Science of Trapping

ut are most abundant in the Northern Hemisphere. There are many species and variet

number of varieties of the red and gray species. The black, silver and cross foxes are supposed

latitudes of both continents. In this country, it is found as far south as the northern tier of states. They are mos

probably about two hundred dollars. Wherever the Silver fox is found, the Cross or Patch fox is found also,

well down in the Southern States. They are probably most abundant in the Eastern provinces of Canada and the England States, but they are found i

he East they range as far north as Connecticut, In some places they have supplanted the Red

in different localities. The average weight is from nine to ten pounds. In general appearance they somewhat resemble the dog, being rather light of build, considering their height. The ears are erect and p

istricts, den in the rocks. Except during the breeding season they spend very little time in the dens, but lie during the day in some clump of brush or weeds, or ofte

kunk, muskrat or opossum flesh, carrion of almost all kinds, fish, eggs, poultry, and often they come around the camps and gather up the scraps, bread, bacon rinds etc. If they are given

on a rubbed and woolly appearance. In the South they do not become prime until the last of November or the beginning of December and go out of prim

, the 1 1/2 Newhouse and Hawley & Norton and the No. 2 Victor. For water and snow trapping, the Nos.

rouble, and a spring or small pond gives best results. The spring should be at least four feet in diameter and should be prepared for the set in the summer, but if care is used, may be fixed up during the trapping season. A moss covered stone, or a sod (according to surroundings) should be

Set fo

ll rise an inch above the water. When properly placed, this sod will look natural and will, apparently be a safe stepping place for the fox. T

the surroundings. The trap should be fitted with a chain about three feet in length, with a two prong drag attached, but most trappers simp

r. This method was first used by William Schofield a famous fox trapper of the Eastern states. Two men have been known to catch over one hundred foxe

means of a stick thrust in the bottom of the spring. The stick must be entirely out of sight, and the bird, apparently, floating in the wate

ries, springs cannot be found, and even the streams are not suitable for trapping. For this reason many prof

t when the trap is set in it, the jaws will lie lengthwise of the trail. Line this nest with dry grass or leaves, and having attached the trap to some sort of a drag, set it and place it in the place prepared. Fill in all around the outside of the jaw

hat is not needed. Do not spit near the trap, and do not leave any signs of your presence. It is not necessary to

d Set f

and although the different trappers use different baits and scent

aps and carry them in a clean basket. Now find an old stump or a rock along some hillside, and dig a hole under it making the hole four or five inches in diameter and ten or twelve inches deep. Stake the trap solid, driving stake out of sight, and set the trap about ten inches in front of the hole. Cover the trap first with a piece of clean paper and finish by about one-fourth inch of dirt dug out of the hole. It should look as if some animal had dug the hole and scratched the dirt out in front. Use a small shovel made

so that it looks just like it did before the trap was set. Place a fair sized bait, such as a skunk or muskrat about eight feet away from the trap. The fox is always suspicious of a bait, especially a large one, and will always get on the highest point to look at it before going close. Of course, there must be no other pla

he bait by the side of a trail and set several traps on the trail from thirty to seventy five yards from the bait. When

the following methods are the best known, and will catch the fox if you use care in setting. Of course, snow set

. Make the mound about two feet high, and make a hollow in the top for the trap to set in. The hollow should be lined with cat-tail down, or some other dry material, and the trap set in the hollow and covered first with a sheet of white note paper, finishing with a half inch or more of loose snow. Do not handle this snow with your hands, for if you do it wi

ts. If water rises on the ice it will not reach your trap, and if there is a snow storm, the first wind will blow the loose snow off the mound, leaving just a little over the trap. When looking at the traps yo

in this broken trail without bait. The traps should be set and covered, as in the other method, and the chain and clog pushed under the snow at the side of the trail. Do not let it appear that you have stopped at all, and when looking at the traps you can follow

ater sets is prepared as follows: Remove the fat from one or two skunks, chop it fine, and take a sufficient quantity to almost fill an ordinary pickle bottle. Take two mice; cut them up and add to the fat and let the bottle stand in the sun until the mixture is thorou

muskrat to rot in a bottle, and adding about four ounce

essful scents, especially for winter use is made by taking the generative organs of the female fox, when in heat and

oxes, but if there are any porcupines, or snow-shoe rabbits about, it wil

tone or a grapple. By so doing the fox will not spoil the trail for the next one, and the trap may be set back in the same place. For a bait set on dr

t to make a success of fox trapping. You shou

will sometimes learn your method, but some other

the neck, which may be done as follows: Strike the fox a light blow over the head with a stick, just hard enough to slightly stun him, and when he drops down, place your

narrower. The length of step is about twelve or fourteen inches, and the foot p

fox is rounder and m

the male fox from that of the female, the footprints of th

he footprints of the black,

e, or Pra