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Post by Kelly on Apr 15, 2011 11:59:27 GMT -6
Snow day today. 3" in town but tried to check my line but there is 6" or more where it starts, roads are very slippery-almost got stuck-slid off the road just trying to turn aroound at an intersection. Didn't want to slide off the road just pulling over to check the traps so came back to town. Am in the laundromat right now-radar doesn't look good for quite awhile so will hole up till it clears off. Sunday says rain but back in the 40's but nice after that. Besides the few floats I did drive by were covered with slush/snow or both and pretty much all the still water was several inches of slush and or ice. Whatever rats are in the traps will chill nicely till I get to them and those traps still on top of the floats won't catch any rats till this snow/slush goes away. Still need to fill my freezers for the trip home and hope for another 410 rats at least so I can say I caught 2000 and have the freezers full. So hopefully by Tuesday will be the last check day-then start pulling on Wednesday. My body is really starting to wear down so this break today should help me for the final push!
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Post by 4fur on Apr 15, 2011 14:54:55 GMT -6
Dorthy, I believe I'd click those heals together three times and say the words, "There is no place like home!" 1.65" of rain here and counting.
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Post by minnow on Apr 15, 2011 16:46:37 GMT -6
Wow! kelly what an adventure. You'll make that 2000 mark for sure.
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Post by x-demoman on Apr 15, 2011 19:55:47 GMT -6
Been kind of a slow week so I decided to go on a road trip. Headed north to see what the weather was like. Well it was 34 degrees, rain/or snow all day and 30-40 MPH wind but the rat trapping made it worth the trip. YUP I just had to do it. I spent about 10 hrs Thursday riding with Kelly on his rat line somewhere north of Iowa. I was lucky because I did not have to get out in the shi--y weather like Kelly. He was a lot tireder than I was and soaked to the skin. But I was just there for the ride not the work. Here is Wed catch. Not great by earlier standards but fantastic for the type of weather Kelly had to endour. Believe me he earned everyone of them. 102 rats.
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Post by Scott W. on Apr 16, 2011 4:29:01 GMT -6
Iron Man.
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Post by Austin K on Apr 16, 2011 8:12:22 GMT -6
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Post by minnow on Apr 16, 2011 8:24:03 GMT -6
Nice pic Gene! Good way to kill some time too! keep getting them!
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Post by Scott W. on Apr 16, 2011 9:12:50 GMT -6
How much snow out there this morning?
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Post by Austin K on Apr 16, 2011 9:41:29 GMT -6
maybe half inch where im at
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Post by steven49er on Apr 16, 2011 10:01:31 GMT -6
Does it look like this out there kelly? 4 5 inches of new snow here. I was going to put the sled away but maybe I should take it for a ride lol. I hear some grumbling out there about this weather but its the best thing in reality. It prolongs the season if a trapper follows the ice line north. Last year the whole state thawed out in three days and 10 to 14 days after that the rats get pretty beat up.
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Post by Kelly on Apr 16, 2011 23:06:01 GMT -6
3" in town but 6"+ on my line. Was snowing this morning w/21 degrees, had to take many floats back to truck to bust ice off them, many sprung traps from high winds/waves and snow/slush. By late afternoon everything pretty much thawed and was able to put another 87 rats in the freezers. Total to date is 1677. Should be a great day tomorrow if the rain holds off-high in the low 40's. All I need is 3 good check days and I'll be over my goal.
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Post by steven49er on Apr 17, 2011 8:28:56 GMT -6
Good job. The rat market looks really hot right now and I think will get very interesting. I think a guy could do between 6.50 and 7.50 depending on the amount of damage. Not bad for a SD paperback. I'm shipping mine out on monday. BTW the snow is still on the ground at home here.
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Post by Kelly on Apr 17, 2011 19:39:14 GMT -6
81 today-1758 total. Much of the front end of my line is going dead-guess I caught all the rats-so am moving to more productive water. Moved about 8-10 floats today plus made some more bank sets.
These bank sets are really productive-rarely miss-and noticed that the rats caught don't have any bite marks so next year will make more of them.
Snowed off and on all day, especially towards evening and is snowing right now. To warm though for it to stick on the ground.
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Post by ~ADC~ on Apr 17, 2011 20:50:35 GMT -6
Did you use the lucky ear of corn yet Kelly? Probably just what you need to boost you over the 2000 mark. A couple kernels per set and you'll be golden. Are you skinning some yet or just stocking the freezers? ~ADC~
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Post by x-demoman on Apr 17, 2011 20:52:02 GMT -6
Gene
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Post by catting on Apr 18, 2011 15:32:21 GMT -6
awesome, you should be proud of your hard work.
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Post by 4fur on Apr 18, 2011 22:06:09 GMT -6
Great picture Gene! Those don't all look like road kills! ;D Something tells me that Gene Jam IV might be in SD next year?! ;D Have a safe trip home Kelly and don't trade any checks, cash or rats for fire water or trinkets!
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Post by Kelly on Apr 18, 2011 22:16:18 GMT -6
Did you use the lucky ear of corn yet Kelly? Probably just what you need to boost you over the 2000 mark. A couple kernels per set and you'll be golden. Are you skinning some yet or just stocking the freezers? ~ADC~ Nope, the lucky ear of corn is in the trailer. Just too many ducks, geese and coots here and don't need to be catching them. No, just stocking the freezers.
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Post by Kelly on Apr 18, 2011 22:26:45 GMT -6
Really like my #2 double long springs for bank sets. I get no more wring offs from the bank sets than I do from the floats-maybe 1-3%-some days like today none. The mink get more of my rats than the wring offs. Had to pull two locations because there must be a female mink denned nearby-in fact can see the hole to their den at one place. They keep eating my rats so quit feeding them by pulling those stops. Moved about 6-7 floats today. I hate stop losses. (: Back in triple digits with 108 rats today making 1866 total. Will easily make 2000+ so will be leaving on schedule-Friday. ;D Will have to take all baskets of frozen rats out of freezers tomorrow night so there will be room for another good days catch. Figure I have room for 200 more in freezers. Have 513 in there now. They are calling for snow-1 to 3" tomorrow night but I'm hoping that it is not very much to effect the catch like the last snowstorm.
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Post by jjdavis on Apr 19, 2011 10:31:26 GMT -6
i heard there was a guy from masonville in south dakota squeak francois and marvin krous a fur buyer dont know how many they caught but was told that they had a fun time!
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Post by Kelly on Apr 19, 2011 20:28:06 GMT -6
24 to go! Started out snowing this morning-then misty type rain this afternoon-now raining pretty good. Rather have that than snow. 110 today making 1976 total-will easily go over 2000 tomorrow morning. Will pull better about half the line tomorrow-absolutely any float that does not have a rat. Then pull the rest on Thursday plus pack up and headed South early Friday morning.
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Post by justwannano on Apr 19, 2011 20:39:23 GMT -6
Congratulations Kelly. I'm gonna miss checking up on you everyday. just
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Post by Scott W. on Apr 20, 2011 4:18:17 GMT -6
It has been great to keep track your success. Thanks for keeping us posted.
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Post by 4fur on Apr 20, 2011 9:19:33 GMT -6
Congratulations Kelly. I'm gonna miss checking up on you everyday. just X2! Are you still thinking about going back down to Louisiana hog hunting?
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Post by Kelly on Apr 20, 2011 19:57:19 GMT -6
Had 4 floats stolen today all from the same slough I set up two days ago. Had 8 rats there yesterday so should have had at least 6 making today's catch triple digits. Alas, I finished today with 94-total 2070. Have about 25 floats to pick up tomorrow so should have 30+ rats. Woke up to a couple inches of wet snow this morning but by afternoon the sun was shining-first time in almost a week. Had another slough today with 4 floats that I set up last week. Had 8 rats there today and sure hated to pull those floats but it had to be done. No, I'm not going to Louisiana hog hunting, 4fur!
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Post by ~ADC~ on Apr 20, 2011 20:16:35 GMT -6
Well 2100 isn't too bad for an old washed up bowhunter. Great job Kelly! Get them pictures posted and thanks for sharing the trip with us all here on ITT! ~ADC~
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Post by Kelly on Apr 20, 2011 20:22:00 GMT -6
Well 2100 isn't too bad for an old washed up bowhunter. Great job Kelly! Get them pictures posted and thanks for sharing the trip with us all here on ITT! ~ADC~ Soon as I get home and have them uploaded to Photobucket. Probably Saturday as it will be late Friday night when I get home.
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Post by ~ADC~ on Apr 20, 2011 20:56:18 GMT -6
Sounds good! You need to stop by here and BS one of these times by as well. I need to know how much lumber and traps I need to buy for a trip to SD next spring! ;D Somebody has to fill in for the Mn. guys.
~ADC~
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Post by blackhammer on Apr 20, 2011 21:01:37 GMT -6
Great thread Kelly,good job!ADC how many Iowa guys will it take to replace just one Minnesotan? ;D
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Post by ~ADC~ on Apr 20, 2011 21:14:23 GMT -6
Great thread Kelly,good job!ADC how many Iowa guys will it take to replace just one Minnesotan? ;D Funny! I guess if sent one that should cover all the Mn. trappers. ~ADC~
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