Over my 32 years of running traps it is funny the memories that coming flooding back. This year I was spring beaver trapping. Hauling a big old brute out that weight 57 pounds I had a flashback to the spring of 1978. Maybe it was the smell, maybe the roar of the stream, or as I walked the beaver grew in weight. I was 19 years old and pack up my car and drove from Michigan to Colorado to spring beaver trap. Kind of like Jeremiah Johnson I came to the Mountains to trap beaver and other furs worth cash money. I remember it well camp out in my little pup tent next to cold mountain stream the snow was melting during the day but the nights were freezing cold. I had a summer sleeping bag but bought special for this trip a Herter’s added flannel liner that was suppose to double the cold factor of your sleeping bag. All I can say about that flannel liner was it didn’t work nearly as good as I hope for. I woke up the first morning shaking cold and through the tent I could see it was overcast out. Unzipping the tent I stepped out into 4 inches of fresh snow.
No heater for the tent because I was modern Mountain man. Quickly getting a fire going. My father trick of storing the camp wood under a tarp saved me from a cold morning. The stream was roaring pass and snow gentle settle to the ground. I set out a 6 muskrat traps before dark. Drinking hot coffee out of the blue steel enamel cup warmed my fingers. After the first cup I headed out to check my traps. 2 drown muskrats was my big catch. I walked back to the fire so I could clean my breakfast. Skinning the muskrat under a pine tree when I heard a truck driving up. I turn around and notice it was the game warden. Good thing I bought my out state license I thought.
Not the most friendly game warden but after seeing my license he said I could not camp here. Why not because it was NOT a designated camping area. If you want you can rent a cabin for $35 a week. Just a wood stove no running water but it will get you out of the weather. He gave me directions then took off. I skinned both the m’rats put the hides on stretchers took the rest down and cleaned him in the stream ran them through with a stick and cook them over the fire. Now I learned a good lesson about cooking in the wild? Roasting meat over pine makes the meat black and taste like turpentine. :-) But being half starved I choke both down finish the last of the coffee and broke camp.
I pulled into the cabin place and they were glad to rent it to me not much for rentals this time of year. I told them about the game warden and they said do you know how to trap beaver? Sure I got a 330 I can trap them well good I give you permission to trap this 100 acres along the river clean those beaver out. I grabbed my one and only 330 and head out finding a run going up into the cottonwoods that look like a highway. I place the trap out in 8 inches of water with 2 inches sticking out then I fence the rest of the area off with sticks I look back now and laugh because it was about 10 feet of water I was fencing off. Wire the trap off I must of spend 2 hours making that set just perfect. I then set a dozen muskrat traps called it day.
The camp was a God send after the freezing tent. The wood stove popped, crackled and warmed the little cabin up. I cooked canned chili for dinner and wrote in my journal. Climbing into the bed with the warmth of the wood stove made for easy sleeping.
The next morning up and out the door. I was too excited going to check my first beaver set ever. I can remember clear as day like it happen yesterday. The snow melted off during the day but there was fresh frost that crunch under my hip boots. The sun was just breaking above the Mountain is was wonderful day to be alive. I hurried to the bank and looked down where my beaver set was and stop dead in my tracks. My careful made set was gone all the fencing sticks were gone. I thought someone stole the trap. My heart sunk as I thought just great my one and only beaver trap is stolen now I am out of luck for the rest of the trip. I walked down to look for tracks. Then I saw the wire tie off to the tree I grabbed it and pulled. If I remember right it was around 10 feet of wire. A great weight on the other end. A big smile cross my face and I pulled in more wire. Soon a huge big old dead beaver broke the surface. I pulled him in to shore. I didn’t weight him because of no scale but I would guess he was in the 55-60 pound range.
I am real modern day Mountain Man now I trapped my first beaver with only 1 trap set. Taking the beaver out of the trap I again spend a good hour re making the set. Tossing that big brute in my pack basket I lifted it up on my shoulders and the straps groaned in protest from all the weight. The beaver was sticking out tail flapping above my head. I struggle up the bank and walk back to the cabin. As I walk back I hear a truck on the main road and I couldn’t believe it but it was a different game warden. He saw the beaver tail flapping in the wind. I just keep walking to the camp I saw him hit the brakes and turn around. By the time I got to the cabin he was waiting for me. I see you are from out of state I need to see your trapping license. Didn’t the other guy tell you he check me yesterday? Nope. Ok, I took the pack off and pull my license out and show him. Ok, thanks he said and left. What the heck is it with this state been trapping 2 days and have been check out by 2 game wardens. This was not the end I was check out by a 3 rd game warden and had another chat with the first one that stop me. I have never before or since been so watched and check by game wardens.
I set the beaver on the hood of my car and walk back to check the muskrat traps taking 6 it was a great day.
It took 2 hours to skin that first beaver and 4 hours to flesh him out. I boiled the beaver down and made a stew that I ate on for 4 days. I was really impressed tasted like beef to me.
I spend 2 weeks trapping and it was some of the best times I have had in my life. I remember reading about Kit Carson he said in his later years ” The happiest time of life was spend trapping.” Now I know what he means 29 years ago I too found out the happiest time of my life was spend trapping.
I headed off to the Mountains to trap beaver. Not disappointed in my journey but bless with the excitement of catching my first beaver. Not only my first but several more beaver. This was another step in my life of a place and time I will never forget. Where I become a real Mountain Man in the wild beautiful country of Colorado. When I sold my furs I told the fur buyer I came to the Mountains to trap beaver and other furs worth cash money. He smile and said is a check OK?
Bruce Buckshot
