SURPRISE OF MY LIFE!

[rascal (Joe Duncan)]

I am like a kid!!

I have been doing some scouting in some very rugged and rough country for cat and grey fox and my old 2 wheel Dodge pickup just won't go most places I need to check.  It would make for some very long walks and my old carcass would just not hold up to that anymore.

Yesterday, my son called and said he needed to borrow my pickup for a while.  I had intended to take it and do a little more scouting but told him to go ahead and use it and I would work on tuning up some traps.  

Within a couple of hours, he returned.  In the back of my pickup was a BRAND NEW YAMAHA KODIAK 4 wheeler with Automatic transmission.  I asked him why he needed that since I knew he really didn't need one.  Much to my surprise, he said "Dad, I know how much you love to trap and you can't walk much so this thing can do your walking for you."  I nearly fell off the stump I was sitting on where I was working on my traps.  I could not believe it !!   Needless to say- I had some big old happy tears in my eyes!!  

SOOO!!!!!  Get the heck out of my way-- I'm going trapping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lynx/cat-trapper]

Sweeet...on all counts...one heck of a good son!!!! Not SHUT up..get OFF the puter...and get out there!!!!...OH...then post some more on skulls...lol
later
lynx

[KYtrapper17]

THATS GREAT! :grin:

Sounds like you have a son who really cares about you. You give them canines and cats hell this year.

Good Luck
Zach

[Asa Lenon]

That is a great story Joe!  You must be proud and satisfied to have raised such a great family!  I read your post to my wife and tears come to her eyes and she said "isn't that wonderful."  Ace :grin:  :grin:  :grin:

[RdFx]

Wow, glad to hear of your surprise and timely one yet too.   Now go and make use of it and make sure  that you keep us posted on yr findings and yr fur take especially the burros and lizards  if Wacky leaves you any LOL :grin:

[Wackyquacker]

Mr. Duncan, you're just reaping the fruits of your efforts.   :wink:


(posted for Mrs. Quacker...Wacky was told to shut up and his "feeling" is hurt :cry:  :cry:  :cry: )

[rascal (Joe Duncan)]

Well fellows;
  I spend a good deal of time on the new 4 wheeler the last couple of days.  I got as much accomplished in 2 hours as it would take all day to do without it.  Got into some really rugged country with good rock outcroppings and rock ledges and bluffs that sure showed good cat locations.   Also got more permission and scouted out another ranch.  This rancher also has a stockyard and occasionally they wind up with a "deader".  A few of those carcasses are on the ranch and the coyote sign is everywhere.  Only took me a couple of hours to find my "cream" locations.  Looks like I am going to need more traps. :-) Spent some time picking up t-bones to be transplanted at other areas.  
  Season for me starts Dec. 1 and the weather has been so hot here (today was in high 70's and low 80's).   Found one old dog coyote layed up and jumped him out of his bed.   Also found where there are a lot of grey fox on one ridge.  That should be pretty easy pickins.   Am straining at the bit to get some sets out but have to wait.  Although I could legally take coyote now, they would all be low grade and until we get some decent weather, I will just have to wait.
  LOVE THAT 4-WHEELER!

[RdFx]

Glad to hear the wheeler is doing you good.   It sure perks up the old blood when you see all that fur sign and you know you can access it even if it gets muddy or not too much snow.  I expect you already made boxes for front and rear ...... they come in very handy for gear and fur.  Take a cell phone with ya if you got one in case of a break down ect....   Happy prospecting :wink:

[Dan Mich Trapper]

Hey Joe , THATS AWSOME !!!! What a thing for your son to do . Just shows that the love and care you gave him growing up was recognized and appreciated .

[rascal (Joe Duncan)]

Ace;
  Tell your wife that I really appreciate her thoughtfulness and she and I both had tears.

RdFx;
  My son is also the manager of a Cingular store and that is the first thing he mentioned after getting the 4-wheeler.  He said he was going to get me an extra cell phone so I could keep it with me.  He also told me to carry fix-a-flat and plug kits.  He warned me of the dangers of to steep bluffs.  He is really trying to look out for me.  
  As to building boxes;  temporarily I decided to use the heavy plastic milk crates that were given to me.  I fit 3 across the back rack just perfectly and will put 5 gal. buckets in each one.  One with lures, urines, and baits:  one with traps: one with other equip.  Optimistically, I want to build a BIG box for the front rack to carry the catch in  :lol:

Dan;
  I probably was not the best father a boy could have (didn't get to spend the time with him that I should have-trying to make a living) but I did try to teach him a love of nature; also that hard work pays off;  and to treat all man and beast with respect.  Yes, I do respect the animals I catch.  I think to be the best trapper we can be, we have to.  I also have to know his nature better than he knows himself for me to be really good at my trapping.  I try to study them even today.  I go back over my videos and books constantly and read the experiences of other trappers.  But the most help is to get out  where he is and study him.

[Asa Lenon]

Rascal wrote...
Yes, I do respect the animals I catch. I think to be the best trapper we can be, we have to.

I heard my Dad say many times while I was growing up "Those who do not love and respect the animals and nature will never succeed as trappers."  How true this is!  I've never seen a slob trapper that lasted more than a couple of seasons and were never very productive.  How wrong the antis are when they perceive trappers as cruel, blood-thirsty, uneducated and void of spirituality!  Fifty years ago my Dad also said "Trappers are the salt of the earth, the world's best most honest group of people."  Fifty years later I still concur wholeheartedly with that statement!  I deal with trappers on a daily basis year in and year out and consider all I have contact with to be my trapper friends.  Ace :-)

[jim-NE]

neat story.
don't let him down by not using or enjoying your new ride, either. You owe that to both him and you. Aren't you the one that wrote earlier about your bout with cancer, facing some life decisions, and so forth as well? If so, this story really made me smile all the more inside. keep your chin up, have fun, and do what you have always loved to do. One day it won't be your choice to leave this earth. No matter how bad things are, there is just too many good things to experience out there not to do everything you can to take it all in for as long as you can.
cold, frosty mornings on the trapline are something that nobody can put a price on, and once those are gone they are gone. Treasure the good stuff while you can.
Jim-NE

[rascal (Joe Duncan)]

Jim;
  Yep!  That among other things.  But, I think the worst part of it all was losing the desire to live (or at least thinking that way).  
   BUT!!  With the meds, I am doing so much better!!!!  I feel much like my old self.
   Yesterday morning was about 45 degrees and light drizzle.  I loaded the 4-wheeler and took off to a 1200 acre spot that I have permission to trap on.  Spent a good part of the day out there and never noticed the dampness!  Wonderful to be able to do that.  Found a lot of beaver sign in a river that runs through the place.  The pasture lands had a lot of coyote sign (especially a lot of scat near gates connecting the different pastures in the bottom land), and found plenty of cat locations on the ridge around the clear cut and rock ledges.  Also, plenty of grey fox sign.  I'll need quite a few sets on this place.   Found a lot of deer track (one really big buck in particular) and found a bobcat skull and a wild hog skull.  
  I am really looking forward to getting to trap this place.  But, if (God forbid) for some reason, I didn't get to trap there, I will not forget the enjoyment I had just being out there yesterday and getting the chance to do a little scouting.  I think that is a big part of trapping!  Being out and finding what you are looking for, being a "fit in" part of nature.  Sure, I want the catches, and sure I want to get a good price for my pelts; but money from the furs is not what it used to be for me.  Maybe I can catch enough possum  :?  to buy another trap or two. I am just very, very thankful that I can be out there.  If we all just take the time to marvel at it all, it really is a spiritual experience.