Hunting Forum

I am retired now or mostly retired and plan to run a trapline in western KS this fall. I had intended to road trap at streams and rivers that cross sideroads and highways. Unfortunately it has been pretty dry and most of the streams and creeks have dried. Got arthritis in both knees and walking a long line down one of the larger rivers will be difficult.
I may try to get permission from land owners around La Crosse and Rush Center to dry land trap for coons, yotes, and fox (and the odd skunk) but right now I do not have high hopes for this year.

You could always trap off an ATV. As far as river crossings and such it could start raining anytime. Even if not under road (and even driveway) culverts though dry are still highly attractive to critters. Go drive the roads now most times critter don't cross roads from open field to open field look for areas where heavy cover come right up to the road HINT look closely at places where deer are most frequently hit this is a crossing area for everybody.

This is true but the animals I would get are mostly yotes, coons foxes, and the once in a while bobcat. I had intended to concentrate on muskrat and mink.
No rain is scheduled in western KS right now. Nothing but 100 degree plus temps. Keeps getting drier and drier.
The ATV is an idea I also had. Get permission and trap along the railroad right of way. Plenty of overpasses and any catch could not be seen from the roadway.
That is the best thing about water trapping, at least on overpasses at creeks and streams, is that when you use drowning sets nothing can be seen by passers by. I lost too many catches (and traps) to thieves in the past.
I currently am getting bait ready. I have seined up a bunch of minnows. I put them in baggies with river water and froze them. I will set about getting/freezing some cottontails to use for dry land sets.

Cottontails????? Eat them yourself! The minnows will work fine for yotes and fox. Parsnip or carrot works great for rats and holds up well as opposed to apple

I did not know that yotes and foxes went for minnows.
When I ran traplines back in the 50s I only used minnows for water sets for coon and mink. I used pieces of rabbits for dry land trapping for skunk, foxes and yotes. I used a trowel and dug holes in a bank and tossed the pieces in the hole with a bit of fur scattered around. They sure did like the rabbit.
Never used parsnip for rats but I did use carrots as well as apple slices.

I've used ground and whole fish for dry land trapping mucho yrs. Miles from water. Everybody likes a fish dinner.

Think about weasel and mink boxes too.

I have never seen or caught a weasel in Kansas. I always thought there might be some around though.
I caught quite a few mink back in the day but that was always around water as I mainly trapped the Arkansas and Little Arkansas river. Never in any kind of a box set.
Out where I am, in Northwest KS, the drought has dried up all the creeks with a couple of exceptions. I am planning on doing mostly dryland trapping and forgetting about any mink or rats.
The yotes and foxes seem to be plentiful as are skunks and raccoons. I am planning to concentrate on those four. Not sure if the pelts will be worth anything but getting rid of some predators will benefit the pheasant and quail population.