I would like this time to ask a question?? Are there any prospectors who are also trappers and hunters? I find it hard to believe that we do not share the same interests outside of color. For me, one thing led to another. Gold is just another welcome distraction for my time and spendable income, and lack of. I use all things to explore the others, and I meet some really UNIQUE people either way. Give me a shout would you. I'm not asking for your secrets.. (most are mine anyway).. But if I have to share the credit, OH WELL!! Small price to pay for having some new friends. Yes humility is one of my strong suits. After all laughter is the best medicine.
Mike
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hunt some mostly birds and small game with the two older grandsons. sometimes i just sit and in joy what god has given us. do some metal detecting and mining too. i'm retired so never in a hurry or short of time.
I use to hunt and fish but got tired of cleaning and eating fish, besides I spent more to catch them then they coast at the store ! Last time at sat on a hillside Deer hunting the sun came up and I counted 26 spots of orange hunting vests all within gun shot, I walked back to the truck and never went again.
I still hunt while out prospecting but now I shoot with a camera I have found it every bit as rewarding as with a gun. and with Fishing I am now pulling lead out of the streams instead of in I'm kinda embarressed when I think of how many sinkers I have bought and where they are today.
I have no idea what fur prices are today. I just love the hunt, and brining a pile of fur to a buyer. I take what I can get. A lot of it is how you handle your fur. I take my time. I skin, flesh, sew (if needed), wash, stretch and comb it out, plus tumbling. It will bring more $$. Then get to know your buyers (much like selling gold). Shop around and get some prices. I shipped to NAFA in Canada sometimes. You spell better than me on CDA I hear I will have more opportunities to get situated and work in that area. Plenty of gold close by. My heart will always be for the high desert and prairie areas for the dogs though. I will always adapt to what is around me, and I can always travel.
very cool Coeur D'alene is a very nice area. I am actually going to be there in a couple weeks. I didnt realize there was any money in pelts. I know many year sago we could $80 for a non-skinned coyote. But those days are long gone or so I thought. You will be in a GREAT elk hunting area. I have a friend that lives just out of Kellogg (east of CDA ) and he is always talking about the elk. I atv in the Wallace area a lot and have actually seen more moose then elk. Yea the atv's are nice to get around with. Idaho is very atv friendly which helps a lot of the little communities up in the CDA- Wallace area. I am really looking forward to prospecting off the atv this year.
Hi Maurice
I was thinking of Cour delaine as a new home. That would put me not to far from Missoula. I have never got an elk. As far as coyotes that's my big winter passion. I snare quite a few also. The fur and the challenge of the hunt is my reward. I use the fur checks to pay a few bills and subsidize my gold fever. An ATV would be nice for many things, it especially would be nice to get at those back country coyotes. Oh yeah and to get to those real nice sluicing areas.
I have lots of hobbies. I live for hunting deer and elk. I do some fishing including ice fishing. My wife and I have personal phontoon boats that work real nice in the rivers. A coworker and I go on a gopher/coyote hunting trip every year in eastern montana. 2 years ago we shot over 800 gophers in 2.5 days. We are heading back in May this year. We do a lot of camping. But I guess most of all we are die hard atv'ers. In a typical year we will run 2500-3000 miles on our atv's. Now I have become completely addicted to prospecting. I think one of the things that caught my intrest the most is the idea of building my own equipment.
I deer hunt and gold hunt thats all beteen the two thats all the hobbes I need Im happy with that. I cant move around to fast with a bad back but I get the job done.
Used to hunt PA and NY...also trapped PA from 1967 to whenever the market dropped in the mid 70's. I ran a 200 trap line for many years. You know how much work that is. After the market dropped it wasn't worth the trouble. Don't hunt, fish, or tape anymore. I spend too much time prospecting and geocaching now. Winter is the time to repair broken stuff and build more equipment for next year. If I had the money it I would be building a 10 inch dredge.
Ted .................. aka goldsnoop
Use to trap and hunt; still fish and prospect. Don't get around like I use to. Ted