I was out in my fur shed today, going through my traps and hanging them on the wall in an orderly fashion. I thought I would call my old friend Randy who gave me all these dead chickens which was about the best bait I had all season, and ask him over so we could sit out in the shed and visit, and discuss traps. I walked in the house and saw that I had a message and as I listened to it I heard Randy say..." I found you a dead beaver come get it!" I actually just now got back from the feed store where he is the manager, and I am planning on making bait out of the beav. Just chop up the meat with the fur on, and save the castor, leaf fat, foot pads, annal duct, whatever, and fine grind that stuff and mix it in the rest and after sitting for a day or two, freeze it for next year. Not really a sophisticated bait but everything loves beaver! And there is enough bait to last me a long time.
The Cat I caught with dead chickens Randy gave me will be made into bait too. As will the next Hog I catch in my two new 30' diameter Hog traps, the "Hog heaven 9000." A Hog, even the leavings will make a lot of bait ! So I am getting ready for next year already. New {used} traps will be purchased, bottom center swiveled, chain extended, dog and pan filed down where the pan sits level just below the off jaw, and fires on a 1/4'' drop. Dye and wax and hang up for next year. I know this stuff has to be done now while I am intereted in it, because soon I will be doing other things and need to carry this trapping interest through.
