4 ,some think they can set a trap any old way and place1 and ought to make a catch1 and then get discouraged4 ,if you don't get your game the first night try again and keep right on trying2 it is courage and grit that makes a successful trapper4 ,look for signs whenever you are in the woods1 and study them and the animals that you want to catch4 ,i always look up places in summer1 and when the time comes to set traps ,i know just where every trap is going and how many ,i want4 ,i tried a great many times to catch a fox before ,i was successful4 ,i remember one time ,i got an old horse for fox bait in winter1 and put him in a good place4 ,we had a snow storm a few days afterwards1 and boylike ,i started with my rabbit dog and gun to look for rabbits and to take a look at my old horse to see if the foxes had begun to feed on him1 and when ,i got to him he was a sight to behold4 ,the snow was all trodden down solid around him where they had circled and stood around and fed on him4 ,that was too much for me4 ,it took the rabbit fever all out of me for that day1 and ,i started for home to get six ,no4 #b #a_/b ,newhouse traps to set around the horse1 and ,i could not get home quick enough to suit me4 ,i had always wanted to catch a fox so bad and ,i thought the time had come4 ,i set them as well as ,i could and covered them up good1 as ,i thought1 and went home4 ,it seemed to me that morning would never come4 ,i knew ,i was going to have a fox1 so ,i was up early and started after it4 ,when ,i got almost to the bait ,i saw new tracks going towards the horse and that made my heart beat a little faster1 as ,i was sure ,i had one1 but they had gone as near as three feet and that was as near as they would go4 ,they knew the traps were there as well as ,i did1 and they never went there as long as my traps were set4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,traps ,,and ,,hints4 ,my idea is that manufacturers make traps too strong for the animal it is made for1 says ,c4 ,f4 ,keith4 ,now the ,no4 #b is too strong for fox1 and also it is very hard to conceal from view4 ,of course if you get a fox in a ,no4 #b you are more sure than if he is caught in a ,no4 #a #a_/b or smaller4 ,i use the ,no4 #a #a_/b ,newhouse for fox and ,i find it the best fox trap made4 ,i have also used the ,jump and the ,blake ,lamb1 but ,i do not like them as well4 ,some trappers think that the ,blake ,lamb are the best mink traps made4 ,i beg leave to differ with them1 for the simple reason that ,i have lost many a mink by the trap cutting off the leg and the mink escaping1 which never happens with the ,newhouse4 ,the ,blake ,lamb trap are1 without doubt1 the best trap to conceal1 but when it comes to be the best trap it is not in it with the ,newhouse4 ,i think if trappers would use long chains when using clogs1 they would have better luck in trapping the fox4 ,the kind of traps ,i use are the ,no4 #a #a_/b ,newhouse for fox1 with four foot chains4 ,when ,i first began to trap fox ,i used cheap traps1 and many a fox have ,i lost by not knowing enough to use good traps4 ,by all means1 trappers1 buy good traps in the first place and you will not be sorry4 ,illustration3 ,,silver ,,and ,,black ,,fox ,,skins4 ,now let me first give you a few pointers on fox trapping4 ,first1 forget everything you have bought from humbugs and use common sense2 second1 study the habits of the fox and you will have better success4 ,third1 be sure and have your traps in proper shape so the fox can't smell the iron2 fourth1 be careful in making a set1 use the wooden paddle or gloved hand in placing dirt over trap2 fifth1 be sure that your bait is not scented with human scent1 and use cat1 skunk1 or muskrat scents4 ,i have bought scent for many years1 but the best scent ,i can find is skunk essence or oil of anise4 ,skunk essence and honey equal parts1 but never use skunk essence in early winter1 as it will be a failure4 ,i have trapped fox for many years and ,i am very successful and lucky1 and every fall ,i believe ,i learn something4 ,another thing1 never get discouraged1 for it is grit that counts4 ,when a fox turns the trap over reset it and place another trap in the bed1 and you are liable to catch him the first night1 but if this fails1 turn trap bottom side up and he will get fooled1 sometimes1 not always1 for fox trapping is uncertain4 ,in the first place1 when an animal gets into a trap he tears around for a while1 says ,g4 ,f4 ,moon1 of ,dakota1 and if the trap be lightly clogged so he can move around1 the trapper most generally finds his game when he visits the traps4 ,on the other hand1 let the trap get fastened solid and the animal sets his reasoning powers to work2 he finds out that he can chew from the under side of the jaws of the trap1 and that too without giving himself any pain1 and finds that he can easily slip the trap off from the stump of his leg4 ,man has been known to do the same thing1 when by accident he has been caught by the leg by a tree or a large rock falling on him4 ,surely the animal showed as much reason as the man4 ,i once had a large fox trap set in a hollow log4 ,the log was about the size of a barrel4 ,a she fox got into the trap1 and as the trap was a good bit out of the way ,i did not visit it for several days4 ,when ,i did visit the trap the snow was all tramped down by foxes around the log and on the inside of the log by the fox in the trap4 ,there were the remains of several rabbits and one whole rabbit fresh killed1 one fresh killed quail and feathers enough to have been on a couple more quail4 ,now the question arises1 ,did the other foxes let instinct guide them to feed the unfortunate fox in the trap8 ,or did they use their power of reason8 ,i leave that for others to answer4 ,illustration3 ,,live ,,silver ,,fox4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,all ,,round ,,land ,,set4 ,i have made a close study of the red fox for years and the all round land set is one of my best and latest sets1 says ,j4 ,h4 ,shufelt1 of ,canada4 ,first used last year and took #ae red foxes1 and when properly and carefully set1 is the most killing method ,i ever used4 ,how to make the scent--,this scent should be made in ,august1 of house cat1 muskrat or skunk1 chopped fine and put in a two quart glass jar and sealed until it forms a liquid1 and should fill the jar two-thirds full4 ,two weeks before using put in the musk of one skunk1 one oz4 oil of amber1 and enough skunk oil to nearly fill the jar2 get a new paint brush1 a small one will do1 and see that it is clean1 to use scent with1 and it should be kept in the jar4 ,how to fix trap--,i prefer a waxed trap4 ,i find a smoked trap will rust on the under side after setting about a week4 ,it's not so with a waxed trap4 ,if properly waxed1 water will not rust them4 ,take a large kettle of hot water and keep it boiling hot4 ,melt your beeswax in a cup or dish and pour on the water2 now take your traps1 six at a time1 and dip them1 and the wax will adhere to them2 just leave the traps in the water long enough to warm them a little1 when the wax will spread evenly over them2 drain over kettle and hang up to dry a week before using4 ,one half pound of wax is sufficient for three dozen traps and chains and will last one trapping season4 ,illustration3 ,,november ,,catch4 ,how to set the trap--,i use rubber boots and set in the morning when the dew is on the grass or on a wet day4 ,the set should be made near the foxes' runways or on high ground2 dig out a place the size of your trap1 take something with you to put the trap and dirt on--for this purpose ,i use a piece of oil cloth1 two feet square--fill all around outside of your trap with fine dirt1 and put a large leaf over your trap4 ,i use a large leaf from a first growth basswood4 ,as soon as they fall from the tree ,i gather them and lay them flat together in the mud until ,i want them to use4 ,why ,i prefer this particular kind of leaf is1 they grow so large that one leaf covers the trap4 ,after the leaf is over your trap cover with fine dirt or something that must be in keeping with the surroundings4 ,now stand in one place and take your brush from the jar and paint a circle about two feet in diameter1 the width of your brush on the grass all around your trap4 ,this should be repeated once or twice a week1 especially after a heavy rain storm4 ,nothing can steal your bait1 ,john ,sneak'um cannot locate your trap4 ,when visiting your traps carry an extra trap along1 and when you make a catch set a clean trap by exchanging traps2 always clean your trap after making a catch before setting again4 ,now boys1 start in right1 by using a good trap with a large pan1 one that can be easily concealed4 ,don't try to catch a fox with a weak trap1 for you will only be disappointed and at the same time be educating another fox1 and he will make the rest shy1 for they often travel in pairs4 ,when making your sets1 don't disturb anything around the place nor use a bush drag where there hasn't been one1 for the fox is quick to notice4 ,use a grapple that can be concealed under your trap4 ,just try and see how slick a set you can make and try and learn the habits of the animal you are trying to catch1 for that is the key to success4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,snow ,,sets4 ,much has been said pro and con relative to trapping that most wary of our wild animals1 the red fox4 ,a few incidents pertaining thereto that have come under my observation may be worthy of mention1 says ,j4 ,a4 ,newton1 of ,michigan4 ,there are practically three conditions under which trapping the fox may be done4 ,first1 by setting in beds1 so called1 of dry chaff or ashes before snow falls2 secondly1 in snow during the coldest weather1 and lastly spring water setting as some writers have described4 ,i shall confine myself to the two first mentioned conditions4 ,in the first instance a spread of chaff or ashes covering three or four feet of space is made where foxes are known to travel4 ,as a rule the most acceptable bait is lard scraps1 suet1 smoked meat rinds1 etc4 ,these are scattered in small bits in the bed1 and as a lure nothing can be more efficacious than a few drops sprinkled in the bed composed of the female fox gland taken in the rutting season that has been dissolved in alcohol4 ,it must be kept tightly corked4 ,the same taken from the female dog at this period is about as potent4 ,the traps must first be thoroughly smoked with some resinous twigs or corn cob1 or be boiled in ashes to eradicate the scent of iron1 rust1 and of other game that has been caught4 ,after this do not handle traps or bait except with gloves4 ,illustration3 ,,awaiting ,,the ,,trapper4 ,all old trappers in my section bait a fox a few nights before placing the trap1 as the more visits ,reynard makes to the bed1 and devouring bait without having his suspicions aroused1 the more reckless does he become and the easier is he taken when at last the trap is placed4 ,one old trapper1 who is very successful1 does not set his traps until some night when the first snowfall is at hand4 ,the new white mantle covers the bed and all human sign made in setting the trap4 ,the clog should have been previously placed some days before so that the fox will become accustomed to the sight of it4 ,the fox has not forgotten the exact location of the bed with its tidbits and comes to it with unerring precision even when covered by snow1 and unless he by good luck kicks the trap over and springs it he now comes to grief4 ,old man ,titus says3 ,having nailed the game don't kill on the spot but drag him off a ways4 ,then don't leave the carcass lying round conspicuous or it will scare the rest out of the neighborhood4 ,my first insight into the manner of snow trapping ,i gained from a man named ,williams4 ,several of his sheep concluded to part company with this cold unappreciative world1 and their owner determined to make them still serve a purpose4 ,hauling them off in as many directions as there were of the dead1 he left them until deep snow and severe weather came1 cutting off much of the natural prey of the fox which reduced him to seeking carrion4 ,after their inroads on the bait had become well established1 ,williams placed a trap at each of the remains1 covering a little snow over them and stapling to pieces of fence rails previously placed4 ,now1 said ,williams1 the only thing to do is to keep away from here two or three days until a little more snow falls to cover our sign1 or is drifted a little by the wind4 ,he used no scent of any kind1 saying that starvation is the best lure in the world4 ,all ,i do is to smoke the traps and not handle barehanded1 he added4 ,after two or three days of snow flurrying weather we visited the traps and noted that one was missing4 ,we could see a dim trail where it had been dragged away4 ,we followed and found the fox in a drift4 ,he was poor and had frozen hard4 ,five were taken at the sheep bait inside of two weeks1 after which there came a thaw stopping further snow trapping4 ,one old trapper tells of a fox that came near outwitting him1 being not only the most cunning but also possessing a degree of meanness almost satanic4 ,i baited him in a bed of chaff several nights1 said he1 and then set my trap4 ,the trap could not have contained scent1 but the old chap appeared to know it was there2 he carefully nosed out and devoured every scrap of bait1 and then as deftly dug the trap out1 turned it over and sprung it and left a soiling evidence of his scorn and contempt for me upon it4 ,that ,i was mad you needn't doubt for a minute4 ,i tried setting three and four traps1 hoping he'd make a miscue and get into some one of them1 but no1 he was too smart1 he sprung them all each night and insulted me besides4 ,all at once the thought struck me like a brick1 ,i'll set the trap bottom side up4 ,this ,i did1 removing all the traps but one4 ,the cat came back and as before turned the trap1 bringing it right side up4 ,i had set it full catch so that it would spring rather hard4 ,he slipped a cog in not taking into account that the trap didn't spring when he turned it2 when bestowing his disdain a too close contact brought a sharp click and he was fast4 ,i never saw so sneaking and beat out an animal in my life4 ,he would like to have had the ground open up and swallow him if it could4 ,an acquaintance of mine who is a settler in ,northern ,michigan heard a great squealing and commotion among his hogs one night late in ,november1 and bounced out just in time to see a large bear drop one of his shoats as it passed through the bars4 ,the porker was stone dead1 being bitten through the nape of the neck4 ,the settler1 whose name is ,clark1 drew the pig into the woods and left it between two fallen trees4 ,with his axe he chopped a niche large enough to contain a trap1 when set1 from each of the logs2 a piece of moss was carefully fitted over each cavity and all of the chips were removed4 ,foxes there are very numerous1 and ,clark soon noticed that the bait was being sampled2 he knew the fox nature in that they have a habit of walking logs or on the highest points when investigating an attraction4 ,when the tracks to and from and circling the bait became frequent ,clark placed a trap on each log1 covering them neatly with patches of moss2 the chain was fastened to clogs concealed under the logs1 and the chains were hidden with strips of moss4 ,upon his first visit to the traps1 two days later1 the trapper found a fox in each trap1 and several more were taken before crows and other scavengers had polished the bones of the bait4 ,illustration3 ,,after ,,the ,,chase4 ,on the quiet1 boys1 ,i will say that it requires so much preparation1 caution and patience to successfully trap the red fox that ,i have more frequently resorted to the hound and shotgun2 by this means ,i have often taken the jacket of a cunning old dog fox1 after running him over the hills an hour or two1 that it would have taken much time and patience to trap4 ,after one gets the runways learned1 and if he possesses a good gun that loads properly1 and is a tolerably fair shot at running game1 the means is much quicker4 ,it is like digging out a nest of skunks as against the slow process of trapping one at a time4 99 99 99 ,i had a little experience with a sly old female fox last winter1 says ,claude ,roora1 of ,ohio4 ,i had noticed on early snows where this old fox had two holes under an old rail fence where she would pass through every night1 and also a stone beside a sheep path where she would stop4 ,i picked out those three places to set traps for her under the next snow4 ,one morning ,i thought it looked as though it was fixing for a snow4 ,i got three ,no4 #b ,victor traps and told my wife ,i was going to catch that old fox that night if it snowed4 ,i went to the three places and was very careful not to tear things up any more than just to dig places the size of the traps4 ,i had grapnels fastened to chains and dug holes deep enough to bury them1 so that when the traps were set on top of them it would be just a little below level of the surface of the ground1 and covered all up with dead grapevine leaves4 ,about the time ,i got the last trap set it commenced snowing and quit snowing before dark4 ,illustration3 ,,trap ,,and ,,grapnel4 ,next morning ,i went early to get my fox before the hound men got out1 thinking sure ,i would have her4 ,when ,i got within one hundred yards of set ,no4 #a ,i saw her tracks leading straight to it4 ,she went up within five or six feet of the trap1 turned short off to the right and went down to set ,no4 #b1 went up within five or six inches of trap where she turned short off to the right again1 made a few jumps down the hill1 jumped over top of fence1 circle back up the hill to sheep path1 followed it out to set ,no4 #c4 ,she went up to this trap1 raked every bit of snow and leaves off of trap and left trap bare and in plain sight1 not even springing trap4 ,i covered trap up again thinking ,i might fool some other fox1 but in about half an hour the hounds came along on her track and one of them set his foot in the trap and his owner let him loose and threw the trap away4 ,the hounds followed the fox up over the hill1 routed it and ran it about an hour and holed it under a big rock1 and the men went off and left it4 ,now the hounds had been in the habit of holing this fox under the same rock1 and the most of us know that when a pack of hounds hole a fox they generally tear things up some4 ,in other words1 they leave some signs4 ,i set the traps as nice as ,i knew how1 and when ,i went back the next morning traps were turned upside-down and fox gone4 ,so ,i concluded ,i would follow the track and see if ,i couldn't find her asleep and shoot her1 but had not gone far when ,i found the snow had drifted so ,i could not follow her4 ,i came back home discouraged4 ,next morning ,i thought ,i would go and see if she had been back on the hill4 ,when ,i got to set ,no4 #b ,i saw where she had come up from the opposite side from what she had been in the habit of doing and stuck her right foot square in the trap4 ,she went about one hundred yards where she got tangled in some grapevines and was waiting for me4 ,now ,i think there are instances where the scent of steel or human scent will scare animals away from your sets1 and when you mix them both together they are a sure warning of danger with all shy animals4 ,now if this fox did not locate that trap at set ,no4 #c with her nose ,i would like to know how she did it1 for ,i removed every bit of dirt ,i took out to make set and left all level and two and a half inches of snow ought to make things look as natural as any fox could expect to find a set1 and at a rock where she had been in the habit of seeing things torn up by the dogs when she came out on previous occasions1 and traps hidden out of sight1 her nose surely told her where they were set4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,trapping ,,red ,,fox4 ,in the many years that he has been striving for his glossy pelt1 man has evolved numerous clever schemes for outwitting the fox1 but in the meantime ,reynard has not been an idle observer regarding the ways of the human enemy1 says ,j4 ,l4 ,woodbury1 of ,maine4 ,he lacks the advantage of books or tradition for handing down his store of accumulated knowledge1 but in some mysterious way it is transmitted from generation to generation1 nevertheless4 ,so it is that the fox of the older and more thickly settled sections is a very different animal from the fox--even though it be of the same variety or species--inhabiting a part of the country where its kind has not been so persistently hunted4 ,tricks that prove effective with the latter are utterly lost on his better-schooled brother4 ,hence the simple methods advanced by some trappers are a bit amusing to the trappers here in the ,east1 where the subject of this sketch reaches the acme of wisdom1 and is1 we believe1 the peer in shrewdness and cunning of any animal in the world4 ,however1 we do not wish to be understood as ridiculing anybody's methods4 ,we read the crudest of them with interest1 realizing that they are all right in the region whence they came4 ,illustration3 ,,caught ,,in ,,maine4 ,i would advise the amateur fox trapper to begin with the water set if practicable4 ,nearly any one of the many different forms are good enough1 with such modifications as will be found necessary to adapt it to varying conditions of different sets4 ,as one should not begin operations until freezing weather1 spring water should be selected for the trap4 ,a good-sized spring works best1 but if this is not to be had1 utilize some of the little springs to be found in plenty near the sources of brooks4 ,one with a dark bottom is to be preferred1 as then there will be no sand to clog the trap1 which may be pressed down into the mud until it is all hidden but the pan4 ,this should be about an inch under the water1 and covered with a lump of moss4 ,the position of trap with relation to bait has so often been explained ,i need not dwell upon it here4 ,if the spring be a large one it is easy to place the bait so that it will be protected by water on all sides save the one desired1 but if a smaller pool be employed the side opposite the trap should be barricaded with stumps or brush2 which work1 by the way1 had better be done some time during the previous summer4 ,and rather than leave too narrow an approach to the bait if is better to set two or even more traps1 for reynard's suspicions are quickly aroused by anything resembling an inclosure4 ,as to the matter of bait1 it may be said in general that foxes like about all kinds of meat4 ,yet the task of selecting a killing bait is not always as easy as might be expected from this1 as individuals seem to have their particular preferences1 while the morsel that would be eagerly sought by the same fox at one season will have no attraction for him at another4 ,if you find signs in the vicinity of your sets1 yet they remain unmolested1 experiment with different kinds of baits1 as the angler tries a variety of flies at every likely-looking pool4 ,it is certain that mice1 rabbits and grouse are among the best baits4 ,for the scent part1 some trappers claim to do well without them1 but a good scent is unquestionably a great help4 ,many of those for which receipts are given ,i know to be effective4 ,but the most tempting bait and the strongest lure will jointly prove unavailing if one's set be unskillfully made1 and carelessness be practiced in going to and from trap4 ,water1 of course1 leaves no scent where it is possible to reach the set by boat or wading1 but where this is impracticable arrange to go to trap but rarely1 if it remain undisturbed4 ,the height of springs vary but little with wet or dry weather1 and this fact should be taken full advantage of by the fox-trapper4 ,carefully select a trap that will not spring of itself4 ,see that the trigger is pushed well into the notch1 pick out a good1 close-fibred piece of moss for pan1 not large enough to clog the jaws1 and stick a few small twigs around it to hold it in place4 ,push the chain well down into the mud1 have the bait exactly in the right place1 and in fact use every care to have things fixed so that they will not be disarranged by trivial causes4 ,then in visiting1 go no nearer than is necessary to see that bait or trap have not been disturbed4 ,skunks will often prove a great bother1 as they take all kinds of bait and kick up no end of a bobbery when caught4 ,the fact that their pelts pay the bill in part is but poor consolation1 when one has just got a particularly shy old red coat about worked up to the biting point4 ,sometimes one will run upon natural conditions particularly favorable for a set--a rock1 islet or piece of drift in mid-channel1 or an old log spanning the stream4 ,experienced trappers are quick to note all such places as these1 as well as points where1 with a very little human handiwork1 traps may be placed to advantage4 ,it is best to make all essential preparations as long before setting as possible1 though bearing in mind that the streams are usually much higher in the trapping season than during the summer4 ,also begin putting out baits some time before setting traps4 ,no animal exercises afterward the same degree of caution as on the first two or three visits to a spot1 and even so shy a creature as the fox1 if he become accustomed to picking up a few choice bits at a place1 will soon neglect much of his usual precaution in approaching it1 and though he take alarm and shun it for a time will ere long get up sufficient confidence to renew his visits4 ,if you find where there is a burrow with a family of young foxes1 watch them all you can during your leisure moments4 ,learn where they get their food1 where they cross the streams1 and their general lines of travel4 ,true1 the family may be broken up and driven to sections miles away before time for trapping1 but nevertheless a few traps should be placed in the old beats1 as if one of this family should ever return to the vicinity he will be certain to revisit his former haunts4 ,many trappers1 and especially young trappers1 expect to get a fox the first night1 and1 as it would seem1 think to make their set so that not the slightest taint of man or iron lingers about the spot after they leave it4 ,they boil their traps in this or that1 or smear them with some odorous substance 7the very thing perhaps to draw the game's attention to them72 they handle them gingerly with gloves 7which are often as strongly imbued with man smell as their naked hands72 strap hides1 pieces of board or snow shoes to their feet when setting or visiting1 and in fact go through a rigmarole that would require about half a day to set a single trap4 ,then they think that if the shyest old fox imaginable should come along that night he would walk into their snare as confidently as a cow into a stall1 or a man into his own house4 ,without reflecting upon the methods of any one1 we must say that we consider many of these expedients unnecessary1 unless when dealing with an unusually shrewd customer4 ,for my own part we make but little reckoning on a trap for the first two or three days1 especially one with bait4 ,sometimes1 of course1 a storm helps us out1 or we may nab a youngster who is green at the game2 but this is an exception1 not the rule4 ,we take all needful precautions in respect to disturbance and scent1 but our chief aim is to secrete and cover our trap well2 to cover it so that no smell or iron can possibly reach the surface1 and so that it will remain covered for weeks if necessary1 and yet be ready for business1 let the weather be what it will--snow or rain1 heat or cold4 ,herein lies the essence of the art2 to fix your trap so that it will not soon require your attention1 then nature will speedily dispose of whatever scent you may have left about it4 ,we are speaking now chiefly of land sets4 ,in looking up a place for a set1 select one if possible where some natural or artificial provision will admit of approach without leaving much scent--a hard-beaten path1 a double stone wall1 a line of ledges1 or a combination of some such conditions1 which should be invariably followed in going to and from trap4 ,illustration3 ,,caught ,,by ,a ,,missouri ,,trapper4 ,when you have decided upon the place for a trap1 make all possible preparations at a distance2 then go to the spot and do your work as quickly and cleanly as you can4 ,if the ground is soft1 use a strip of board to stand on4 ,if you use gloves1 have some especially for the purpose1 and never leave them lying about your dog's quarters or the house4 ,it will do no hurt to smear them lightly with whatever you are using for scent4 ,see that the trap rests evenly and firmly1 so that if any part of it be stepped on it will not tip and pull apart the covering1 or grate upon rocks or the chain4 ,make your excavation quite deep1 filling in the bottom with some two inches of hemlock twigs or something of like nature1 so as to prevent the gathering of moisture and a consequent freeze4 ,secure to a clog1 or use a grapnel4 ,the latter is in most cases preferable1 as it may be buried from sight1 while the former adds one more to the objects likely to arouse suspicion4 ,the covering is something that you will pretty much have to learn for yourself4 ,like swimming1 no one can teach it by any amount of talking2 practice is necessary to acquire the trick4 ,moss1 leaves and rotten wood are the principal materials used1 though pinches of herbage and dirt may be added to harmonize with set and surroundings4 ,leaves1 however1 should be used sparingly1 as they change shape with every phase of weather1 and thus frequently spoil what would otherwise have remained a good covering4 ,if well rotted they give less trouble in this respect1 and offer less resistance to the jaws in closing4 ,when using bait1 if not setting in a bed1 find a spot where little building is required to protect it--a hollow log or stump1 the entrance to an old burrow1 a niche in a ledge or hole under a rock4 ,sometimes1 where a trout-stream flows under a step bluff1 a little shelf is found in the face of the bluff 7and one can usually be made if it is not already there72 and by placing a trap on the shelf and the bait just above it1 you have sly ,mr4 ,fox at great disadvantage1 as he must leap from the opposite side of the brook to the embankment to reach the bait4 ,a projection in the face of a cliff1 several feet from the ground1 if it is inaccessible from overhead or either side may be similarly improved4 ,always be on the lookout for such places as these1 where those sharp eyes and that keen1 pointed nose will be kept at a distance from your set until it is too late for them to detect signs of danger4 ,old roads offer good possibilities for traps without bait4 ,unused plain roads1 where the grass has sprung up may be practically covered by placing a trap in each wheel-rut and the central path4 ,the space under a set of bars may be partly filled with brush and two or three traps placed side by side in the opening with good chances of success4 ,we say two or three traps1 as by so doing a larger opening may be left1 which adds greatly to your chances4 ,an attempt to coax this slippery fellow into narrow quarters quickly excites his suspicions4 ,cow and sheep paths are much traveled by reynard1 especially those leading around and through swamps4 ,these are more easily trapped than roads1 a good method being to first go along the path with your decoy scent1 applying at intervals to objects close beside the path1 and then setting traps1 without bait1 between the doctored points4 ,an old pelt of some sort dragged behind you will serve to kill your own scent1 and to keep the intended victim to the path4 ,as stated1 an important element of successful fox trapping is to make as little disturbance1 and to leave us little scent us possible1 in working around1 and going to and from trap4 ,it follows then that one should not only aim so to fix his traps that they will require no actual attention under ordinary conditions of weather1 except at considerable intervals1 but should invariably locate them with a view to being able to look after them in a way not to arouse wily reynard's suspicions4 ,illustration3 ,,white ,,fox ,,skins4 ,sometimes1 when trapping along a creek or other waters where it is not convenient to keep a boat1 a rude raft may be constructed from which to make sets1 and to be employed in visiting same4 ,it simplifies the work one half to be able to do the whole thing by water1 as water leaves neither scent nor trail4 ,but where it is not possible to make use of this helpful agent1 care should be taken to select a spot that can be approached over ledgy ground1 or by jumping from rock to rock1 two short strips of board to be stepped upon alternately1 being often useful in bridging over any breaks that may occur in such line of approach4 ,where this method cannot be employed1 owing to the nature of the ground1 it is advisable to vary the route in visiting1 as by always following the same line a well defined trail will soon be made1 which is certain to excite suspicion in an animal as shy as the fox4 ,when dealing with an unusually shrewd customer1 some wear snowshoes or strap hide of some sort on the feet1 either of which is not a bad plan1 as well as that of dragging a fresh pelt behind one to obliterate one's trail4 ,as to making beds of chaff1 while ,i have no personal experience with this material1 it never impressed me as being the proper thing for the purpose1 as it is out of place in the woods or fields4 ,if a man comes upon a pile of chaff any where away from buildings1 it instantly occurs to him as being queer that it should be in such a place4 ,do you not suppose that the wild creatures1 whose very existence depends upon their sharpness of observation1 are likely to note the unfitness of the thing quicker than we8 ,of course1 if the chaff be deposited in place early in the season1 allowing time to discolor and decay1 it may help the case1 or feathers may be thrown over the bed4 ,but in the latter event wind may at any time remove the covering4 ,for myself1 ,i have always had better luck in making sets for any animal with materials obtained from the immediate surroundings1 and having therefore nothing foreign in smell or appearance to offend the creature's nose or eye4 ,now a few words as to the fox's regard for iron4 ,does he feel that it is a thing to be avoided or not8 ,it is my belief1 brother trappers1 that he does1 under certain circumstances1 have a strong instinctive fear of metal of any kind4 ,that is to say1 when he finds it in places where as a rule it is not to be found4 ,the fact that he will walk for miles on the railroad track1 and even upon the rails1 is no argument to the contrary1 for the reason that he has become accustomed to the iron in such places4 ,a large quantity does not alarm him1 but a small piece1 half hidden in the dirt1 in field or wood where he is not accustomed to see it1 awakes his distrust4 ,for the same reason1 he will trot deliberately out in the road in front of a passing team1 when the mere snapping of a twig beneath the hunter's feet would send him off flying4 ,he has learned that danger rarely comes to him from persons traveling by team2 it is of the stealthy step and the swift act of raising a gun that instinct has taught him to stand in fear4 ,and so it is with respect to iron4 ,it is all right in its place1 he knows1 but he also knows that it is quite out of place--from his standpoint1 at least--in proximity to his favorite articles of diet4 ,why even the stupid muskrat1 who will go into people's cellars1 and in fact most everywhere else he wants to1 and who will walk into any sort of set so long as the trap be covered1 will not step into a bare trap4 ,dozens of times have ,i had my dog follow the tracks one has made around my trap when it was left bare by falling water1 but invariably the rat has left the bait rather than put his foot on the uncovered trap4 ,it is absurd to think the thick-headed muskrat is sharper in any respect than wise ,mr4 ,fox4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,rhode ,,island ,,scene4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,red ,,and ,,grey4 ,i will give a method for trapping the grey fox1 and have to say trap him the same as the red fox1 as any method that will take one will do for the other1 says ,l4 ,m4 ,pickens1 of ,tennessee4 ,the trapper can easily tell which of these species he is setting for1 as the grey fox has more of a round track1 while his red brother leaves a much larger and longer imprint4 ,each of these animals are great rovers1 starting on a forage by sunset1 traveling many miles in a night2 never holing up for the bitterest freeze that comes4 ,look for fox tracks in stock paths1 old roads not much used1 places under fences1 washouts1 and in large gullies1 as such places are their travels1 yet many other unnamed places suited risks for your traps may be found if one is closely looking around4 ,carry with you a hardwood stick1 ready sharpened1 with which to dig the pit for your traps1 and dig this lengthwise with the path1 7not across it71 and deep enough so the trap will be just a little below level of surface2 now place the trap in1 cover over springs and around outside of jaws with dirt1 and lay a piece of paper1 flat leaves or a piece of cloth over jaws and pan1 then pulverize some of the dirt you dug up1 sprinkle over the trap 'till all is covered over good1 then lay a dead weed or stick on each side of trap two or three inches away1 which completes the set4 ,illustration3 ,,grey ,,fox4 ,when you fasten the trap1 do not staple it1 but wire the ring or end of chain to a bush you cut1 one that the fox can drag a distance1 which always leaves the same trap pit or hole in readiness for your trap1 which should immediately be smoked1 set right back for another fox which is sure to come along1 and if you are careful he will he yours1 as it all depends upon skillful setting and covering the trap chain4 ,have everything look as natural when you make the set as before1 and ,i will guarantee the catch of every fox that comes along4 ,use none but the best trap1 and a ,newhouse ,no4 #b is recommended1 handle it and everything about the set with gloves1 learn to respect the cunning of a fox by cultivating a habit of standing in one place1 always be careful not to spit1 whittle or leave any paper about a trap4 ,don't use rusty traps1 scour off the rust1 and boil for thirty minutes in any green bark that will coat them2 willow1 walnut1 or chestnut are good4 ,don't lay your traps around on the ground at your sets2 better carry them in a satchel1 sack or something strapped around your shoulders4 ,don't whittle or spit where you are making a set4 ,don't staple your traps1 but cut and wire the chains to a green limb1 one that the fox can drag a distance1 and visit your traps regularly1 avoiding any unnecessary company4 ,the method recommended is only the path method1 and to be used altogether without any bait or scents2 as ,i believe the best results are obtained by just taking a fox unawares1 and the whole secret is in choosing the place1 then knowing just how to conceal the trap1 and have everything as natural as possible when the set is made4 ,look for fox tracks in stock paths1 in pastures1 fields1 and woods1 in large gullies1 washouts and places under fences1 old roads not much used1 sand bars along streams1 and other places2 always selecting a narrow place for your set2 approaching such places with trap ready set and wired to the brush1 then with ready sharpened hard wood stick1 stop and stand in one place until trap is properly set1 when you can just walk right on to the next place4 ,always dig the pit just the size of trap to be used1 having the springs lengthwise in the path or trail--not across it--and just deep enough so the trap will be a little below the surface level when put in the pit4 ,cover over springs and around the outside of the jaws with dirt1 lay a piece of paper over pan and jaws1 or put fine moss1 cotton1 wool or dead grass inside of jaws and under pan2 then haul on the fine dirt1 just enough of it to thinly cover all1 brush with a twig to level and complete the set by laying a couple of dead weeds1 or small sticks1 just haphazard like some two or three inches on each side of the trap4 ,as soon as you kill your fox1 reset the trap in the same pit1 but if your brush drag is chewed up1 replace it with a new one4 ,in addition1 if it is a female fox that is caught1 kill it near a path or any good place where a set can be made and where you have lately noticed a fox's track2 then conceal and secure your trap as before1 and the chances are as good for you to catch one or more fox at this set4 ,illustration3 ,,sacking ,,foxes4 ,now try this method all the way through and you will soon see that ,i am right4 ,my brother set his first fox trap ,dec4 #ith and on the morning of the #ajth had a large female red fox and killed it in a pasture near a path1 and that night caught the largest dog fox ,i ever saw or heard of4 ,he got both these foxes just exactly as the above method indicates4 ,the dog fox weighed #ai pounds and its hide measured #e ft4 #e inches on the board4 ,the old fox had lots of gray hairs on his head1 evidently an old timer4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,wire ,,and ,,twine ,,snare4 ,various are the ways being studied for the capture of the fox and other shy animals1 says ,j4 ,h4 ,shufelt1 of ,canada4 ,most every trapper has a particular method of his own4 ,years ago trappers thought it was necessary to set in water in order to be successful in catching foxes1 but after a closer acquaintance with the ways of the fox1 it was found that they were easily caught in a steel trap on dry land in many ways4 ,at the present time the trapper has found a less expensive way of catching them with the snare4 ,this method has many advantages1 and when properly set is a sure thing4 ,it takes in most of those old sly ones that have been nipped by steel traps1 etc4 ,the method shown here is only one of the many ways of the snare4 ,owing to the peculiar fastening of the snare1 a powerful spring pole or weight can be used with a lighter wire4 ,i use a copper or brass wire #a gauge1 with a foot or more slack between fastenings1 which gives the spring pole a chance to instantly take advantage of the fox as soon as caught1 when he will be caught up to the staple 7which should be high enough from the ground so the fox will swing clear7 and choked4 ,i set my snares in paths where weeds or grass grow each side to hide the snare4 ,the loop should be seven inches in diameter1 ten inches from the ground4 ,it is as well before trapping to get the fox to traveling a path by leaving some good scent along the path4 ,this can be done by boring a three-fourths hole downward in a tree near the path and pour the scent in1 which will last a long time4 ,if the same care is used in setting snares as is used in trapping1 ,i think the snare will catch more4 ,they work well in cold weather1 and some fine catches can be made after a snowfall with the snare4 ,then the fur will be good and prime4 ,illustration3 ,,wire ,,or ,,twine ,,snare4 ,a--,spring pole4 ,b--,staple4 ,c--,two small nails driven in tree4 7,three inch nail head1 end down1 with snare looped at each end with a foot of slack between4 ,as soon as the ,d--three inch nail is pulled down1 it will slip past the nail at top end1 when spring pole will instantly take up the slack1 also the fox1 to staple and does its work47 ,e--,slack line or wire4 ,f--,loop should be #g inches in diameter and bottom of loop ten inches from the ground4 ,remarks--,the nails should be driven above staple so it will pull straight down to release the snare fastening4 99 99 99 ,i may state that ,i learned all the best ways of setting traps for fox long ago from an old trapper1 says ,a4 ,h4 ,sutherland1 of ,nova ,scotia4 ,but ,i never bothered setting a trap for a fox in my life1 for the reason that ,i can catch them with snares on bare ground much easier and cheaper than with traps4 ,but on snow if ,i could get fox to take bait1 ,i would try poison on him4 ,i may add that the snare is good for other animals besides the fox1 such as coon1 skunk and wild cat4 ,go to a hardware store and get some rabbit wire and put about five strands of it together1 and twist it just enough so that it will stay together nicely4 ,have a small loop on both ends and run one end through the other so as to make a noose of it4 ,next get some good twine1 put a piece about #aj or #ab inches in length into the loop on the end of the snare1 that is1 the end that is going to be fastened4 ,now find a path in an old clearing or in the woods1 and select a place where you think best to set your snare4 ,cut a stake about #b feet long and #a #a_/b inches through1 have a limb on the butt end of it almost #c_/d inch in length4 ,sharpen the small end of the stake and drive it in the ground1 leaving about #aj or #ab inches above ground2 then cut a nice little pole about an inch and a half at the butt end and sharpen it1 trim off at about an inch at the top end and fasten your snare1 or at least take your pole in both hands and force the butt end into the ground till it will be good and firm4 ,now bend down your pole and fasten your snare to it1 and put the end of the pole under the catch on the stake4 ,be sure to drive your stake close enough to the path so as to have your snare light about the center of the path and the lower side of the snare about #h inches from the ground4 ,it is best to have them high enough so the fox cannot jump over them4 ,of course a man must use good judgment at setting snares just the same as he would in setting traps4 ,another good place is a brush fence4 ,find holes under it where the fox will be going through1 put your snare there1 and if there are any going you will have some of them4 ,next find a good stream in the woods or anywhere frequented by foxes1 and if you find good trees that fall across the stream have a good sharp axe and give a good slash or two of the axe about the middle of the tree1 or at least above the middle of the brook4 ,as ,i was going to say1 give a good slash or two of the axe lengthwise of the tree and make a wedge shape stake and drive it into the tree1 and then fasten your snare to a spring pole4 ,if you prefer1 you could bore an auger hole in the log and drive your pin in that way1 and fasten the snare to the pin about #aj or #ab inches from the log so that the snare will hang downwards1 it will do better4 ,be sure and have the lower side of snare #g or #h inches from the log4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,wire ,,loop4 ,now there is another kind of brass or copper wire that one strand will be enough to hold a fox4 ,if you find that they are cutting your snares put little rollers of wood in the snare boring a hole lengthwise with a #c_/h bit1 and have the roller almost #e inches long and say an inch in diameter4 ,put that on snare so it will run down to the side of his neck1 and he will keep biting at it4 ,i get ,no4 #ad brass wire 7mind1 you must temper the wire7 that ,i find the hardest part of the game4 ,cut your wire about #cd or #cf inches long1 make it into rings round1 put in a good hot fire for three or four minutes1 or until red4 ,be very careful and not let it lie on coal1 handle very carefully2 don't strike against anything while hot1 as it will break like glass1 but if you have it tempered you cannot break it4 ,i have caught three foxes in the same snare1 says ,larry ,burns1 of ,canada4 ,you must make your snare just the same as a rabbit snare1 only make a loop about six inches around4 ,find when the fox passes under a fence or on a cow path1 in winter1 find where they make a habit of going4 ,set your snare in such places or around old carrion in bushes1 cedar is best1 use weeds rolled round your snare1 don't use too many as they will notice4 ,use a green stick to hold your snare fast1 ,you wire about a foot from large end4 ,always stand up the stick just the same as growing4 ,the stick should be #a #a_/b inches thick4 ,be careful and make as few foot marks as possible and stand on one side of your snare4 ,while setting don't spit tobacco juice near snare4 99 99 99 ,a great many foxes have been caught in this country by the plan of the drawing outlined1 writes ,j4 ,c4 ,hunter1 of ,canada4 ,a--the snare1 should be made of rabbit wire1 four or five strands twisted together4 ,should be long enough to make a loop about seven inches in diameter when set4 ,bottom side of snare should be about six inches from the ground4 ,e--is a little stick1 sharp at one end and split at the other1 to stick in the ground and slip bottom of snare in split end1 to hold snare steady4 ,illustration3 ,,spring ,,pole ,,snare4 ,b--is catch to hold down spring pole4 ,c--is stake4 ,d--is spring pole4 ,some bend down a sapling for a spring pole1 but we think the best way is to cut and trim up a small pole about ten feet long2 fasten the big end under a root and bend it down over a crotch1 stake or small tree4 ,snare should be set on a summer sheep path1 where it goes through the bushes4 ,stake might be driven down a foot or more back from the path1 where a branch of an evergreen bush would hang over it so as to hide it and a string long enough from stake or trigger to snare to allow snare to rest over path4 ,of course1 in making this set you will have to use care and your own ingenuity to a great extent1 to suit the requirements of the surroundings4 ,another way is to find a log1 tree or pole that lies across a brook that is too wide for a fox to jump from one bank to the other4 ,set snare on log1 but in this case1 bottom side of snare should be only about four inches from log1 as a fox will carry his nose lower while crossing a stream on a log4 ,if the log is near the water1 a spring pole should be used2 if the log is high up from the water1 fasten snare to log by driving in a wooden pin in the side of the log1 and when the fox gets in snare he will tear around1 fall off of log and hang all right4 99 99 99 ,the following is said to be the manner in which they snare foxes in ,new ,brunswick3 ,early in the season they go into the woods in some favorable locality and build a fence4 ,this place is similar to what would be constructed for partridge snaring1 only of course with layer brush1 leaving a narrow opening sufficiently wide for the passage of a fox1 fixing everything just as they wish it to be later on when ready for business1 and having a spring pole at such a distance that it can be utilized when wanted4 ,take a dead hen or some kind of meat1 place it in a jar1 so that it gets well tainted2 that when the right time comes place the noose in place at the opening made in the fence1 fasten to the spring pole1 sprinkle a little of this tainted bait about1 and await results4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,runaway ,,snare ,,set4 ,in going and coming1 wooden shoes or clogs are worn1 so that the fox will not get the scent of the party setting the trap4 ,an animal in coming down the path passes its body or neck through the loop made of stout insulated wire2 in passing it steps on the trip stick which settles with the animal's weight1 releasing the trigger1 which in turn releases the stay-wire and jerks the loop around the animal2 the spring pole onto which the stay-wire is attached lifts your game up into the air1 choking it to death and placing it out of reach of other animals that would otherwise destroy your fur4 ,a small notch cut in the stay crotch where the end of the trip stick rests will insure the trigger to be released4 ,this will hold the trip stick firm at the end1 making it move only at the end where the animal stops4 ,new and valuable methods are continually being published in the ,hunter-,trader-,trapper1 an illustrated monthly magazine1 of ,columbus1 ,ohio4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,trap1 ,,snare1 ,,shooting ,,and ,,poison4 ,some say that scent is no good1 and that they can trap more without it1 and they even go so far as to offer to match their craft with those using it4 ,i don't call myself a trapper1 says ,e4 ,r4 ,lafleche1 of ,canada1 as ,i never spend much time at hunting or trapping4 ,when ,i go in the woods it is only for a little recreation1 and not being an old hunter1 ,i do not know it all yet1 but will say that ,i can get more than my share of foxes in any place here in ,canada4 ,for the benefit of the young as well as many old trappers ,i will give here my methods of trapping1 snaring1 shooting and poisoning the fox1 which is as good1 if not better1 than any ,i have seen4 ,i can clean the foxes out of any section of the country without having to purchase any of the so-called famous scent4 ,to take away the human scent from whatever ,i do1 ,i make a bath as follows3 ,first1 take #b lbs4 of male cedar branches1 #b lbs4 balsam branches1 and #a lb4 good hen manure2 chop the branches fine and place the whole in a pot in #b gallons of soft water1 fresh rain water is the best and boil until reduced to #a #a_/b gallon4 ,second1 take a clean pail or tub1 smoke it with birch or balsam bark1 then place solution1 cover and keep in a temperate place4 ,to make the scent1 take equal parts of the following3 ,fresh eel1 honey in comb1 chicken1 pig liver1 mice2 chop the whole together like mince meat and bottle1 cork and place the bottle in a pail or tub of water so that it will float and in a warm place4 ,a good way is to place the bottle in some shallow part of a lake1 creek or river much exposed to the sun1 and where the water is warm2 use a strong bottle and fill about three-fourths of it1 and remove the cork from time to time for fear the fermentation smashes the bottle1 and as soon as it has settled1 cork well and keep in a temperate place for a week or so1 and it is ready for use4 ,smear your snowshoes and go where you like1 and there will not be a single fox that will come to your trail that will not follow it to the end4 ,to take the iron smell from traps1 first clean them well in warm water4 ,second1 put them in the bath for #aj or #ab hours4 ,third1 smoke them with birch and balsam bark2 then they are ready to set1 ,place the trap #ah inches from the bait and put a few drops of the medicine under the pan of the trap1 get a small shovel made of sieve wire1 and sieve some snow over the trap and over your signs up to three feet or more from your bait4 ,don't spit or monkey with pipe and tobacco4 ,place your bait near a large stone1 stump1 fence or tree1 and in such a way that the fox will be able to approach the bait from side where the trap is2 always set the trap so that the loose jaw will be at the far end from the bait4 ,illustration3 ,,some ,,canadian ,,reds4 ,it is a good thing to place some clean white cotton wool under the pan with a few drops of the scent4 ,as soon as a fox is caught save a front leg and with it print some signs such as a live fox would do1 all over the place where the trap is set2 also save the urine from the bladder of the fox and when it becomes rancid1 sprinkle a few drops on the weeds near the trap and the first fox that will come will be yours4 ,to poison them strychnine is required4 ,first1 use fresh beef suet and make pills the size of a big pea4 ,second1 put the size of a large grain of wheat of strychnine and stick these pills in your bait the same way as garlic in a roast4 ,third1 take a fresh cow head1 stick your pills in the fleshy parts of the head1 but do not place them too close to each other1 then hang the head out of the reach of the hens1 etc41 in a stable where there is cattle for one night1 then take it to the place you wish to leave it and there throw away like a lost head4 ,a good way to place such bait is on a good sized lake4 ,place the head in the center of it and you will find your fox every time4 ,of course when you are using poison you must visit your bait every morning at daylight1 so that the drifting snow1 etc41 will not cover the fox's tracks4 ,while visiting the bait1 keep to one side and from three to five feet from it2 don't monkey around it1 and if ,mr4 ,fox came to the bait and if you have reason to think he has taken a pill1 make a circuit of a #ajj yards or more until you come to the trail of a fox going away from the bait4 ,as soon as a fox feels the effect of the poison he will make several long jumps and then start to walk4 ,follow his tracks1 and the moment you notice zigzags in the tracks1 or that the fox is looking for an easy place to go through a fence1 etc41 this is a sure sign that the fox is sick1 and you can follow that track and find the fox4 ,sometimes you will find them not #ej yards from the bait1 and other times a half or three-quarters of a mile from the bait4 ,this depends upon the time spent at the bait and is also due to other causes4 ,a good way to poison them is to place a pill in a mouse or a small piece of liver1 but ,i prefer to make pills with lard1 about a square inch1 and ,i insert the poison in the middle of the bullet4 ,to do this1 ,i bore a small hole with a stick1 and then place the strychnine and cover the hole with the lard taken from it4 ,to do this with ease1 the lard must be partly frozen1 smear with honey and keep frozen2 then take some frozen liver 7any kind will do7 and chop it in fine pieces and mix with honey and keep in a small wood box4 ,smoke the box the same as the traps and smear inside with honey and add a few drops of the medicine4 ,the kind of box ,i recommend is one #dx#ab made of either cedar or bass wood #a_/d inch thick1 with two compartments1 one #dx#h for the liver pieces and the other #dx#d for the bullets1 with a sliding door at each end1 and a piece of leather held by small screws on the top for the hand4 ,when ready1 take your ammunition and once on fox land1 smear your snow shoes with the scent and at every hundred yards drop a few bits of liver1 and at every #ejj yards or so1 a few more with a pill1 and in the pill stick a four inch black feather1 and two feet to the right stick a strong weed1 and in such a way that the wind will not throw it down4 ,this will enable you to find the pill in case of a snow storm1 and by brushing the snow lightly with your mit1 the pill can be found at once1 unless a fox took it4 ,if the bullet has not been touched you can tell without having to remove the snow1 as the feather will stand straight up1 and this is a sure sign that the poison is still there4 ,if no feather can be seen and if it has been stormy1 brush the snow away1 the lard is not as white as the snow and is easily found4 ,should it be gone1 look carefully around the place2 sometimes you will see the feather #aj or #bj feet from the place you have placed the pill1 and there or elsewhere you should see a place where the fox has been digging a hole4 ,examine the hole carefully and you may find the poison1 as often when not hungry he will hide it for some other time1 or for his friend4 ,if you have reason to believe that a fox took the pill1 and owing to stormy weather you cannot find him1 you must survey the grounds as soon as the snow commences to melt1 and by looking carefully along the fences you will often find them4 ,always keep trace of your pills2 the best places to put these is in the middle of a lake or field2 the black feather will attract the attention of the foxes at once1 and they will make immediately for any black spots they see in a field or on a lake4 ,to shoot them in winter3 ,get a complete suit made of white cotton1 including cap1 smear your suit with scent1 or have some balls of cotton wool smeared with it and tie these around your belt with a good string in such a way that you can remove them at will4 ,in a fine moonlight1 take your snow shoes and go where the foxes are traveling1 and the moment you see one or hear one bark1 circle around him so that the wind will carry the scent4 ,he will come towards you and will stop at a certain distance from you1 and as you notice him on the alert1 stop moving4 ,the fox will put his head up and will look in all directions in order to locate where the nest of the plump mice are1 and as you notice this sound the squeal of the field mouse2 the fox will at once run toward you2 then shoot him4 ,i use ,,bb shot for foxes4 ,where foxes are plentiful1 a hunter of some experience can bag several in three or four hours4 ,i have killed as many as four in three hours4 ,a good wind1 fine moonlight1 and lots of foxes1 a fellow will have fine sport4 ,in shooting foxes1 keep as much as possible on the small hills so as to survey more land4 ,while ,i was living in the country ,i had good sport shooting them in the spring1 in the high snow banks along the fences4 ,foxes are fond of playing at such places1 especially when there is a crust to carry them4 ,this generally comes in ,canada at the latter end of ,february and during the month of ,march4 ,i have often killed them at bait4 ,horse meat is fine bait for them4 ,i once killed two big foxes at one shot4 ,a hunter can always approach a fox when he is feeding1 providing he knows how4 ,when ,i trap fox ,i do it on a large scale4 ,i always set a combination of traps and snares4 ,i carry a good supply of wire snares4 ,the twine must be of dark color4 ,in making a trail for fox1 ,i take advantage of every good place ,i find either for trap or snares1 either between bunches of weeds1 trees1 stones1 stumps1 roots1 logs1 fences1 etc41 where ,mr4 ,fox will have to pass to follow my trail4 ,on the rail or other board fences ,i use the twine snare1 and on a barbed wire fence1 the wire snare4 ,in setting a twine snare1 ,i always use a drop log or stone1 and so fixed that as soon as the fox pulls the weight drops1 and he is lifted and hung at once4 ,i use ordinary wire fence staples and two to each set1 one placed so that when the weight falls the neck of the fox is carried close to the staple and held there1 and the other staple close to the drop4 ,the drop must be placed so that it cannot reach the ground1 and must weigh about three times as much as any fox4 ,any fox that puts his head in the loop is sure to stay there4 ,in the bush1 ,i take advantage of all shanty roads1 and ,i use spring poles when ,i find a suitable tree4 ,i just trim the head and use a wire snare so that the squirrels1 etc41 will not bother it4 ,i set traps at the baits and in the middle of the fields in the same way as poison1 with bits of liver around it1 and ,i cover the trap with a light coat of snow with the same little shovel1 and under the pan ,i place some cotton wool with a few drops of scent1 and should1 while the fox is picking up the pieces of liver1 not step on the trap1 he is sure to scratch for the mouse under the pan1 and the trap will mouse him4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,my ,,first ,,fox4 ,i presume that almost every boy trapper in ,north ,america has an ardent wish to trap one of these cunning sharp witted animals1 and ,i remember ,i thought when a boy if ,i could only catch a fox in a trap my reputation as a trapper would be made1 says ,f4 ,w4 ,howard1 of ,wisconsin4 ,boys1 you must not be discouraged if1 after following the methods you hear1 you fail to take a fox1 for probably most of you have only traps enough to make one set2 any of us older trappers ,i think will admit that it is rather a difficult feat to make one set and take a fox in a reasonably short time4 ,most of the trappers who use these sets have likely from a dozen to fifty traps out for fox at one time4 ,i have sometimes taken foxes in traps set for skunk1 coon and mink1 so that one may say that with a large number of traps out1 even though not set with the care and precautions usually taken to catch a fox1 the large number of chances open enable one to take here and there a blundering and unwary fellow4 ,i trapped my first fox when about twelve years old1 by following a method given me by my grandfather1 who was1 in his day1 a famous ,new ,england fox hunter4 ,he was a very old man at that time1 but when ,i expressed to him my heart's desire1 asking him how and where to set the trap 7,i had but one suitable for fox7 he told me to get my father to let me take the oxen and plow1 to make a couple of furrows in our back pasture4 ,following his instructions ,i boiled the trap in weak lye and then daubed it over with fresh cow manure4 ,the back pasture spoken of was a place where foxes traveled1 and ,i presume that there was no week in the year that at least two or three foxes did not cross there4 ,illustration3 ,,caught ,,in ,a ,,no #a4 ,now1 this is a very important point1 if you are making but one set especially1 be sure and find a location for the set near some den or ledge where foxes live1 or at some point where you know they are in the habit of crossing4 ,but to continue1 under my aged instructor's direction ,i plowed two furrows across the pasture in the form of an ,x4 ,now1 said he1 any fox that comes along will get down and run in the furrows4 ,set your traps where they cross1 and ,i shouldn't wonder if you found one up here some fine morning4 ,i scooped out a shallow hole of a size to hold the trap and clog1 put a bunch of wool under the pan so it would spring easily1 and covered all slightly and smoothly with dirt2 ,granddad then placed some lumps of dirt in such a way that a fox would be apt to step over them into the trap1 if coming from any direction4 ,he cautioned me in visiting the trap to walk by it some distance away4 ,how long do you think it will be before we catch a fox81 ,i asked4 ,maybe not for a week1 and maybe not at all1 but ,i tell you boy1 if you want to catch a fox you have got to stick to it4 ,you can imagine my delight the next morning on finding a fine red fox tangled up among some huckleberry bushes near by1 and you may be sure ,i thought ,granddad the greatest trapper in the world1 and myself the next4 ,i caught two more foxes at the same set before snow came1 and will say that ,i have always found this method one of the surest1 but of course very few boys are situated so as to have pastures that foxes cross1 and which they can plow furrows in4 ,foxes are generally suspicious of a dead bait2 however1 at a bait which they have been in the habit of visiting1 generally some carcass1 they are more easily caught than at a freshly placed bait or carcass1 and it is a good plan1 if you try taking a fox in this way1 to put out the carcass or large baits long enough in advance for them to get into the practice of coming to them2 then place your traps1 if possible1 just before a fall of snow1 and you are almost certain of catching one4 ,the traps should always be set with care and treated as already described1 to cover the scent of iron1 as a fox considers the scent of man and iron a dangerous combination1 and they undoubtedly know about traps and fear them4 ,illustration3 ,,caught ,,on ,,his ,,own ,,farm4 ,i like to use a live bait for fox and bobcats1 and a rabbit is about the best for this purpose1 because they are easily secured4 ,they form the principal game of these animals and they are nearly always looking for them4 ,it is1 ,i think1 safe to say1 that each grown fox or bobcat kill two hundred each on an average every year4 ,the sight or hot scent of any game these animals are accustomed to hunt excites them1 and their faculties are at once concentrated on how to capture and get on the outside of said game as soon as possible4 ,under such conditions1 they fall more easy prey to trappers' wiles4 ,select a point where you know foxes hunt1 or not far from some den or ledge which they use4 ,find a hollow log or some tree that has a hollow butt with an opening2 in either case1 plug the hollow securely so the rabbit will have to stay up near the opening1 put in some carrots1 or ears of corn1 and cover the hole with woven wire1 having about an inch mesh1 or some barb wire stapled across will sometimes answer2 they may in some cases be afraid of the wire1 but ,i have had excellent success with this method1 and my opinion is that the sight of live game makes them reckless 7on one occasion ,i caught a fox in a wooden box about eight inches square and three or four feet long1 having a wire door1 hinged at the top and slanting in1--a self-setter--the trap had a live rabbit inside and was set along a creek1 for the purpose of taking a mink alive and uninjured74 ,if this method is used as a snow set1 brush out all tracks1 and whether on snow or bare ground1 always make as few tracks and leave as little sign as possible around your traps4 ,when setting for any shy animal1 don't cover or handle trap or clog with bare hands4 ,use gloves and a small wooden spade4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,tennessee ,,trapper',s ,,methods4 ,do you trap foxes8 ,if you do ,i bet you have some favorite way1 and too1 doubtless in most respects it's different from my way of trapping them1 as there seems to be almost as many methods as there are successful trappers2 nor either is the same confined to the methods used1 but to the kind of traps employed1 baits1 scents1 etc41 says ,b4 ,p4 ,pickens4 ,the ,water ,set1 the ,sheep ,path ,methods1 are national1 and known to be ,o4 ,k41 though the former requires bait attractions1 and lots of other preparations1 while the latter with me has never necessarily required baits or scents to make it a good success4 ,i do not confine my fox trapping to any one method long1 for ,i am always governed by the surroundings1 and conditions1 yet my traps are set and concealed the same way1 no matter for what animals ,i intend to trap4 ,my traps set for skunk and rats are just as carefully set and concealed as though they were set for fox and coon4 ,my favorite is a ,newhouse ,fox ,trap for every purpose1 as it will hold4 ,my reasons for using nothing smaller than a ,no4 #b ,fox ,trap is that a fellow does not always know if a fox will happen about his skunk traps or a big coon about his rat traps1 and since ,i have found ,mr4 ,fox and ,mr4 ,coon a few times in the toils ,i make every preparation for his reception4 ,i will endeavor to tell some of the things ,i do1 which is a good way to take a fox4 ,i commence early in the spring1 if the ground is not ready to arrange for my fall and winter trapping1 looking out for their signs1 and continue to keep my eyes open all summer and around the pastures1 in the fields1 old roads1 and in the woods1 gullies and washouts4 ,i arrange to trap them in stock paths by laying a limb or fence rail across these paths1 while the use of stock all summer renders it old1 and on either side of this path obstruction is just the place for a fox trap4 ,i cut and wire my trap chain to the middle of a brush1 one that a fox can drag some distance away1 which leaves this same place a good risk for another catch1 where if stapled to something he could not move he would render the place unfit for the rest of the season4 ,conceal your trap by digging a hole on either side of the path obstruction the size of the trap to be used1 setting trap always springs with path1 have the hole deep enough so when the trap is well covered with leaves1 then on the leaves a layer of dirt1 it will just be level with the earth and look natural4 ,to use this same underground method in cold freezing weather1 first bed the trap hole good with dry leaves1 or grass1 over springs and all1 being sure to use dry flat leaves to lay over the pan and jaws1 then cover over all with some of the remaining dirt before mentioned4 ,be sure to hide chain and handle everything with gloves4 ,now brush out your tracks1 step over your trap and go on4 ,one way of trapping foxes may be done like this4 ,around the pastures and in the woods where stock make paths lay a fence rail1 or its equivalent across these paths1 and the use of stock during the summer months will render these prearranged obstructions worn and natural by ,november trapping1 and on either side of such an obstruction is a splendid place to set your trap for the fox to step in1 writes ,l4 ,m4 ,pickens4 ,paths1 places under fences1 little washouts1 and old roads not much used are generally his favorite travels4 ,see after his tracks in the dust1 mud1 or snow2 notice how he steps over one of these obstructions that you arranged early in the summer1 and other places1 studying him1 then set your trap this way1 using every precaution to not change any of the surroundings4 ,illustration3 ,,tennessee ,,trappers ,,and ,,traps4 ,carry with you a little hard wood stick1 ready sharpened1 with which to dig a hole on either side of this obstruction that has been lying over the stock path just the size of your trap1 and deep enough so your trap pan and jaws will be a little below the level of the surface4 ,now cover over springs good and all around the outside of jaws with some of this dirt you dug up2 now you have the trap concealed all but its pan and inside of jaws2 finish the set by laying some small flat leaves from jaws to pan1 commencing and going all the way around jaws2 after this is done pulverize some of the remaining dirt1 and sprinkle it over these leaves1 entirely covering them4 ,take a small twig and level over trap1 finishing the job4 ,it might help some to cut a part of a bird into fine pieces1 dropping it and loose feathers over this kind of a set4 ,to fasten the trap is some of the job4 ,cut a bush with a lot of limbs to it1 and wire your trap to the middle of same securely1 but do not have the brush drag so heavily that he cannot run off with it2 it is intended for him to go immediately after he is caught1 for these reasons1 he will soon hang up some distance away1 and thus fastened1 he is not stationed at this good place where another may be caught1 besides his chances of pulling out of the trap is less than it is if he was stapled to something he could not move4 ,the brush is a give and take game1 see8 ,be sure to cover chain of trap good1 and have everything look as natural when you leave us when you came to set trap4 ,use ,no4 #b ,newhouse1 handling it and everything with gloves2 always stand ,in one place2 leave no paper or whittlings on the premises4 ,i use this method just outlined4 ,try it boys4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,many ,,good ,,methods4 ,there is no animal roaming the woods so hard to catch in a steel trap as the fox1 says a writer in the ,orange ,judd ,farmer4 ,yet when one understands his nature he is easily taken despite his cunning4 ,the following method ,i have employed successfully3 ,first take four good steel traps and cover them with fresh blood at a slaughter house4 ,take a dead hen 7one that has died a natural death will do if there is no odor71 and run a wire up in her head and down in her body2 also wires through her feet and legs4 ,select a place where foxes run near a low bush or small tree4 ,on a branch of this1 about three feet from the ground1 fasten your hen solidly with the wires in her feet4 ,by means of wire in her neck1 bend it so she will look as if she were on a roost4 ,be very particular on this point4 ,set your trap a little below the surface of the soil1 so that the tops are level4 ,now cover up with leaves and grass so that there is no difference in appearance from the surrounding ground4 ,be sure the chains are well staked4 ,mr4 ,fox comes up and sees the hen4 ,he squats down on his stomach4 ,he will lie there for five minutes watching the hen4 ,then he makes a spring for her neck1 and gets it1 but the traps get him and the boy gets the fox if he is cute enough4 99 99 99 ,well here is how ,i caught my first fox1 says ,c4 ,f4 ,hotchkiss1 of ,wisconsin4 ,it was in the winter of #ahhg and #ahhh4 ,i was working for a farmer here in ,shawano ,co41 had to drive the stock to the river to water all winter4 ,i noticed fox tracks on the ice so ,i bought a double spring ,newhouse4 ,gave #fj cents for it1 took some chaff from the hay in the cow stable for a bed and set the trap on the river bank under a large hemlock to protect it from storms1 covered trap with chaff and strewed pieces of chicken and feathers on the bed4 ,in four days ,i had two foxes1 then some one stole my trap and ,i did not try any more then4 ,last winter ,i was working for the same farmer again4 ,he lost two sheep4 ,we drew the carcasses out in the woods1 set four traps at one sheep and six at the other4 ,in seven weeks we had #ad foxes and we lost no time from other work4 ,we pulled wool from the sheep to cover the traps with4 ,i do not think it best to spit near a fox trap1 especially tobacco spit4 ,there may be some foxes that do not care for it1 but ,i know they are not all built that way4 ,one of my methods of trapping ,reynard was as follows3 ,first1 thoroughly besmear the trap with droppings from cattle1 using no other preparation1 neither boiling or smoking1 as some recommend to prevent their fear of human scent1 then my favorite sets being in the path of some old timber or wood road or cattle path in some unusual pasture4 ,after selecting the place best suited1 according to my best judgment1 take a knife to cut out a hole corresponding to size of trap1 remove carefully all loose earth4 ,i usually carried a small basket for the reception of everything taken up this way4 ,set the trap carefully1 covering loosely with some coarse material and topping the whole with material to correspond with the surrounding surface of paths1 and lastly laying a small twig across just at one side of where the trap is set1 as a fox will always step over any small obstruction1 and by placing the twig in this manner he would step over into the trap4 ,illustration3 ,,thirty ,,silver ,,fox ,,skins ,,worth #ejjj4 ,in the section of country which ,i am now writing1 that just east of the ,white ,mountains in ,new ,hampshire1 there were innumerable such roads and paths1 so that ,i had all the territory ,i desired for the purpose4 ,have caught many a sly chap in this manner4 ,had a good grapple at end of chain and never fastened a trap but let them make a few jumps when they would nearly always get caught up1 yet on a few occasions have had to put up a pretty stiff hunt before locating them4 ,for instance1 there might be a snow storm1 if late in the season1 or a heavy rain4 ,in this case there might not be any signs to go by1 and ,i would have to go on a blind hunt and cover considerable ground before ,i could skin my fox4 99 99 99 ,i had my traps all set one fall and everything was coming my way1 until one morning ,i found that ,i was dealing with a fox that knew as much about trapping as ,i did4 ,i had my trap set in a spring and every time he wanted to steal bait he could manage it without getting into the trap4 ,i let the trap set the same way and kept it baited but meanwhile ,i was thinking of a plan to capture him4 ,in fixing the spring ,i made a dam out of dirt1 placing a few small flat stones on top of it4 ,now ,i made up my mind that as the dam was the nearest point to the bait that he must be stealing it from that place4 ,now ,i took the trap out of the spring and put in a stone covered with a tuft of grass to resemble the trap and setting the trap itself in the dam1 covering with dirt and laying a little flat stone on the pan4 ,i had made up my mind that when he stepped on the dam he would step on the small stones that ,i had laid on top to keep the dirt from washing away4 ,while stepping on the dam to reach for the bait he stepped on the small stone on the pan and was held fast by a ,no4 #b #a_/b ,blake ,lamb trap1 just as ,i had calculated on4 99 99 99 ,one way of trapping fox is setting under water1 especially in slow moving water1 is most effectual in killing the trap odor1 says a ,michigan trapper4 ,the metallic smell will not rise through water1 but will be absorbed and carried away by it4 ,as much as a fortnight before setting take a hoe and dig a shallow pool in a swamp where foxes are known to cross4 ,dig it six or seven feet across in a mucky ooze and leave a drain way or outlet open so that in event of rain storms1 water will not rise and stand too deep in the pool4 ,the pool should bear as few evidences as possible of having been made by man4 ,in the course of a fortnight after the scent of the trapper has faded away and leaves have fallen1 the trap is smeared with tallow and the chain is fastened to long narrow stone1 approaching so as to make and leave as few tracks as possible4 ,the trap along with the stone and chain is set in the bottom of the pool1 not in the center1 but so near one side that the trap will be from #ab to #ad inches from the low bank4 ,a little tuft of grass as large as a soda biscuit is placed directly over the trap resting on it1 so the top of the tuft will show a little above the water1 looking as though it grew there4 ,about a foot beyond it further out in the water another tuft a little larger and thicker1 is placed so it will show distinctly above the water1 and on it place the bait4 ,a fox crossing the swamp on a chilly day scenting the bait will approach the pool4 ,to avoid wading in the cold muddy water he will probably step on the nearest tuft4 ,that is the one on the trap in which he will be caught by the foreleg4 99 99 99 ,i will tell you what ,i know about the fox1 says a ,canadian trapper4 ,he is the slyest animal we have to deal with here4 ,i think the best way is to use several different ways to trap foxes1 and your chances will be doubled in taking them4 ,take a horse or beef head and put it out in the woods and leave it there for about a week4 ,then if the foxes have been at it1 set your traps and cover with leaves or dead pine needles4 ,when you are leaving take a brush and brush some snow over your traps to about half cover the leaves4 ,leave no foot marks around and you will be pretty sure to get your fox4 ,another good way is to take tainted beef or pig kidneys and put them at the back of a ,v1 made by two logs falling across each other4 ,i took one this way before the snow came1 but he got away with my trap4 ,i have read and heard a lot about human scent and animals being afraid of it4 ,i have seen enough to be sure that fox are not afraid of either human scent or steel traps1 if the dirt is not disturbed around the trap4 99 99 99 ,illustration3 ,,california ,,trapper ,,visiting ,,traps4 ,when snow is plentiful so that sly ,reynard may be tracked1 then search out his haunts and find where he sleeps in the day time1 says a ,canadian hunter4 ,they seldom go in holes in the winter1 and in the bright sunny days are very sleepy4 ,in tracking you will see marks where they have been lying1 generally in some elevated position close to their haunts1 where they may be caught napping as they often are caught4 ,the snow should be soft so as to make the least noise possible1 but it is astonishing the amount of noise you can make and still not disturb them1 providing you have been thoughtful enough to keep the wind in your favor1 as they are very quick to smell a person1 so in consequence you should always face the wind and go easy in your search4 ,the snow shoes are a great help when the snow is deep1 as it is then that the fox is easiest gotten as they will not go far in the deep snow4 ,try it boys and be surprised at your success4 99 99 99 ,i will try and explain to you my method of catching fox alive1 writes ,howard ,hurst1 of ,pennsylvania4 ,take a common box trap1 put a wire partition about #d inches from back end of trap4 ,on the back end of trap put a wire door that you can open and shut4 ,take the trap to some good den1 take a small live chicken and put in the back part of trap4 ,the noise of the chicken will attract the foxes' attention and he will enter the trap door4 ,i saw four caught this way last spring by a boy #i years old4 99 99 99 ,i will mention how you can get a fox without bait1 says ,jarvis ,green1 of ,maine4 ,look up an old path or wood road where you see that they have traveled1 and notice a mound or rise of ground2 now the foxes always stop to urinate on all such places4 ,when you see the wind and atmosphere indicates a fall of snow1 go and set your trap1 smear with balsam of fir1 cedar1 hemlock or spruce1 set your trap on center of mound and on one side stick up a tree branch to look as if grown there1 about eight inches high1 fasten trap to a clog by the middle1 cover trap lightly with some fine substance4 ,a drop or two of scent is sure of every one that comes along4 ,try this4 ,the ,blake ,lamb trap is best4 ,i have only one fault with the single spring and that is the trencher is too large4 ,on the new style if the animal steps on the edge of trencher1 result is a toe or two will be left4 ,be careful in covering trap so that when it springs the jaws will shut tight4 99 99 99 ,illustration3 ,,pennsylvania ,,fox ,,trapper',s ,,cabin4 ,when ,i was a boy ,i used to hunt foxes with dog and gun4 ,in tracking them ,i noticed that they would go to every skunk that was killed1 writes ,l4 ,m4 ,cartwright1 of ,pennsylvania1 near where they traveled1 and nose around1 but never saw where they ate any of it1 so ,i used the scent successfully in catching them4 ,i have caught many of them in ,no4 #a ,newhouse trap fastened to a clog2 had one to pull the staple out of a clog and carry trap as much as five miles before catching him1 and if it had not been for a fresh fall of snow would have been out4 ,about as sure a way to catch fox 7if you have the proper place7 is to snare him4 ,here they very often cross the creek on logs or trees that have fallen across1 when the creek is not frozen over4 ,take about three and a half feet of wire1 such as is used for baling hay1 make a snare1 staple or spike the end of wire down on the side of the tree about the center of the creek1 bend wire up so the loop comes over the center of log1 make loop about seven or eight inches in diameter1 set small bush on each side1 stick in log and cover just over top of snare4 ,if properly set will catch fox1 coon and dogs 7so it is best to set where dogs do not travel74 ,i suppose any log up from the ground high enough would do by using the scent from the female fox4 ,another way1 drive a stake beside a log1 set trap about six to nine inches away1 pour fish brine on stake and see what it will do4 ,this should be away from dogs4 ,my way of trapping the fox is by the old method4 ,take a bushel of buckwheat chaff and where foxes travel nearly every night scatter it about four feet around1 and take a stick and pat the chaff down so it is nice and smooth all over the bed4 ,then take tallow cracklings and scatter them over the bed about a foot apart1 then leave everything natural1 and as soon as a fox takes the bait place your trap 7which should be a double spring ,newhouse or a ,no4 #b #a_/b ,b4 ,l47 set it in center of bed and cover about #c_/d or #a inch with chaff4 ,put cotton under pan so it will not hinder trap from springing4 ,the trap should be fastened to a clog or drag hook4 ,i say to young trappers try my way and you will be successful4 99 99 99 ,do not spit or drop anything or touch anything with your bare hands1 says a ,vermont trapper4 ,yes1 ,i know some say animals are not afraid of human scent4 ,i have my ideas and know what ,i have to do to be successful4 ,if others can make a success in a different way ,i will not disagree with them4 ,you cut a stake1 sharpen it at one end1 cut it about #ae inches long1 about #a inch in diameter2 leave a prong about three inches long and about three inches from top to stake down trap4 ,i will set this ,no4 #b #a_/b ,blake now4 ,i ask all of you to pay attention1 as ,i have often made the assertion that ,i could set a fox trap before #djj persons and not ten of them would make fox trappers4 ,now let me set this trap and carry it set to this bank1 which is a sharp knoll about two feet high4 ,i take my digger and cut a sod #f inches square4 ,now ,i dig a hole back in the bank #f or #h inches and about three inches across4 ,make the cavity large enough to set trap about #c inches deep1 place ring over stake and drive stake in ground under where you set the trap4 ,set trap so pan will be about three inches from mouth of hole and square in front of hole4 ,now with digger cover trap about #a_/b inch deep so it will be all covered evenly4 ,put two pieces of bait in hole beyond trap and about three inches from mouth1 and one in further end of hole4 ,drop a few drops of scent at mouth of hole and the thing is done4 ,if you have paid attention you will see that ,i have touched nothing with my hands and never stepped out of my tracks setting trap4 99 99 99 ,the fox is1 without doubt1 the most cunning of all cunning animals we trappers have to trap1 says an ,eastern trapper4 ,many times have ,i been to my fox traps to find one or so turned bottom side up and no fox4 ,a fox will reach into a bed and take your bait with his paw1 and ,i have trapped them when actions said plain as words1 you can't fool me4 ,i find the ,no4 #a #a_/b ,newhouse a very good trap for the fox1 especially in early fall when the ground don't freeze4 ,a fox will start on his nightly rounds and frequent small clearings in woods1 sandy side hills and such places1 and that is the place a trapper wants a few tanglefoot4 ,i have trapped fox for quite a number of years1 and ,i never caught one by accident yet4 ,i always have to set for fox and fox only4 ,in regard to poisoning1 ,i think that a man that uses it ought to be shot full of holes4 ,in regard to iron smell1 ,i will say that fox can smell iron1 but bury your trap deep enough and you will be all right4 ,a good scent is as follows3 ,take skunk essence1 white of eggs1 and let stand about one week4 ,use about five drops and ,i will warrant it to be the best fox scent made4 99 99 99 ,we all know it's difficult to catch the fox on dry land1 although it is done1 says a ,new ,england trapper4 ,there are thousands of fox who fall victims to this way1 and ,i believe it a more successful method than any in existence4 ,i shall recommend a spring to set your trap in because the water does not rise or fall much1 like a brook4 ,carefully dig out your spring in ,july or ,august1 arranging it so that you will have it ready by fall1 by placing a flat stone about fifteen inches from the stone so it will project above water about one inch2 on top of this place a sod about three inches thick if possible1 and have the edges come into the water so it will look natural4 ,cut your sods that you are to fix inside the trap1 and lay up to dry when you prepare your place4 ,when the time is ready for setting your trap1 go to the place by walking up the outlet of the spring or brook1 using the greatest care1 and not touch the brushes or anything around the trap2 place your trap very near the edge of the spring1 about six or eight inches from the sod2 have the trap entirely under water1 and place your sod1 cut for the purpose1 on the pan1 have it cover all the space inside the trap1 and be sure it is out of water enough to offer a dry footing for the fox1 and not over two inches from the shore4 ,some have the shore cut out so half the trap is on apparently dry land4 ,either way is all right4 ,place your bait on the side of the sod1 using scent and being sure that your bait or scent cannot be reached except by the fox stepping on the pan of the trap1 and you will get your fox4 ,when you visit your trap do not go too near1 as all these things have their effect4 ,i should recommend for bait cat or muskrat1 a piece half the size of an egg is all right4 ,it should be prepared by placing in a perfectly clean jar the number of bait you wish1 and allow to taint1 putting the scent in with the bait1 or dropping on the bait after you place on sod4 ,you must use the greatest care in handling your bait4 ,do not take out or place on the bait with your bare hands4 ,use a stick4 ,illustration3 ,,new ,,england ,,trappers ,,catch4 ,i have been waiting for some of the fox trappers of the ,red ,river ,valley1 says a ,minnesota trapper1 to write and tell us how they manage to pinch ,mr4 ,reynard's toes4 ,i think we have a harder place here to trap fox than you ,eastern fellows have4 ,the country is just as level as a board and no timber1 and we are liable to have a blizzard any hour4 ,what makes it hard to trap is that the traps always blow in if you haven't got them in a good place4 ,i have quite a trick to catch the fox1 at least ,i have had the best luck with it4 ,i first find a place where an old straw pile was burned1 then smear my traps with blood and hide them good in ashes1 erase all of my tracks and drop a few spirits of anise oil all around4 ,for bait ,i generally use the entrails of a hog or beef4 ,last winter ,i caught two without any bait2 just the oil4 ,last winter ,i had good luck with dead chickens4 ,i always staple my traps to a clog of about twelve or fifteen pounds weight4 ,on this clog ,i nailed the chicken and ,i got every fox that came around4 ,i only trapped one month with two traps1 ,no4 #b ,newhouse1 and ,i got #f fox and #a wolf1 and that was all the fox there were inside of about three or four miles1 and ,i didn't have time to go further because ,i am a farmer and have my stock to tend4 99 99 99 ,if you know where there is a meadow with hay or straw stacked out on it1 says ,austin ,palin1 of ,indiana1 and if you will go to this stack after a little snow and there has been a fox in the field1 he will be pretty sure to have gone to the stack to nose around4 ,i first go and catch some fish about #f or #h inches long4 ,i generally get suckers4 ,i now clean my traps by boiling them in weak lye1 then reboil them in evergreen boughs4 ,i think it advisable to run beeswax over your trap1 but ,i have had success without the beeswax4 ,after you have your traps cleaned and fixed do not handle them with your bare hands but put on a pair of gloves1 take your trap and fish and a piece of wood about #d feet long and the thickness of your arm and go to the stack4 ,now raise up the edge of the hay at the ground and slip the fish 7one will be enough7 back under the hay #f or #h inches1 then set your trap directly in front of it1 covering with the fine chaff2 now fasten the trap chain to the piece of wood and slip the stick back under the stack1 working it around a little so when the fox gets fast he can pull it out easily4 ,now take a stick and straighten out the hay over the trap and scratch out all signs and your set is complete4 ,make the above set when there is no snow4 99 99 99 ,we trapped foxes by baiting in beds mostly1 says a ,michigan trapper1 though we caught five in the following manner3 ,a wounded deer had fallen near two down trees which lap with tops crossed4 ,we drew the deer into the apex or pen1 as we noticed that foxes had been visiting the carcass4 ,we cut notches out of these trees which were old and moss-covered1 and set traps in the places prepared1 covering neatly with moss4 ,foxes are prone to walk convenient logs investigating anything that attracts them1 and rarely look for danger under foot if the trap has been well placed and cleverly hidden4 ,we smoked our traps and handled them with mittens4 99 99 99 ,the red fox is the only species that abounds in this locality1 says ,wm4 ,muchon1 of ,minnesota4 ,when run by the hounds he usually keeps half a mile ahead1 regulating his speed by that of the hounds1 occasionally pausing a moment to divert himself with a mouse or to contemplate the landscape or to listen for his pursuer4 ,a most spirited and exciting chase occurs when the dogs gets close upon one in the open field4 ,the fox relies so confidently upon his superior speed that ,i imagine he half tempts the dog to the race1 but if he be a smart dog1 and their course lies down hill over smooth ground1 ,reynard must put his best foot forward and then sometimes suffers the ignominy of being run over by his pursuer1 who1 however1 is quite unable to pick him up1 owing to the speed4 ,but uphill and in the woods the superior nimbleness and agility of the fox tells at once4 ,carry the carcass of a pig or a fowl to a distant field in mid-winter1 and in a few nights his tracks cover the snow about it4 ,the inexperienced youth1 misled by this seeming carelessness of ,reynard1 suddenly conceives a project to enrich himself with fur1 and wonders why the idea has not occurred to him before and to others4 ,i knew a youthful yeoman of this kind who imagined he had found a mine of wealth discovering on a remote side hill between two woods a dead porker1 upon which it appeared all the foxes of the neighborhood did nightly banquet4 ,the clouds were burdened with snow and as the first flakes began to eddy down he set out1 trap and broom in hand1 already counting over in imagination the silver quarters he would receive for the first fox skin4 ,with the utmost care and with a palpitating heart he removed enough of the trodden snow to allow the trap to sink below the surface4 ,the next morning at dawn he was on his way to bring his fur4 ,the snow had done its work effectually1 and he believed had kept his secret well4 ,approaching nearer1 the surface was unbroken1 and doubt usurped the place of certainty in his mind4 ,a slight wound marked the side of the porker1 but there was no footprint near it4 ,looking up the hill1 he saw where ,reynard had walked leisurely down toward his wanted bacon till within a few yards when he had wheeled1 and with prodigious strides disappeared in the woods4 ,the stream of silver quarters suddenly set in another direction4 ,the successful trapper commences in the fall1 or before the first deep snow4 ,in a field not too remote with an old axe he cuts a small place1 say ten inches by fourteen in the frozen ground1 and removes the earth to the depth of three or four inches1 then fills the cavity with dry ashes in which are placed bits of roasted cheese4 ,reynard is very suspicious and gives the place a wide berth1 but the cheese is savory and the cold severe4 ,he ventures a little closer every night until he can reach and pick out a piece from the ashes1 and finding a fresh supply of the delectable morsels every night is soon thrown off his guard and his suspicions lulled4 ,after a week of baiting in this way1 the trapper carefully conceals his trap in the bed1 first smoking it thoroughly with hemlock boughs so as to kill all smell of iron4 ,if the weather favors1 and the proper precautions have been taken he may succeed1 though the chances are still greatly against him4 99 99 99 ,i will say that we keep four of the best fox traps in the shape of four hounds that can be found in our part of the country1 writes ,j4 ,a4 ,mc,kinnon1 of ,canada1 and as for the month of ,november we sold #he4jj worth of fur1 it will be easily seen that they pay for their keep4 ,the fox hound1 like the coon dog1 must be a good one1 properly bred and trained for the purpose1 and they are never first class until they are two or three years old1 although ,i have killed foxes ahead of dogs that were only nine months old1 but these turned out to be exceptionally good dogs1 and out of a litter of six or eight puppies half of the number may be worthless for what ,i call a good fox hound is one that will hunt for his fox alone1 and that will run all day if necessary4 ,i went out on the first snow and in one day captured three foxes1 two of which ,i shot1 and the other ran into a hollow log2 he was running so hard ,i believe he would have got into the rail if there had been no hole at all4 ,i also find that the morning is the best time to find a fresh track1 as it is then that ,reynard is up and taking his morning walk through the old barren meadows1 and partly cleared fields1 in search of mice and other small game4 ,in my experience ,i find that the females do not move around so much in the day time as the males do1 for they are shyer than the males and are possessed of more cunningness4 ,in our travels we always mark any fox dens we come across1 so as to pay them a friendly call after a fresh fall of snow4 ,we use the ,winchester repeating shot guns1 and find that for long range and quick shooting they are the best4 ,we sometimes use our rifles but a fox is a small mark to shot at if he is running at full speed4 ,brother trappers1 get a pair of good fox hounds and you will get more foxes than with all the traps you could set in a week4 99 99 99 ,i don't think there are many men now living that have skinned many more fox than ,i have1 yet ,i can learn every year something new about ,reynard1 says ,o4 ,douglass1 of ,michigan4 ,but what ,i do want to know is this3 ,i see so much about water sets1 and ,i don't understand how it can be done only for the fun of it4 ,i have bought for many years1 and ,i have as yet to see many prime water trapped fox4 ,they are caught too early to be prime1 and ,i can't see where the money comes in to pay for your trouble4 ,now trappers1 don't you think it is better to make some fine dry land sets in ,july or ,august and bait them once a week until they are prime1 and you have them coming to your beds and they are not afraid of your work8 ,i say this to young trappers4 ,i have been trying all ways for sixty years and have caught them many different ways1 but ,i do think the water set is the poorest way of all4 ,dry land sets for me every time in ,november and ,december4 ,i make my beds early and ,i use the scrap from hog's lard4 ,i take one skunk scent bag to each bed to draw them to the bait1 and when they come once they will call again4 ,i see where a buyer was called to buy #ad fox hides and only found one prime skin4 ,all water caught4 ,that is my experience with water caught fox4 ,they have to be caught too early4 ,it may be different in some localities1 but not here1 as the water is frozen by the time fox are prime4 ,try dry land sets and see if ,i am not right1 and have more money for your work later on4 ,i always set two traps to one bed1 and cover with dry dirt until it freezes4 ,then ,i use chaff4 ,handle all with clean gloves and be as cunning as a fox yourself4 ,illustration3 ,,pack ,,of ,,new ,,england ,,fox ,,hounds4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,fred ,,and ,,the ,,old ,,trapper4 ,young trappers can learn much by making the rounds with experienced trappers4 ,the following conversation between ,fred and an old ,pennsylvania trapper is interesting3 ,where was the trap set8 ,i do not see any bait pen4 ,fred1 you take this stick and walk up slowly to him2 go up close and give him a sharp blow across the back of the neck4 ,that will fix him4 ,you see that big mossy log laying on the bank over there4 ,that was where he was caught4 ,we will now set the trap again4 ,see this little sink in the log4 ,that is where the trap was set4 ,this limb is what the trap was fastened to1 one end on the ground and the other comes just up to the log where the trap is set1 and we will staple the trap to it4 ,we will now cover it with moss just like this on this log1 but we will get it from another log4 ,no one could tell that there was a trap there4 ,will not the fox smell it8 ,he might if it was not for this fox carcass4 ,we will skin the fox4 ,look out there1 ,fred1 do not disturb the moss or anything on that log where the trap is4 ,keep away from that4 ,we will put this carcass in the little hollow and will drive a crotched stake straddle of its neck2 drive it well down2 now take this stick and rake some leaves over it1 cover the neck where the stake is quite well1 the rest of the carcass only lightly4 ,you have done it very well and the fox will not notice what scent there is on the trap as long as that carcass is there4 ,but you had no carcass there when you caught this one1 and ,i have heard that a fox was afraid of the scent of iron4 ,that is all bosh6 ,keep the traps free from all foreign scent and you need not be afraid of the scent of the iron1 but if you catch some animal in the trap then you must have some of the scent of that animal around near the trap4 ,this will overcome what scent there is on the trap4 ,this1 however1 is only necessary with shy animals like the fox4 ,coon and skunk are not afraid of what they smell4 ,how did you know that a fox would go on that log where that trap was set8 ,by knowing the nature of the animal4 ,when the fox smelt the bear bait in the pen there we knew that he would get on the highest point near the pen to investigate1 and that point was that log4 ,is this the only way you catch foxes8 ,no1 this is only one of the many ways4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,experienced ,,trapper',s ,,tricks4 ,the fox is the most cunning animal we have1 consequently he is the most difficult one to trap1 says ,c4 ,e4 ,matheny1 of ,ohio4 ,but like all other animals he has a weak point1 and if you attack him at this point he will1 without a doubt1 fall into your snares4 ,one of the most important things when about to trap a fox is to have the trap perfectly clean4 ,the word clean1 in this sense1 does not allude to freedom from rust1 but means that the trap should be entirely free from human scent4 ,in order to avoid this1 the trap must be thoroughly washed in lye and when dry1 well greased and smoked over burning feathers4 ,it has already been said that the fox has a very keen scent1 but it is particularly shy and scary at the least odor of the human body4 ,it is therefore necessary when handling the trap to use clean buckskin1 or still better1 rubber gloves1 and unless this important precaution is observed success is very improbable4 ,the next step is to make the bed for the trap1 and although there are various ways of doing this1 the following1 ,i believe1 is the best method4 ,the bed should be about three and a half feet in diameter1 and made of wheat1 hay or buckwheat chaff4 ,some trappers use wood ashes1 but any of the above will be found better4 ,the ground upon which the bed is made should be hollowed out in the center so as to admit the trap1 and the bed should be made as hard as possible and deep enough to cover the trap1 and at the same time be perfectly level with the ground4 ,when the bed is made as directed1 take the trap 7which should be a ,no4 #b and have a chain and clog attached to it7 and place it in the hollow in the center of the bed4 ,after setting the trap put some of the chaff inside the jaws as high as the pan4 ,cover the pan with paper so that the chaff will not prevent its working freely1 and then cover the whole with chaff and level it off so that the fox will not suspect a trap to be there2 finally bait it with fresh meat1 cheese1 or better still1 cracklings after lard is pressed out4 ,scatter them liberally over the bed2 do not tramp about the bed more than is absolutely necessary1 and cover up all foot-tracks as much as possible4 ,it is a good plan to smear the trap with assafoetida or melted beeswax1 with a few drops of the oil of rhodium4 ,these are all good and may be employed for the purpose of deceiving a particularly cunning fellow after all other stratagems fail4 ,another good plan is to bait the bed several times before setting the trap1 until the fox begins to think that this is the best place it ever knew to find a choice morsel ready at all hours4 ,when a proper degree of confidence appears to have been established then put the trap in its place and catch him--if you can4 99 99 99 ,first take a ,no4 #c ,blake ,lamb trap1 and look around over the fields or woods and find where the sand has washed down and is fine as wood ashes1 says ,f4 ,a4 ,aurand1 of ,michigan4 ,you will always find if you keep close watch over the fields that a fox likes to get on the fine sand and play or walk over and around on it for some reason1 as you will always find their tracks on the sand in the fall and spring4 ,now take for bait any of the following3 dead chicken1 or turkey1 or beef's hind leg1 but ,i think the best is beef's old head4 ,now take the old head1 dig down in the sand and set the head down in the sand so that the jaws and nose are out of the sand about to the eyes4 ,now take your traps1 about three ,no4 #c ,b4 ,l4 traps1 take a stake and fasten the rings to the stake1 and drive the stake below the surface of the sand and cover it over the top4 ,now dig a small trench for the chains1 lay the chains in the trenches1 a trench for each chain4 ,spread the traps each way from the old head1 and set the trap out away from the head as far as the chains will let them go1 by driving the stake right close to the head4 ,then dig a small place in the sand so the trap will set just level with the surface of the sand1 for each trap to set in4 ,take a small piece of cotton batton and put enough under each pan of the traps to keep the sand from getting under pans so they won't spring4 ,now take the sand that you took out of the places for the traps and cover them all over1 traps1 chains and all4 ,then take a small bush and brush out all your tracks and over the traps4 ,if you have done your work well you can hardly tell where the traps are4 ,you can use some good scent on the sand or on the old head1 but ,i don't think it needs it4 ,fix the old head in the sand quite a little while before you want to trap4 ,all ,i ever caught ,i caught in this way4 ,if you do everything right ,i am sure of your success4 99 99 99 ,i have visited hundreds of trappers in ,maine and ,canada1 and have learned many of the secrets of successful trapping from them and also from my own personal experience and observation1 writes ,n4 ,c4 ,burbank4 ,i have come to the conclusion that the basis of all the most successful secret decoys for catching fox is the substance taken from the glands of the female fox during the running season1 mixed with grease of some sort1 together with contents of the glands of the skunk1 preferably the female taken in the spring or latter part of the winter4 ,i do not pretend to say that every one will be successful who uses that decoy4 ,i am of the opinion1 if directions are closely followed in the following method of water trapping for fox1 you are reasonably sure to catch them if you use that decoy4 ,during the month of ,august or ,september select some spring or place about a foot and a half from the edge1 or in the center of a circular spring that is not over #d feet wide1 a sod #h or #aj inches across1 and arrange a place to set the trap a few inches from the outside4 ,this must be done early in the season1 so all evidence of human work and scent will be removed before trapping time4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,spring ,,and ,,sod ,,set4 ,when the season arrives you are ready to set your trap1 and you do so in the following manner3 ,in selecting springs you must find one that has an outlet so you can walk in the water for a distance of three rods1 six or eight is better4 ,set your trap and take it up to the spring or place selected1 walking in the water and using the greatest care not to touch bushes or anything to leave the scent of yourself4 ,place the trap in the place prepared in the early season1 being sure it is covered over entirely1 chain and all1 by water4 ,then cover with dead leaves or whatever is on the bottom of the spring4 ,place upon the trap pan a small sod as light a one as possible1 allowing it to be out of the water at least one inch so that the fox in reaching for the bait will step on the sod1 which should be six or eight inches from the shore4 ,fox1 like the human being1 do not like to wet their feet4 ,now you have the trap set and then comes the baiting4 ,take a small piece of meat and place it on the larger sod1 using great care not to leave human scent1 take a few drops of this decoy and place on the bait4 ,also take a rotten stick and break off a piece #f or #h inches long1 being careful of handling1 and place two or three drops on the end and stick it into the sod so it will stick up two inches or such a matter above it4 ,your trap is now ready for ,reynard1 and if you use great care in setting and in visiting your traps ,i am certain of your success4 ,there are many methods of catching foxes and ,i am acquainted with them1 not all1 perhaps1 as each man has a little different way1 but ,i am satisfied the above for a water set it correct4 99 99 99 ,here in the ,east where ,i am trapping near the mountains1 if we could not catch fox on the snow path we would not get any prime fur1 says ,j4 ,h4 ,shufelt1 of ,canada4 ,i will give one of my snow sets that ,i use here for fox4 ,it may not fit your case as every locality calls for its own method1 and foxes are slyer in some places than others4 ,i use a ,no4 #c ,blake ,lamb trap with a three foot chain and grapple4 ,how to fix the trap8 ,i take a large kettle and fill with water and put my traps in and get the water boiling hot4 ,for every dozen of traps ,i put in one-half pint of lime not air slacked1 and boil for ten minutes4 ,now take out your traps1 which will be odorless and white as snow1 and use gloves in handling and setting them4 ,illustration3 ,,odorless ,,and ,,white ,,as ,,snow4 ,when you get ready to set your traps go out in a large field where foxes are traveling1 make a good path across the field by traveling back and forth4 ,where you want to make a set leave a little partition across the path to guide the fox in the trap1 which is covered with white paper and a little snow4 ,be careful in setting and not leave tracks outside of the path nor lay any sticks across4 ,when going to your traps walk in the path1 which makes it better1 and don't let too much snow get over them4 ,be careful and you will get your fox4 ,do foxes eat skunk8 ,i might say in answer to this question they do1 and they will kill skunk if found outside of their dens4 ,and if a fox is run in a den where there is a skunk1 their odor is most always sure to prove fatal to a fox in a very short time4 ,several instances of this kind have happened in this locality where ,i am hunting and trapping4 ,foxes are very fond of skunk for food1 and the musk makes a good scent for trapping foxes4 ,a good scent for cold weather1 for it never freezes4 ,no doubt a good trapper will say1 give me fresh bait4 ,i might say give me a strong smelling bait1 for when the fox is smelling a strong bait or scent he cannot smell anything else at the same time4 ,now for instance1 if you were going out for a fox hunt1 and your hound got scented by skunk1 it would spoil his scenting anything1 and he could not follow the trail4 ,several experiences have led me to think this is one reason why we make a better catch on a damp or rainy night4 ,the bait smells so much stronger that it takes up more of the game's sense of smell and makes our chance of a catch better4 ,the old trapper will oftimes make this remark1 ,boys1 ,i am going to make a big catch tonight--why1 because it is going to be a damp and rainy night4 ,who knows why8 ,i trap foxes by land and water set4 ,i sometimes use a set called the all around land set4 ,every locality calls for its own method4 ,i use two kinds of traps1 ,blake ,lamb and ,newhouse4 ,they are both all right4 ,my trapping grounds are near the mountains where the foxes defy fox hounds1 for they have dens in the rocks4 ,the ,hunter-,trader-,trapper1 ,columbus1 ,ohio1 is in touch with fox trappers1 hunters and owners of hounds from all parts of ,america1 so that interesting articles are constantly being received and published4 ,illustration3 ,,canadian ,,trapper ,,and ,,fifteen ,,reds4 ,the following1 by ,w4 ,j4 ,taylor1 of ,new ,york1 is his method for trapping the red fox3 ,choose a rotten stump near their runways1 cut out a cavity in the top of the stump deep enough to set trap and allow one-half inch of finely pulverized rotten wood to cover trap1 spring and chain4 ,do not handle pulverized wood with your hands4 ,have your traps thoroughly greased1 chain and all1 then smoke with hemlock1 spruce1 cedar or pine boughs4 ,smoke until trap and chain are black4 ,this is to stop the smell of steel4 ,sometimes ,i use a moss covered stump1 that is a stump with moss growing all or partly around its sides4 ,cut the cavity the same in stump1 cover lightly with pulverized rotten wood4 ,now go to another moss covered stump1 cut moss enough to cover top of stump1 cut a circular piece out a little smaller than jaws of trap1 place this right on top of trap1 then place the rest on top of stump1 trim outsides to match outside of stump4 ,handle moss with sharpened stick and knife1 never with bare hands unless set is made one week before baiting and scenting4 ,i generally make my sets two weeks before placing bait and scent4 ,place bait about six or eight feet from stump1 always on lower hillside4 ,daub your fox scent on top of stump1 side towards your bait4 ,for bait ,i use muskrat carcasses1 skunk1 dead hens1 rabbits1 fish or partly decomposed meat4 ,my receipt for fox scent is fish oil one-half pint 7made by placing fish in glass can in summer and hanging in sun until decomposed7 the musk sacks of ten or more muskrats1 one or more fox matrix which are obtained from the female fox1 also fat from the inside of either sex is good4 ,mix all together4 ,it will surely draw the fox4 ,illustration3 ,,adirondack ,,trapper4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,reynard ,,outwitted4 ,a good fox year can be counted upon with reasonable certainty once every five years1 says ,martin ,hunter1 on the ,labrador coast1 at least so say the oldest residents4 ,the year before they begin to come down from the interior1 then the climax for great numbers4 ,then the following year they decrease in numbers to what they were two years before1 and the winter following so few that one or two about in miles of coast is a rarity4 ,such was the case in the winter of #ga2 #fi had been a great fox year4 ,what was not trapped in the winter of #gj had migrated back to the remote interior4 ,between the posts of ,scum ,islands and ,moisie1 a distance of twenty-one miles of coast1 there was only known to be one fox--a red one--with a claw missing on his right paw1 and he was as cunning an old fellow as ever bothered a trapper4 ,for a night or two he would play all kinds of tricks down about ,moisie1 and then we would hear of him around ,seven ,islands4 ,there being no kind of hunting1 the people got anxious as to who would succeed in catching the old rascal4 ,bait would be sprinkled about at certain places1 and no traps4 ,big tail would come around and eat every scrap2 this would be done for two or three nights in succession1 and then the hunter would think the fox's fears were allayed1 and carefully put two or three traps and the bait as usual4 ,next morning the bait would be gone1 as before1 but he would find his traps turned up side down4 ,illustration3 ,,fox ,,traps ,,with ,,drags4 ,the fox we will say would pass and repass at a certain up-turned root or a point of trees1 then the hunter would think a trap in his beaten track would surely nip him4 ,not so1 however4 ,the trap would be nicely concealed1 but old ,reynard would deflex his road to suit the circumstances4 ,smoking1 greasing1 or all the usual modes of taking the smell from the iron traps were of no avail2 when a trap was set where his supper was spread1 that old fox would begin by digging a trench from a distance off in a straight line for the hidden traps1 the closer he got to the danger the slower and more cautiously he would work4 ,this we could see plainly next morning by standing outside his works and reading his signs4 ,there were better and older trappers in the field after this old stayer's life1 but it was given to me to circumvent his maneuvers and possess his fur4 ,i had reset my traps near the bait two nights in succession in the exact place where he had turned them over1 and of course he burrowed along his old trench to get at them4 ,this ,i carefully noted and set another trap in the trench on edge4 ,something told me ,i was going to be successful1 and ,i hardly slept that night4 ,i was on my snowshoes and off at the first grey of the ,february morning4 ,before ,i got to the point where my traps were set ,i saw his fresh tracks leading off in the same direction ,i was going4 ,my heart beat with expectation and anticipation as ,i hurried forward2 it was not for the value of the beast1 but to have it to say ,i had killed the cunning fox of #ahga where all the old hunters had failed4 ,yes there he was sure enough1 as ,i turned the last point2 ,i could hardly credit my good fortune1 and was so afraid that he would even now escape that ,i walked right on top of him with my snowshoes4 ,he was pinned down tight with my weight and was powerless to even wriggle4 ,i slipped my left hand under the snowshoe and with my other hand pulled down his heart2 a quiver or two and that fox was a good fox4 ,indians never strike or shoot either foxes1 mink or marten when they find them alive in the traps1 as it causes the blood to collect and congeal where the blow was given1 and spoils the looks of the skin1 besides the annoyance of the blood when skinning4 ,they hold the animal by the neck and with the other hand pull down the heart until the heart-strings break1 and death is as sudden as if the spine were severed4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,fox ,,shooting4 ,the fox1 although the cleverest animal sought after by ,new ,england hunters and trappers1 says ,l4 ,w4 ,beardsley1 of ,connecticut1 seems to have one decided drawback1 that of sight1 which frequently costs him his life4 ,sly and clever with very acute nose and ear1 he appears to be unable to tell a man from a tree or stone by sight alone1 provided the person remains motionless1 but the slightest motion is detected and sends him dusting for cover4 ,the above ,i have proved to my entire satisfaction time and again when hunting this animal1 a few instances of which ,i will quote below4 ,while walking along the tracks of the ,berkshire ,division ,r4 ,r41 which were bounded on the west by a steep hill with a fence three boards high1 placed horizontally about eight inches apart skirting the track1 ,i noticed beneath the lower board the legs of a fox moving toward me some seventy-five yards away4 ,i stopped between the rails1 half raising my #ch-dj ,stevens1 telescope mounted1 and waited for a favorable shot4 ,when some thirty yards away the fox crawled under the fence and trotted down the bank immediately in front of me1 where ,i stood in plain view4 ,he stopped in the middle of the track and looked towards me unconcernedly for several seconds1 then swung his head down the tracks in the direction of a train which was rapidly approaching from the south4 ,this was my chance4 ,i brought the cross hairs to bear just back of his foreleg and pulled4 ,with one mighty bound in the air he fell back across the rails without a struggle1 and ,i had to do some hustling to pull him out of the way before the train was upon us4 ,illustration3 ,,killed ,,before ,,breakfast4 ,again ,i was sitting on a stone1 my back against a wall in an open pasture lot waiting in hopes a fox might use the runway which passed close by4 ,i had been waiting quietly since #d ,a4 ,m4 ,it was now #f3cj1 and ,i had nearly given up hopes of seeing a fox that morning and was getting perhaps rather careless about watching1 when something rustled in the grass1 and raising my eyes without moving my head1 ,i saw a red fox in the act of passing in front of me not more than ten or fifteen feet away in the open lot4 ,i remained motionless until he was well past1 then raising my gun slowly and carefully ,i fired at the back of his head as he was trotting leisurely away1 all unconscious of my presence1 and perhaps only saw twenty-five yards off4 ,the fox never knew what had killed him1 and ,i often wonder if that load of shot surprised him more than his sudden appearance surprised me1 as ,i sat dozing on the rock4 ,i used on this occasion a #aj ga4 full choke ,winchester1 level action repeater ,model #aija1 loaded with #d #a_/b drs4 black powder and #a #a_/d oz4 ,b4 shot4 ,late one afternoon several years ago while out hunting grey squirrel at ,swamp ,mortar ,rock with ,wm4 ,e4 ,howes ,i1 who was hunting about #bjj yards south of ,bill1 heard a fox barking just over a rise of ground1 and cautiously approaching saw two foxes digging at the roots of a decayed stump4 ,just as ,i was getting within effective gun shot range ,i stepped on a twig which snapped with my weight4 ,the sound started the animals4 ,neither saw me1 however1 as ,i had remained perfectly motionless4 ,the moment the twig broke one took a course due east1 the other quartered toward me disappearing in the thick laurels4 ,there was a small opening in these bushes opposite me1 and with cocked gun trained on this spot ,i waited the appearance of the fox4 ,in a moment he was in the clearing1 and as he was stepping over a log about #cj yards away ,i gave him my right barrel and tumbled him over1 and as he endeavored to get up ,i put on the finishing touches with my left4 ,i was using a ,baker full choke #bh in4 #ab ga4 loaded with #c #a_/d drs4 black powder with #a #a_/h oz4 ,no4 #g shot4 ,illustration3 ,,results ,,of ,a ,,three ,,days ,,hunt4 ,while looking for woodchuck signs early one spring on my way to pasture1 ,i was following a old logging road when ,i saw a fox crossing in front of me and disappear in the ferns1 going toward a high ledge west of the road4 ,i stood still and waited4 ,when the fox reached the lower part of the ledge he stopped about #ge or #hj yards from me and sat down4 ,when his head was turned away ,i would sneak cautiously a few feet nearer1 always standing motionless when he looked my way1 and thus reduced the distance between us to about #ej yards4 ,at this point just as ,i was about to shoot the fox1 who was partially concealed with leaves and ferns1 moved some #aj yards up the ledge and was getting uneasy1 although he had not seen me1 and the wind was unfavorable for closer approach4 ,i waited and he climbed nearly to the top of the ledge and laid down on a flat rock in the sun4 ,with the utmost caution ,i slowly crawled back to the road and approached his foxship from the west1 keeping some large rocks between us until ,i had approached within #ce yards4 ,he was sitting up1 breast toward me as ,i cautiously peeped over a rock1 but his head was turned away1 so ,i stepped out into plain view1 leveling my gun as ,i did so4 ,slowly the fox turned his head and faced me1 but he appeared to see nothing unusual in the silent figure clad in the worn gray hunting coat1 brown overalls and soft brown hat4 ,i could see him twitch his ears and blink his eyes lazily in the glare of the setting sun4 ,fully a minute ,i stood admiring the picture4 ,it seemed a pity to kill this clever fellow ,i had so easily outwitted4 ,my eye dropped a little lower1 the brass bead trembled on his breast1 and through the faint haze of smokeless powder ,i saw the old quail thief kicking and struggling in the edge of the ledge4 ,a moment later he toppled over his carcass1 bounding from rock to rock in its #ej foot descent4 ,i was using a #ab ga4 full choke #cj in4 ,stevens1 smokeless and ,b shot4 ,another time ,i was sitting in the woods for grey squirrel early in ,october4 ,it was about #e3cj ,a4 ,m4 and just getting light4 ,i heard the tread of an animal behind me and the rustle of leaves1 which ceased a few feet away4 ,by rolling my eyes and slightly moving my head ,i could see the outlines of a fox standing behind me1 hardly ten feet away4 ,cautiously ,i attempted to move the muzzle of my gun in his direction1 but he detected me immediately and disappeared midst the laurels like a flash4 ,although he had stood two or three minutes within a few feet of me before ,i attempted to turn evidently trying to figure out what ,i was1 not until ,i had made a movement did he realize he was so near his old enemy1 man1 which goes to show that ,mr4 ,fox1 with every other sense alert1 is like many other of his wild brethren1 unable to tell man from an inanimate by mere sight alone1 when he remains motionless4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,a ,,shrewd ,,fox4 ,several years ago1 when foxes were more numerous here than they are now1 the writer1 ,r4 ,b41 of ,canada1 in company with two other hunters1 went on a fox hunting expedition4 ,we had two dogs which had not been trained but would follow a trail pretty well4 ,we had to travel over newly-made ice a distance of three miles to a small island about a mile long and quite narrow1 on which were three small groves of fir trees which was the only cover for game1 the surface of the island being chiefly meadow and marsh land4 ,we landed on the eastern end of the island1 and within a short time after the hunt began one of the party shot a fox1 and in the afternoon the writer got a chance at a shot and succeeded in knocking over a very fine red fox4 ,as night was now near we started for home1 intending to return next day and renew the hunt1 as we knew there was yet another fox on the island4 ,next day1 however1 was stormy1 and we postponed the hunt till the following day1 which being fine gave us a good chance for our work4 ,illustration3 ,,always ,,hungry4 ,the same party of hunters and dogs renewed the chase early in the morning but the fox seemed to have learned a lesson from the previous hunt1 and all day long he was chased from grove to grove by the dogs without giving a chance of a shot at him4 ,as night was fast approaching we began to fear our hunt was going to be unsuccessful when we discovered that the fox had changed his tactics1 and instead of taking shelter in the groves had run clear out to one end of the island1 which was very narrow1 and as we thought would take to the ice and thus get away from us4 ,however1 we followed after him1 and you may imagine our surprise when the fox1 instead of going on the ice1 suddenly turned around and came directly toward us1 and when about one hundred yards distant suddenly disappeared as if the earth had swallowed him up2 one of the party who knew there was an old uncovered well there shouted out1 the fox is in the well6 ,we all hastened to the spot1 and sure enough there was ,mr4 ,fox in the well clinging to some sticks floating in the water about eight feet below the surface of the ground4 ,as we had no rope or any facilities for getting reynard out of the well alive1 we had to take a mean and unsportsmanlike advantage of our prisoner by putting a small charge of shot into his head and then fishing him out of the water with a forked stick4 ,that the fox could never have gotten out of the well by his own exertions ,i do not believe1 but that he went into it to escape from us is certain4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,still-,,hunting ,,the ,,fox4 ,many have requested me to give my method of still-hunting the red fox4 ,as my hair is turning gray and the red foxes are about all gone here ,i will give an outline of my method1 and will try and not weary the reader with a long account1 thus writes ,g4 ,o4 ,green1 of ,illinois4 ,winter is the best time for hunting the red fox1 and ,i have been more successful in ,january and ,february than other months4 ,there are always some localities where the red fox spends the day1 curled up asleep1 and it is generally in a hilly locality as far as he can get from the presence of man4 ,the still hunter has only to go to these places on fair days and hunt as far as possible against the wind4 ,if the wind is blowing some so much the better--it will help to deaden the sound of the hunter's tread4 ,when you get into likely ground walk slow1 and be sure you observe every object on the ground1 both in front and in fact at least three sides4 ,the average still hunter hunts too fast and don't use his eyes in the right direction--if he is a bird hunter he will be looking up in the trees too much4 ,illustration3 ,,black ,,fox ,,skin ,,valued ,,at #aejj4 ,a red fox is a small animal1 and the hunter must keep his eyes always on the ground while hunting the old ,red4 ,if snow is on the ground and the hunter jumps a fox without getting a shot1 the hunter1 if he is a novice1 will be pretty sure to go on the run after the fox when he comes to the place where the fox has just jumped4 ,when you find the fox has been jumped sit right down and eat your lunch1 and wait twenty minutes or a half hour4 ,the fox will run perhaps #hj rods then get on a log or stump and watch his back track1 and if he does not see any one following him he will not go far before he will look for another place to lie down4 ,when you come to a place where the fox makes zigzag trail1 stop and look very close in every direction for at least one hundred yards4 ,the fox rarely makes a straight trail when he is going to lie down2 in this he resembles the deer4 ,the fox sleeps most soundly between #aa o'clock and #b o'clock in the daytime1 and ,i have killed most of mine during that time4 ,a fox jumped after #c o'clock in the afternoon will hardly lie down again that day4 ,a double-barrel shotgun loaded with ,no4 #d shot will stop any fox up to about #ej yards2 above that distance coarser shot usually straddle the fox4 ,when the day is cold and snow is crusty1 stay at home1 for you will get no fox but plenty of exercise4 ,when a fox goes into the ground while you are trailing him1 don't try to dig him out2 it is hard work4 ,on three occasions ,i have got his brush by going to the burrow about sundown and getting a good position near the burrow to wait for him to come out4 ,i have never been disappointed in getting a shot about the time that you can see half a dozen stars twinkling4 ,but it takes good eyes to see a fox in twilight4 ,now reader1 these are not all the points of still hunting4 ,it takes a peculiar cuss for a still hunter1 and still hunters are born that way2 all the education in the world will not make a still hunter4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,fox ,,ranches4 ,it is estimated that at present nearly #ej of the ,aleutian ,islands have fox ranches1 most of which are said to have been successfully managed4 ,thus far the ,government has rented the islands for this purpose at #ajj per year4 ,some years ago the revenue cutter ,perry was sent to the ,archipelago by the ,treasury ,department for the express purpose of ascertaining the location of the islands used for fox ranches4 ,the ,government's agents were not long in finding out that in several instances the fox raisers had appropriated islands for which they were paying no rental4 ,these persons were brought up with a sharp turn and ordered to pay up or shut up shop4 ,it seems quite clear that where proper business methods have been followed the ranches1 without exception1 have succeeded thus far1 and will prove immensely valuable in the future4 ,on some of the islands the work has been going on for #ab or #ae years1 and three of them now have a fox population of more than #a1jjj each4 ,the first method was to begin operations by turning loose on an island several pairs of foxes4 ,in some instances the animals have increased rapidly1 with the result that in a year or so it had become apparent that #aej or #bjj paid for a pair of mated animals was likely to prove a good investment4 ,illustration3 ,,northern ,,fox ,,trapper',s ,,dog ,,team4 ,the original project was to breed the silver gray fox1 as the fur of this animal is much more valuable than that of the commoner varieties4 ,a good silver gray pelt is worth about #ej to the original seller1 while #ae or thereabout is the price for the pelt of the blue fox4 ,but the silver gray has many peculiarities which make its domestication exceedingly difficult1 practically impossible1 in fact4 ,it is much given to devouring its young1 and it has many of the characteristics of the wolf4 ,at present only one of the islands is given up to the silver grays1 and the animals do not increase rapidly4 ,the blue fox1 so called1 is handled much more successfully4 ,it is readily tamed1 and if kindly treated soon becomes so domestic that it will take food from the keeper's hand4 ,the food usually is fish1 either cooked or raw1 and a mixture of corn meal and tallow4 ,reynard gets these rations1 and all he wants of them1 for ten months in the year1 the food being supplied steadily except during the two midsummer months4 ,it is estimated that the average cost of the rations is #a4ej per fox per year4 ,there are two or three keepers for each ranch who devote all their time the year around to their charges4 ,from ,november #bj to ,january #bj is the open season for foxes on the islands1 and box traps1 rather than dead falls or steel traps1 are used4 ,this is done because all the female animals are released1 after having been marked1 and also one male for every six of the opposite sex4 ,the average age for killing is about #ah months1 although the pelt of an animal eight months old is fully developed1 and1 despite some theories to the contrary1 the fur does not necessarily improve with age4 ,on some of the larger farms1 the box trap method of catching the foxes has been given up1 as being too slow1 for baiting the animals near a small corral4 ,during the months preceding the killing time1 the food for the foxes is placed near the site of this corral1 in order to accustom the animals to coming to that locality1 and also in order to tame them4 ,under this treatment the foxes lose their shyness and shrewdness to such an extent that they not only enter the corral freely1 but the female or male which has once been released after having been examined and marked1 frequently enters the corral again4 ,it is reported that in some instances the same animal has been caught three or four times in the same night4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,steel ,,traps4 ,in sections the larger game is gone yet there is in parts of the ,north1 ,west and ,south much good trapping territory that will pay the hardy trappers for years to come4 ,even in the more thickly settled districts trapping can be made a good paying business4 ,it seems that red fox1 skunk and muskrat remain about as numerous in most sections as ever4 ,in fact1 the red fox in certain sections has only made its appearance of late years--since the country has become more thickly settled4 ,trappers in most sections can rest assured that they will have game to trap for years to come4 ,in the rapid development of the country the steel trap has played a wonderful part4 ,they have subdued the monster bear and have as well caught millions of the small fur bearing animals1 adding largely to the annual income of the hardy trapper4 ,steel traps have been in use for more than fifty years1 but for many years after they were invented they were so expensive that they were not generally used4 ,of late years they have become cheaper and their use has become general4 ,in fact1 the price is now so reasonable that the trapper1 on his first expedition1 has a supply4 ,the professional trapper1 who in the ,north1 spends from seven to nine months in the woods has a supply of these traps1 ranging from the smallest to the largest4 ,his needs are such too that all of them are in use during the trapping season4 ,a trapper can use from #ej to #bej traps4 ,traps are made in various sizes4 ,the smallest ,no4 #j is used for gophers1 rats1 etc41 while the largest1 ,no4 #f1 is for the grizzly bear and will hold him4 ,the ,no4 #b is known as the fox trap having two springs and spread of jaws of #d #g_/h inches4 ,the ,no4 #a #a_/b single spring is also much used by fox trappers4 ,the ,no4 #a will also hold the fox1 but we think best to use the ,no4 #a #a_/b or ,no4 #b4 ,we are alluding to the ,newhouse manufactured by the ,oneida ,community1 ,ltd41 ,oneida1 ,n4 ,y41 as it is acknowledged to be the best trap in the world4 ,as most fox trappers devote more or less time to trapping other fur bearing animals1 a description of the various ,newhouse traps1 telling the animal or animals each size is adapted to1 etc41 will no doubt be of ,interest4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #j ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #c #a_/b inches4 ,this1 the smallest trap made1 is used mostly for catching the gopher1 a little animal which is very troublesome to western farmers1 and also rats and other vermin4 ,it has a sharp grip and will hold larger game1 but should not be overtaxed4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #a ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #d inches4 ,this ,trap is used for catching muskrats and other small animals1 and sold in greater numbers than any other size4 ,its use is well understood by professional trappers and it is the most serviceable size for catching skunks1 weasels1 rats and such other animals as visit poultry houses and barns4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #ha ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #d inches4 ,occasionally animals free themselves from traps by gnawing their legs off just below the trap jaws1 where the flesh is numb from pressure4 ,various forms of traps have been experimented with to obviate this difficulty4 ,the ,webbed ,jaws shown above have proved very successful in this respect4 ,noting the cross-section of the jaws1 as illustrated at the left1 it is plain the animal can only gnaw off its leg at a point quite a distance below the meeting edges4 ,the flesh above the point of amputation and below the jaws will swell and make it impossible to pull the leg stump out of the trap4 ,the ,no4 #ha ,trap corresponds in size with the regular ,no4 #a ,newhouse4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #ia ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws--#ia1 #e #a_/d inches2 #ia #a_/b1 #f #a_/d inches4 ,the double jaws take an easy and firm grip so high up on the muskrat that he can not twist out4 ,a skunk cannot gnaw out either4 ,these traps are especially good for ,muskrat1 ,mink1 ,skunk and ,raccoon4 ,all parts of the ,no4 #ia except the jaws are the same size as the regular ,no4 #a ,newhouse1 while the #ia #a_/b corresponds to the regular ,no4 #a #a_/b4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #a #a_/b ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #d #g_/h inches4 ,this size is called the ,mink ,trap4 ,it is1 however1 suitable for catching the ,woodchuck1 ,skunk1 etc4 ,professional trappers often use it for catching ,foxes4 ,it is very convenient in form and is strong and reliable4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #b ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #d #g_/h inches4 ,the ,no4 #b ,trap is called the ,fox ,trap4 ,its spread of jaws is the same as the ,no4 #a #a_/b but having two springs it is1 of course1 much stronger4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #c ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #e #a_/b inches4 ,this1 the ,otter ,trap1 is very powerful4 ,it will hold almost any game smaller than a bear4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #d ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #f #a_/b inches4 ,this is the regular form of ,beaver ,trap4 ,it is longer than the ,no4 #c ,trap1 and has one inch greater spread of jaws4 ,it is a favorite with those who trap and hunt for a living in the ,northwest and ,canada4 ,it is also extensively used for trapping the smaller ,wolves and ,coyotes in the western stock raising regions4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #b #a_/b ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #f #a_/b inches4 ,in some localities the ,otter grows to an unusual size1 with great proportionate strength1 so that the manufacturers have been led to produce an especially large and strong pattern4 ,all the parts are heavier than the ,no4 #b #a_/b1 the spread of jaws greater and the spring stiffer4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #c #a_/b ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #e inches4 ,the above cut represents a ,single ,spring ,otter ,trap4 ,it is used more especially for catching ,otter on their slides4 ,for this purpose a thin1 raised plate of steel is adjusted to the pan so that when the trap is set the plate will be a trifle higher than the teeth on the jaws4 ,the spring is very powerful1 being the same as used on the ,no4 #d ,newhouse ,trap4 ,the raised plate can be readily detached if desired1 making the trap one of general utility4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #ba #a_/b ,,trap ,single ,spring4 ,same as ,no4 #b #a_/b but without ,teeth or ,raised ,plate4 ,no4 #ca #a_/b ,,newhouse ,,trap4 ,single ,spring4 ,same as ,no4 #c #a_/b but without ,teeth or ,raised ,plate4 ,spread of ,jaws--,no4 #ba #a_/b1 #e #a_/d inches2 ,no4 #ca #a_/b1 #f #a_/b inches4 ,these ,traps are the largest smooth jaw1 single spring sizes that are made4 ,professional trappers will find these especially valuable when on a long trapping line1 as they are more compact and easier to secrete than the large double spring traps4 ,the springs are made extra heavy4 ,note4--,the #ba #a_/b is practically a single spring ,no4 #c and the #ca #a_/b a single spring ,no4 #d4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #ad ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #f #a_/b inches4 ,this ,trap is the same in size as the ,no4 #d ,beaver1 but has heavier and stiffer springs and offset jaws1 which allow the springs to raise higher when the animal's leg is in the trap1 and is furnished with teeth sufficiently close to prevent the animal from pulling its foot out4 ,illustration3 ,,clutch ,,detachable ,,trap ,clutch ,detachable--,trap can be used with or without it4 ,,patented4 ,spread of ,jaws1 ,no4 #bc1 #e #a_/b inches2 ,no4 #bd1 #f #a_/d inches4 ,the inventor of this attachment claims to have had wonderful success with it in taking ,beaver4 ,the trap should be set with the clutch end farthest from shore4 ,the beaver swims with his fore legs folded back against his body1 and when he feels his breast touch the bank he puts them down4 ,the position of the trap can be so calculated that he will put his fore legs in the trap1 when the clutch will seize him across the body and hold him securely4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #d #a_/b ,,trap ,in response to a demand for a new model of the ,newhouse ,trap especially adapted to catching wolves1 the manufacturers have perfected a trap which is numbered #d #a_/b and is called the ,newhouse ,wolf ,trap4 ,this trap has eight inches spread of jaw1 with other parts in proportion1 and is provided with a pronged drag1 a heavy snap and an extra heavy steel swivel and chain1 five feet long1 warranted to hold #b1jjj pounds4 ,the trap complete with chain and drag weighs about nine pounds4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #ej ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #i inches4 ,this trap is intended for catching small sized ,bears4 ,in design it is exactly like the standard ,no4 #e ,bear ,trap1 only that the parts are all somewhat smaller4 ,weight1 #aa #a_/d pounds each4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #aej ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #i inches4 ,this trap is identical with ,no4 #e excepting that the jaws are offset1 making a space five-eighths inch between them4 ,this allows the springs to come up higher when the bear's foot is in the trap1 and thus secure a better grip4 ,also there is less chance of breaking the bones of the foot4 ,weight1 #aa #a_/d pounds each4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #e ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #aa #c_/d inches4 ,this trap weighs nineteen pounds4 ,it is used for taking the common ,black ,bear and is furnished with a very strong chain4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #ae ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #aa #c_/d inches4 ,to meet the views of certain hunters whose judgment is respected1 the manufacturers designed a style of jaw for the ,no4 #e trap1 making an offset of #c_/d of an inch1 so as to allow the springs to come up higher when the bear's leg is in the trap4 ,this gives the spring a better grip4 ,those wishing this style should specify ,no4 #ae4 ,illustration3 ,,newhouse ,,no4 #f ,,trap ,spread of ,jaws1 #af inches4 ,weight1 complete1 #db pounds4 ,this is the strongest trap made4 ,we have never heard of anything getting out of it when once caught4 ,it is used to catch lions and tigers1 as well as the great ,grizzly ,bears of the ,rocky ,mountains4 ,illustration3 ,,bear ,,chain ,,clevis ,,and ,,bolt ,this cut illustrates ,bear ,chain ,clevis and ,bolt1 intended as a substitute for the ring on the end of the trap chain1 when desired4 ,with this clevis a loop can be made around any small log or tree without the trouble of cutting to fit the ring4 ,the chain is made five feet long1 suitable for any clog1 and the prices of bear traps fitted with it are the same as with the regular short chain and ring4 ,illustration3 ,,trap ,,setting ,,clamp ,every trapper knows how difficult it is to set a large trap alone in the woods1 especially in cold weather1 when the fingers are stiff1 and the difficulty is greatly increased when one has to work in a boat4 ,one of these clamps applied to each spring will1 by a few turns of the thumb-screws1 bend the springs to their places1 so that the pan may be adjusted without difficulty4 ,no4 #d ,clamp can be used on any trap smaller than ,no4 #d #a _/#b4 ,no4 #e and #f are strong clamps1 carefully made and especially adapted to setting the large traps ,nos4 #d #a_/b to #f4 ,they dispense with the inconvenient and dangerous use of levers4 ,with them one can easily set these powerful traps4 ,these clamps are also useful about camp for other purposes4 ,,end ,,of ,,fox ,,trapping