Trapline muzzleloader?

[bigbore442001]

I summize that I have far too much free time on my hands. I was thinking that the most common firearm that a trapper would carry is a .22lr revolver or autoloader.

With that line of thought, what would be a good muzzleloader for a trapper?

 

[Rebel]

A .31 or .36 revolver would be good. An 1862 Pocket Police would be small, light weight, and .36 cal.

 

[Bountyhunter]

The real trappers didnt shoot animals in their traps. It was costly, damaged the fur, and it attracted the attention of those who would either steal the traps, or kill the trapper.

Other than that, they carried a gun that was capable of killin whatever they came across, be it man or bear.

I've caught a lot of coons, coyotes and cats, and all it takes is a sharp rap across the bridge of the nose with a three foot club and they go down, then you just stand on their chests and suffocate them. That way you dont damage the fur or make any sounds that attract attention. If ya get skunks in your traps, you arent settin them right. Skunks are a bit of a challenge to dispatch.

 

[noworries]

Damn...deja vu. I swear I have read this same thread months ago!!

 

[boar]

Boundyhunter has it right. I hate to waste a second shot on a deer that is down. Don't ask me why, becuase I havn't figured it out yet. I did shot the one this last season whith a bare ball. Still ended up cutting its throat. They probubly hit them with their hawk. I have done a few groundhogs this way. Dilly

 

[tg]

When I was trapping a lot I carried a .36 Navy Colt in a shoulder holster mainly for personal pertection as most of my sets were drowning sets and if not a choke stick or a heart stomp works better for me than a gun. In the past they carried whatecer they had at the time which veried form time and location and situation(freeytrapper/company trapper)

 

[tg]

"Skunks are a bit of a challenge to dispatch.'

No problem just empty two cylinders from a colt navy then wade in with a 4' club and finish the job...then spend two days cleaning up your gear and sleeping in the fur shed....the afore mentioned method is based on fact..

 

[boar]

The the way to do them ( skunks ), this by a creek, attach a long,long pole to trap and drown in creek. Dilly

 

[Bountyhunter]

My experience with skunks in dry sets such as for coyotes, was that they had mostly expended their spray fighting the trap. I used to throw a piece of tarp over them and then just step on them and crush their heads. Work through the tarp and dump them outta the trap and throw them to the side and leave them. A coyote set that has been fouled by skunk is one of the best sets you can have. For some reason coyotes will come in and investigate it and if you use gland lure, you can catch a lot of coyotes at that set.

 

[Slamfire]

My Granddad gave me a cane made from a basket white oak. Killed them critters right quick and didn't hurt the pelt. Only caught one skunk, my mistake, never happened again, still the cane did him in. :v

 

[roundball]

I think if I found a skunk in one of my traps, I'd just let the skunk have the trap and walk on to the next one :grin: