Keeping your numbers secret

[Hern]

About 10 or 12 years ago, I posted a picture on huntingpa.com. I killed 9 Fox (6 Greys, 3 Reds) in one night calling.
A fella replied...Hey Hern don't you trap Fox too?
I replied yep, but these were called and killed by me, one man, one gun, one night.
The jest of his replies that I trapped thesehere Fox.
I had the picture and post removed by the moderator and I only posted a Coyote kill or two since...
I don't have anything to prove. And maybe that's why I don't enter contests.

Before the fur boom hit in the mid 1970's, I was getting the hang of trap'n and call'n. I was young and dumb and showed my fur to anyone. I was proud and thought of myself as something of a top dog because no one in my area was doing as well as me catch'n  and kill'n Fox and Coon.
By the late '70's, early '80's everyone started trap'n and call'n. Reds were $65-$75 and Coon were $45-$55. I could not find a place to trap without someone else on the same property. The high prices brought out the worst of many men.
Many guys came to me with questions , what lure?, where to trap? how to trap? how to call? and so on. I got bit on the backside in those years, so I learn to keep my mouth shut on what I caught and where i got 'em.
I wouldn't go on about the stories of the bad past, but learn some lessons.
To this day, am still happy to answer questions about how-to, but shy away from how many and where.

[uncle buck]

A few years back I killed a 17 pound red fox....The picture of me got on all kind of hunting sites....Right off...some trappers from huntingpa... Started to say that my picture of the 17 pound red fox was a fake... They said that you could tell by the white on my hands that I overlaid a large fox from another picture on my hands... OK...Think about it... Why would a hunter have white hands... How about me wearing Latex white gloves... Also they even went on to say that the hunting vest I was wearing in the picture was also transposed since I had tan sleeves.. That hunting vest and sleeves is not a vest it's a jacket...

When I took the fox out to have it tanned... The fur person asked where I got it... Not thinking.. I told him the name of the farm and the road... That next year I didn't kill one fox on that property!!!

See you got to watch how you use the loose lips... Also....there is always someone out there trying to take an accomplishment away from you.... However we all do know that is the jealous nature of man kicking in... "See Not All Men Are Created Equal!" Oh by the way a woman trapper along with men was also trying to prove that the fox picture was not real!!!!!

I remember when I worked for Uncle.. I made the mistake saying that I missed a Red Fox....Guy in the office yelled out to 50 other people over the partition... "UB IS A BAD SHOT!!!!!!"  By the way..same guy...Never even killed a buck yet!!!!!

[jaspr1]

I think everyone does this for different reasons.  If this is your part time job, then numbers are very important to you. Better than stocking shelves for 4hrs somewhere..and nothing to be ashamed of.. If your like me its not so important cause your not being to intense anymore. I have been out only twice this year because of health issues,called in 3 fox...shot 0...don't shoot them anymore...my choice..When I was growing up trapping and hunting fur was my annual income, w/chore and egg money, any Great Horned owl hooting was a $5.00 bill calling my name...I joined PPHA 5 yrs ago, because I wanted to learn a little bit about coyotes..well I have shot 3 and have had close encounters with several others...So I did pick-up some helpful tips...I hunt all over the upper end of Cumberland and all over Perry, mostly the SGL's, when I go. No secret,cause some of you on here are also hunting there,I see your tracks..lol..so even though I have a low number the difficulty of the hunt makes up for it..they have heard it all and so have the turkeys.......JMO   

[uncle buck]

Jaspr1 so your the guy thats making that yellow snow by your boot tracks???  LOL

[jaspr1]

Hey that wasn't me!!! Look  in your rear view mirror, that's me back there following you around...I know all your hotspots.....I was going to invite you for coffee some morning, for sharing, but after that comment ...I don't know    besides following  you isn't to profitable  you clean everything out...   lol....When I was a kid an old trapper (who looked like he belonged on swamp people) told me ...if you catch someone in "your " area pee on their sets...My father told me any such behaviour would result in losing my traps...so I rained (sic) it in... ... Also you weren't my first choice to follow I tried to follow Hern but that's hopeless,he wears camo of the day and is almost impossible to see.  Good luck at MC!

[my7pointmonster]

This is my worst year ever, only got 1 gray the entire season. Prior seasons I was golden. I don't know if a disease went through my area but I'm not seeing the tracks or sign, Not sure whats going on.

Ryan.

[Jake]

  I think for the most part, we enjoy what we do, or we wouldn't be on here talking about it, Love Yote Hunting, Love the Site, and Hearing from you all, about it...

[screamn in the nite]

I don't play the "numbers" game. For me it's not the kill...  It's the thrill of the chase. Don't get me wrong, I prefer hunts to end with fur on the ground. But in the end it's all about being out doing what you love. Even hunts that get blown can be some of the best times with your hunting partners. You know,  like the stuff you get to tease your partner about forever   

[predator1]

seems like most folks spend time afield for the same basic reason-love of the outdoors.From a simple small game or predator hunt here at home to a pack in trip up in Alaska.It fuels the soul!!!I,m always THANKFUL to be healthy enough to tromp the mountains and fortunate enough to spend a lot of time off work every year doing what I love.Heck I even have a Lakota-Sioux symbol tatooed on my right forearm meaning thankful.Every morning I wake-feet hit the floor and I,m thinking -@#$%^ it,s gonna be a great day!!Hope it was a good year for all no matter what the numbers are.Have a great day!!A/ho-Lloyd