@@afonphoenix16 you say that like they don't , there's so many ways to kill animals that cause them to suffer that hunters collectively try and stay away from/ keep from happening. Hunters despise the ones that kill unethically because they know its still a living creature and that it's painful for the animal
A local warden would say “if you make me have to find you, you’re the asshole”. It’s always worth it to contact them first. Good job doing it the right way.
Integrity, and personal responsibility for ones own actions are the sign of a mature young man who will be greatly successful. He could have dumped it, and told no one. He chose maturity even though he could have faced potential legal consequences. Awesome, keep trapping young man.
Sure he could have just thrown in the bushes what do you think the editing software he uses does he could have cut the part out we would have never known it
@@foxsaint1051 I am guessing you have never set a trap in your life and have no clue what your talking about. The otters will come out of the water and right up on the bank to check out a caster mound. Otters hunt and eat beaver. Don't give ignorant advice.
Not really a comparable argument. But regardless, it's better to take responsibility (which is seemingly lacking these days) on something rather than shift blame/make up an excuse. He called it in which is admirable. As for your statement on "accidentally killing someone I care for" I'd say it'd depend on the situation. If it was truly an accident where it's a wrong place wrong time type of situation (or something of this nature) then yes, I'd be more inclined to forgive assuming that you did the right thing and took responsibility on the spot and turned you in. However if you shift blame/tried to hide what was done/avoid responsibility then no, I wouldn't accept your accident nor forgive you. As for some general advice just to potentially help out/open your eyes. I'm not an animal expert nor a hunter, I don't know the exact details so it's just a random video i've stumbled upon. But hunting animals (from my understanding) is good in moderation (which is why it's a seasonal thing vs year-round) which can help keep the general population down vs running rampant in an ecosystem. Other reasons is that they can actually pose harmful to people/the environment, look at beavers covering up culverts for example, redirects the flow of water which can cause flooding/erosion to different places which i'd assume over time would cause structural damage. As for general advice, why watch something that you don't agree with? (going off that "hunting defenseless animal" comment). Why not watch/do things that'll leave you feeling more positive about things. On another note, could've completely misinterpreted the msg and wrote a random wall of text/rant. And to whoever reads this hope you have a nice day :)
This is the first video I've seen on your channel, and I promise it won't be the last. It was honorable of you to call it in, even though there was a penalty involved. It's good to see an ethical outdoorsman.
You're right Richard, among the other RUclips channels, we should be supporting a man such as this. I too will subscribe. I hope others will too. These kind of people is what should be trending, not... you know.
@@RipnStikOutdoors This is the video of yours I've ever seen and I just subscribed. You trap EXACTLY like I used to back in the 70s when I was young. I also hunt and fish this way. If a person wants to be a conservationist then he or she must he 100% honest at all times because it's the only way to truly progress. You learn and progress by making good and bad choices and mistakes, then by admitting them and working to correct them if you can. If you live to be a very old man I perceive that you will be very successful in many things. You just set a very honorable example for anyone who sees this video. Keep with it. You're going to go places.
This is why I don't employ traps in my own hunts, I don't like not being able to select the prey I take. I'm beyond proud that you go out of your way to be an ethical and honorable trapper.
Gosh, the wardens there seems super nice. Here in california, Itwould have gone like this: “Who do you think you are going into the wilderness?” “Where did you bury the bodies?” “Where are you hiding the meth lab?”
Dude, massive amount of respect for calling that in. Warden was right, a LOT of guys woulda just wrote that off and chucked it into the bushes. You did the right thing. You're a good man.
You're a true ethical, honest, and courageous for putting this on film and showing this for all to see how to do the right thing. Whether it be a accidental bear, buck, otter kill always call your warden because in the end they will try to make the best out of the situation for you and all that may benefit from your accidental kill. Subscribed to you, your parents raised you right.
@@dispmonk you're a totally disconnected fool and people like you are the problem. If it wasn't for hunting and trapping you, along with the rest of mankind, wouldn't exist.
Nothing but respect for calling. I have had my fair share of running into the wardens and I only give them respect because they got a job to do. Shot a spike by accident one year and called it in and the warden called me and showed him the deer and he said you got good news and bad news. Good news is that you can keep the deer since the one spike was under 3 inches. The bad news is well you forgot to tag the deer. He gave me a break and let me keep the deer but calling it in is the right thing to do
I commend you for doing the right thing. Over the course of 40+years of hunting fishing and trapping I've had positive and negative experiences both with game wardens in the mountains of SW Virginia. Doing the right thing alot of times will cost you but it always pays off in the long run. You are only as good as your word. Your parents have raised you right young man, and you did them right by doing the right thing! Thank you for being a good role model for all sportsmen and women.
Randomly happened across this video. Much respect for following your gut and the hunters code of ethics. Its people who do that, that will allow us to continue to hunt and trap and also maintain a great relationship with wardens. Had a run in with a very obviously rabid fox I made the choice to put it down. The wardens were great and thankful I made the choice then the call. A great group of folks this is coming from Maine. Keep it up fella 👍edit* def subscribed after watching
As someone who is just getting into trapping, it's good to see that there are people out there who are doing the right thing. This is a stand up guy, and the warden was super cool about it as well.
This is my biggest issue with trapping and snaring things. You just don’t know what’s going to wander through it. Glad you did the right thing and reported it!
You are 95% more likely to catch what you are trapping for than get something random if you are a good and responsible trapper. Good and responsible trappers do not just set their traps all willy nilly, all over the place. They read the signs on the land and scout the land prior. They identify the tracks of the desired prey and find their trails and boroughs and target precisely where to place traps. Setting traps randomly is not only bad conservation and unsafe, but a tremendous waste of time and resources as you will usually end up catching nothing, or things you do not want like skunks and opossums. It is an unfortunate part of hunting, fishing, and trapping that sometimes you make a mistake. A mistake like: -removing the hook from a fish and mortally wounding it -missing your mark on a shot on a deer, wounding it and losing the deer -trapping something accidentally But, a good outdoorsman takes responsibility and learns from the mistake and improves their skills while doing the best to not let said mistake happen again.
no man, im sorry but no. you can only say this if you've been as lucky as this kid. but when you've seen people self report and have their vehicles impounded, gear confiscated and houses searched, scaring the crap out of their kids, you have no clue what "honest" can get you.
A good way to keep beavers from avoiding your sets is by running drowner rods. Another thing to help is to place wads of grass on the sides of your springs and verticle sticks. Makes the set look more natural.
I’m not a hunter or trapper myself, but I gotta give you props for doing the right thing and reporting it even though you didn’t know what would happen.
My buddy’s dad accidentally shot a bull moose when he only had a cow tag. He reported it and got $1,500 fine plus a 3yr ban from any hunting. He said that was the last time he was ever doing that. If he ever made a mistake again he’d just walk away.
Nah, your dad messed up, and absolutely deserved the fine. Pluse unlike hunting when your traping u have no control over wht u catch, and that's also pretty messed up your dad said he'd just walk away from the kill next time. Even thoe they took the moose from your father the meat went to ppl that need it.
@@joshfrank1680 It wasn’t my dad. My dad was strictly a trapper. It doesn’t go anywhere that I’ve ever heard of when our wardens take it. Also what happened was he saw a bull mounted on, what he thought was a cow, so she shot the “cow”. When he went up to it he found it had nubs for antlers, like 3”. So he fully believed and by all accounts of what they could tell he was shooting a cow. He shot a gay moose. Anyway respect to the trapper above, it was a mistake and the warden saw that to, so respect for that to.
@@joshfrank1680 Very self righteous you are, do you pay $1500.00 plus every time you make a mistake, I also find that when it's a governor or cop that makes these mistakes they average less than a $100 fine and get to keep the meat, while the rest of us average close to 2 grand forfeit the meat and lose our hunting rights, no way i'm donating that much money to them.
@@robertboyd3863 I stand my ground with wht I said as hunters we carry responsibilities. Ppl get all hyped up shooting at whatever with high powered rifles is not only dangerous, but unethical. Then your part about wht ppl may, or may not be fined isn't right, and a bit odd, but knowing more than alittle smack on the wrist is at stake hopefully makes most ppl slow down, and think b4 they pull that trigger.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us Cole. I'm 70 and trapped many years in my younger days, by the way the beaver was acting at the 330 I wonder if you are boiling your traps and wearing gloves to negate scent transfer? Also you might want to try making your lead into trail a little longer or place sticks along side so it's not as easy for them to turn around. Just some thoughts, I'm new to your channel and have not noticed of my comments. Cheers and well wishes, Billy in B.C., Canada
Thank you for advocating for calling in the accidental catch / mistake. It's the only thing you can do, and if they catch you after the fact, my goodness it is so much worse. And if you call it in ahead of time and you're honest, things go SO MUCH better. Shame you couldn't keep it, they -- allegedly -- have wonderful fur.
Just saw this in my recommended and subbed when I saw you doing the right thing and following the game laws couldn't be more happy to see this it gives me hope for the future of fish and game in this beautiful country!!
9:25 Poor little fella, came up to the trapped one like "Hey Billy... Billy! Billy come on stop foolin... Bill... Billy?! NOOOOOOO!!!" Awesome video man!
Great work! Thankfully you have a Dept. Of Game and Fish that are regular people. You have definitely kept a reputation alive for those of us who do the right thing.
Its the worse feeling when you discover you did something wrong without intending too. When I was a kid my dad and I upland hunted this spot every year that we access from a friends place. One year we had the best hunt we ever had and we both hit our limits within three hours on both species but as we made it to the public trailhead we see a big sign "ALL HUNTING PROHIBITED NEW LAND LEASE AGREEMENT". My dad was crushed and just annoyed at himself for not checking. So he called it in to report it to the DNR. They sent an officer out, the officer was not even aware of the access change it was so recent. He verified where he entered from, called it an honest mistake, gave us a verbal warning and verified our birds were all legal and just shook my dads hand and thanked him for self reporting. He seemed more relieved that we self reported and more angry that his office was not made aware of the public land access change. Just be honest folks.
I've only had one negative experience with a warden. Hunting public land, signed in at the office, put my marker where I was going to hunt. At 8 am, the warden comes walking to my stand to check my licenses....seemed strange, only had two mornings to hunt that place. You always remember the bad, I've had thousands of encounters with them over the years and that was the only negative.
Trapping makes me sick .. I’m an hunter & all I can think about is those poor things struggling until they take their last breath of air. -hats off to you tho for owning up.
I got this as a recommendation from RUclips. I trapped all through my high school and college years in the 80s. Back then if you needed money you better find a way to get it because your parents also needed money. I always followed the rules and ran my trap lines every morning to minimize the trauma on any animal caught. I also was working on a dairy ranch so would milk cows at 4 am and then run trap lines at around 5 am. Then football practice at around 7 am. I was just glad to be in a place where someone who wanted to and was willing to work could support themselves. Not going to lie, most of my proceeds went to beer, fishing lures, and hunting ammo but I learned that if you wanted something then you better find a way to work for it to earn it. Nice to see honesty is still alive.
I've caught ducks, turtles, catfish, bass, otters, muskrat, nutria, snakes. Down here in the south you never know what you're gonna catch. A lot of those were under depredation permit on private property in summer time, though. Good on ya for telling the truth. Most guys don't think twice about chucking those in the bushes, like the warden said.
Hate to just pile on, but, honesty and integrity are extremely uncommon in our present age. It’s a shame that what is now rarer than a raw unicorn steak, used to be the norm. Good job young man.
Pretty respectable video, it’s good to see. I agree with you on working with your GW’s. 95% of my interactions have been not just positive but really helpful.
Nice to see people do the right thing. People don’t realize how much we as hunters love wildlife and want to protect it, it’s the few Aholes that give us a bad name. Keep up the great work! ❤️
I volunteer at a private a hunting/conservation park and I really wish more people did the right thing like you did I’ve seen too many animals that are either out of season or what the trapper/Hunter was not looking for just left to rot
as apposed to what? the corpse is good for the land. this whole thing is just a giant scam to make feel good people like you think you are making a difference. total waste of tax dollars
Excellent ethics and video. My first otter (1982) was an unexpected catch, but thankfully one that was lawful and welcome. Couldn't agree with you more re your sentiments on wardens, I too have nothing but positive experiences to look back on, including being checked 5 times between sunrise & noon on the same day by five different pairs of DNR officers while sea duck hunting. Me & my gunning buddy just laughed and said "bingo" as the last boat pulled along side....
Hey, saw your channel through a recommendation while watching a Demo Ranch video. Fast forwarded because I wanted to see what you caught and then I realized when you were calling the game warden it was a 675 Dallas PA number. Subscribed because it's awesome to see another local RUclipsr!
You say you arent a saint, but the fact is that it is pretty rare that someone will have the level of integrity that you showed. Thank you for representing your fellow outdoorsmen so well. Ive known too many losers who make us all look bad.
Wardens arent so reasonable here in S.C. here, they remind me of Barney Phife. Over zealous, i think is the right word. Trying every trick in the book to write a ticket.
My son-in-laws dad had a SC Warden approach him at a private pond in the 60’s or early 70’s. He jumped up and began running around the the entire pond. When he got back to where he was fishing the Warden finally caught up huffing and puffing out of breath and said I got you! And began writing him a ticket for no fishing licenses. My son-in-laws father said hold up and pulled his fishing licenses out! The Warden was pissed! Why did you run? I just felt like a run all of the sudden! I wish I had seen it! True Story!
I had a run in with the wardens, they charged me with hunting after hours, I was walking from my girlfriends house to my mother's house about two hundred yards away. A cop pulled up and said what are you doing, I said I'm going home. She said I think you are trying to kill a bear. We had a call their was a bear in the area. No release on my arm and no broad heads. Two days later a warden shows up. Ask for my license. I showed him my license and bear tag. Conversation in sues and I was left standing in my doorway with a summons. I go to court and ask for a lawyer. They tell me the charge is not serious enough to give me a lawyer? I said shit, I plead guilty. Fined 150 dollars and a record of a poacher now. I feel I was railroaded. If I had not plead guilty I would have got a 500 dollar fine.
Dont let people lie to you the wardens and every form of government are out to get you , and even the state itself wants your money and to put you in jail so they can get paid by the government. Since they get paid for people in jail
There was a Hunter in Texas that mistaked a Whooping Crane for a Sandhill Crane. He did the right thing too. They threw the book at him. Lost his gun, Truck, fined to the max and lost his license for 5 years I believe it was. I believe in honesty but I’m also not a masochist!
I never bothered with gloves for water sets or water animals like beaver, mink, muskets. Half the time I never even bothered with predator sets either tbh. Back in the fur boom days when everything still alive because it was cagey it was important. Around places where amateurs have trapped and pinched toes it still is. Most wildlife comes in contact with human scents multiple times a day though, and associate that scent with food more than danger. I've made dirt hole sets without gloves and caught fox the first night. Btw the fish will thank you for taking out that otter anyway 😏
You got my subscription for taking proper steps and procedures. They can use that otter to collect health of the population, statistics of where they thrive based off catch locations, and determine if and when they can actually allow proper trapping again. Great job. The extra work goes a long way. Some people might think it is a waste, but for the reasons I stated it is not. Parks and wildlife may be able to mount it for a museum or in house display for children to view. So no it did not needlessly die. It's like gut hooking a fish you intended to release and you don't eat fish. Some animal will eat that fish, even if it is just bacteria.
Man. I’m in south East pa myself. I’ve been trying to run into a beaver trapper around here to help me get started. I’m planning on reading up and running my first set this year. Good to see someone in this state doing the right thing
Great video, love the trail came. Out West we would put that 330 underwater. I think you would get less refusals with that set up. Keep up the good work.
Proud of you for calling the otter in. WTG. Now that you have seen the beaver avoiding your traps, what will you do differently to catch them? Will you make a different type of set?
If I ran footholds there as opposed to conibear, I think I would have caught all the beaver. They worked the sets enough that a foothold would've nailed them!
Just found your channel and saw you dial the game commission In Dallas! I grew up in Wilkes Barre. I grew up hunting, fishing and trapping that whole area up there. I miss it. Thanks for the video man!
Good on you for doing the right thing. I've trapped beaver myself on the river and I've seen otter swimming up and down the banks searching for food. I think that otters will hang around beaver lodges because they prey on the smaller ones for food. Just like a mink hunts for muskrats. Otters are powerful and viscous so I don't think anything is off their menu even snapping turtles.
That's a great thing been there myself the fact you called and admitted your mistake was a good thing shows honesty if more people were like you world wouldn't be what it is. 3 years ago I hunted for moose out of the upper yukon around big lake. We hunted hard for 3 weeks after a moose now here's the kicker in that particular zone moose must be 50 inches from paddle to paddle on the last hour of the last day we found one we swore was right at 50 I ended up making a perfect 30 yard shot with a bow when we put tape to him he measured 49 and a half so we called in DWR now they took my bow my moose everything and stuck me with hefty fines but was the point of admitting my mistake. Was still a mistake
What a responsible man you are. Handsome, honest, integrity and a wild life conservationist. Your parents raised a great man and your parents got a great man to be proud of.
One of the things Mr. Green Jeans said is that it’ll go into next years limits bc trapping it the best way to tell population so if a bunch of people accidentally catch them then they know populations are up
I wish everyone would watch this video and understand doing the right things. Made a mistake, didn't seek confrontation, and everything worked out. Great video👍👍. Me personally, Im not much of a trapper but sniper days with a .308 on beaver is always lots of fun
You done right like the warden said most people would have hid it and went on about their days and nobody would have known the difference. None of us are perfect now we make mistakes
As much as I appreciate the life of today you know back in the day that pelt would be put around a woman's neck and the food would have been placed on the catcher's table
You did the right thing and your interaction with the game Warden was positive. You are the future of hunting and trapping. You represent all of us. Thank you.
I realized how cynical I'd become. I don't expect people to do the right thing anymore. Good man. Hats off to your parents.
Hats off to him for doing the right thing.
A beacon of hope arises in the desolate baren waste land. We are not alone.
It’s for the views mane
They did nothing with the animal. Fur market trash, and time is the last thing they have. Straight in the trash it went 🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Just when I start to think I've lost all faith that people are capable of standing by their fuck ups, I see this.
Much respect, a man of morals.
The game wardens aren't out to crack down on honest mistakes, but to stop practices that harm the animals. I appreciate your honesty.
I’ve met some that are, some that aren’t
Yes, because hunters care about animals being harmed.🤔
@@afonphoenix16 you say that like they don't , there's so many ways to kill animals that cause them to suffer that hunters collectively try and stay away from/ keep from happening. Hunters despise the ones that kill unethically because they know its still a living creature and that it's painful for the animal
Whatever Gavin.
@@samrandolph5480 whatever Sam Randolph💀
A local warden would say “if you make me have to find you, you’re the asshole”. It’s always worth it to contact them first. Good job doing it the right way.
Integrity, and personal responsibility for ones own actions are the sign of a mature young man who will be greatly successful. He could have dumped it, and told no one. He chose maturity even though he could have faced potential legal consequences. Awesome, keep trapping young man.
@Deborah Leikam why would u hack ur friends account useless clown is all u are
@Landen Memphis sounds like a scam to me
reported for spam/unwanted commercial content
Spam reported
Well I guess the fact that he was filming everything for RUclips, is why it matters. He couldn’t just throw it in the bushes.
Sure he could have just thrown in the bushes what do you think the editing software he uses does he could have cut the part out we would have never known it
You have a high level of integrity, mistakes happen.
if he had integrity he would have been more careful to begin and set the traps closer to the bank... careless does not equal integrity in my books.
@@foxsaint1051 shit happens
@@foxsaint1051 I am guessing you have never set a trap in your life and have no clue what your talking about. The otters will come out of the water and right up on the bank to check out a caster mound. Otters hunt and eat beaver. Don't give ignorant advice.
Tegrity farms
Mistakes DO happen.
Theres few minnesota cops could attest to that ;)
Proud of you that you took responsibility for the accidental kill.
What if I accidentally kill your mum. Try to kill a defenceless animal I’m legally allowed to kill but make a mistake? You will accept my accident?
Not really a comparable argument. But regardless, it's better to take responsibility (which is seemingly lacking these days) on something rather than shift blame/make up an excuse. He called it in which is admirable. As for your statement on "accidentally killing someone I care for" I'd say it'd depend on the situation. If it was truly an accident where it's a wrong place wrong time type of situation (or something of this nature) then yes, I'd be more inclined to forgive assuming that you did the right thing and took responsibility on the spot and turned you in. However if you shift blame/tried to hide what was done/avoid responsibility then no, I wouldn't accept your accident nor forgive you.
As for some general advice just to potentially help out/open your eyes. I'm not an animal expert nor a hunter, I don't know the exact details so it's just a random video i've stumbled upon. But hunting animals (from my understanding) is good in moderation (which is why it's a seasonal thing vs year-round) which can help keep the general population down vs running rampant in an ecosystem. Other reasons is that they can actually pose harmful to people/the environment, look at beavers covering up culverts for example, redirects the flow of water which can cause flooding/erosion to different places which i'd assume over time would cause structural damage.
As for general advice, why watch something that you don't agree with? (going off that "hunting defenseless animal" comment). Why not watch/do things that'll leave you feeling more positive about things.
On another note, could've completely misinterpreted the msg and wrote a random wall of text/rant. And to whoever reads this hope you have a nice day :)
Agreed
@@chrisdef15 what? English please?
This is the first video I've seen on your channel, and I promise it won't be the last. It was honorable of you to call it in, even though there was a penalty involved. It's good to see an ethical outdoorsman.
I appreciate it. Definitely not always the easy thing to do.
Got to where an ethical anything good to find.
You're right Richard, among the other RUclips channels, we should be supporting a man such as this. I too will subscribe. I hope others will too. These kind of people is what should be trending, not... you know.
@@828enigma6 wishing you a speedy recovery from that stroke you had while writing that comment
@@mattwoods4305 lol
Your a stand up outdoorsman. Your setting the right example for everyone who watches your vids.
Thanks.
Agreed.
@@RipnStikOutdoors This is the video of yours I've ever seen and I just subscribed. You trap EXACTLY like I used to back in the 70s when I was young. I also hunt and fish this way. If a person wants to be a conservationist then he or she must he 100% honest at all times because it's the only way to truly progress. You learn and progress by making good and bad choices and mistakes, then by admitting them and working to correct them if you can. If you live to be a very old man I perceive that you will be very successful in many things. You just set a very honorable example for anyone who sees this video. Keep with it. You're going to go places.
@@RipnStikOutdoors what state you in
@James Gardner You're* a You're* setting
This is why I don't employ traps in my own hunts, I don't like not being able to select the prey I take. I'm beyond proud that you go out of your way to be an ethical and honorable trapper.
Hopefully you'll get to rub his belly one day.
..VERY well said. I share the same ethics..
Gosh, the wardens there seems super nice. Here in california, Itwould have gone like this: “Who do you think you are going into the wilderness?” “Where did you bury the bodies?” “Where are you hiding the meth lab?”
Plumas County lol
How’d ya know?
Better experience than I had with the game commission in Pa.
Here in Idaho its a lot better. I call and tell them my plans and they tell me to go ahead. Any mistakes are mistakes.
Merica..
Dude, massive amount of respect for calling that in. Warden was right, a LOT of guys woulda just wrote that off and chucked it into the bushes. You did the right thing. You're a good man.
What difference would it have made if they did?
@@MrTruckerf None, calling the wardens is honorable yet useless in this situation.
More of a risk to get in trouble but ok
You're a true ethical, honest, and courageous for putting this on film and showing this for all to see how to do the right thing. Whether it be a accidental bear, buck, otter kill always call your warden because in the end they will try to make the best out of the situation for you and all that may benefit from your accidental kill. Subscribed to you, your parents raised you right.
I don't want to sound condescending, but I'm proud of you. You are an impressive young man.
Thanks.
You’re a pathetic man who does not understand beavers are a significant and important part of the ecology
@@dispmonk you're a totally disconnected fool and people like you are the problem. If it wasn't for hunting and trapping you, along with the rest of mankind, wouldn't exist.
@@dispmonk yea and they all so fuck up people's land too
@@tuttle3631 if beavers didn’t exist neither would human beings. They are keystone species.
Nothing but respect for calling. I have had my fair share of running into the wardens and I only give them respect because they got a job to do. Shot a spike by accident one year and called it in and the warden called me and showed him the deer and he said you got good news and bad news. Good news is that you can keep the deer since the one spike was under 3 inches. The bad news is well you forgot to tag the deer. He gave me a break and let me keep the deer but calling it in is the right thing to do
LOL! That's a good story there.
I commend you for doing the right thing.
Over the course of 40+years of hunting fishing and trapping I've had positive and negative experiences both with game wardens in the mountains of SW Virginia. Doing the right thing alot of times will cost you but it always pays off in the long run. You are only as good as your word.
Your parents have raised you right young man, and you did them right by doing the right thing!
Thank you for being a good role model for all sportsmen and women.
Randomly happened across this video. Much respect for following your gut and the hunters code of ethics. Its people who do that, that will allow us to continue to hunt and trap and also maintain a great relationship with wardens. Had a run in with a very obviously rabid fox I made the choice to put it down. The wardens were great and thankful I made the choice then the call. A great group of folks this is coming from Maine. Keep it up fella 👍edit* def subscribed after watching
As someone who is just getting into trapping, it's good to see that there are people out there who are doing the right thing. This is a stand up guy, and the warden was super cool about it as well.
This is my biggest issue with trapping and snaring things. You just don’t know what’s going to wander through it. Glad you did the right thing and reported it!
You are 95% more likely to catch what you are trapping for than get something random if you are a good and responsible trapper. Good and responsible trappers do not just set their traps all willy nilly, all over the place. They read the signs on the land and scout the land prior. They identify the tracks of the desired prey and find their trails and boroughs and target precisely where to place traps. Setting traps randomly is not only bad conservation and unsafe, but a tremendous waste of time and resources as you will usually end up catching nothing, or things you do not want like skunks and opossums. It is an unfortunate part of hunting, fishing, and trapping that sometimes you make a mistake. A mistake like:
-removing the hook from a fish and mortally wounding it
-missing your mark on a shot on a deer, wounding it and losing the deer
-trapping something accidentally
But, a good outdoorsman takes responsibility and learns from the mistake and improves their skills while doing the best to not let said mistake happen again.
Glad he did the right thing but also wish he'd have done the due diligence that he himself said he did not do.
Trapping is what is going to save you after the society collapses over the next couple years
@@deusvult6920 Yes, when and if it happens
@@nachyomoney3598 "losing"
Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. I applaud you sir.
Great job reporting it I just wish more people were that honest in this world
no man, im sorry but no. you can only say this if you've been as lucky as this kid. but when you've seen people self report and have their vehicles impounded, gear confiscated and houses searched, scaring the crap out of their kids, you have no clue what "honest" can get you.
A good way to keep beavers from avoiding your sets is by running drowner rods. Another thing to help is to place wads of grass on the sides of your springs and verticle sticks. Makes the set look more natural.
I'll be trying drowners for sure.
Cool video! I’m from pa also and it’s nice to see our wardens caring and being kind about a accident.
Sure is!
I’m not a hunter or trapper myself, but I gotta give you props for doing the right thing and reporting it even though you didn’t know what would happen.
I did the right thing once too. Feel free to send me props.
Poor little fella, he otter been more careful.
Lol right
It’s funny you made me giggle. but I was an honest mistake.
@@diligafifunouno641 were you an honest mistake man??
@@diligafifunouno641 glad to hear I could make you laugh. I’m sorry your parents were cruel enough to tell you that you were a mistake.
Fuck y’all. 😂😂😂
4:45 LOVE the little weasel/stoat.
Your honesty and maturity just got you another subscriber
Looked like a least(pygmy) weasel
My buddy’s dad accidentally shot a bull moose when he only had a cow tag. He reported it and got $1,500 fine plus a 3yr ban from any hunting. He said that was the last time he was ever doing that. If he ever made a mistake again he’d just walk away.
For sure, nuts to try and do the right thing
Nah, your dad messed up, and absolutely deserved the fine. Pluse unlike hunting when your traping u have no control over wht u catch, and that's also pretty messed up your dad said he'd just walk away from the kill next time. Even thoe they took the moose from your father the meat went to ppl that need it.
@@joshfrank1680
It wasn’t my dad. My dad was strictly a trapper. It doesn’t go anywhere that I’ve ever heard of when our wardens take it. Also what happened was he saw a bull mounted on, what he thought was a cow, so she shot the “cow”. When he went up to it he found it had nubs for antlers, like 3”. So he fully believed and by all accounts of what they could tell he was shooting a cow. He shot a gay moose. Anyway respect to the trapper above, it was a mistake and the warden saw that to, so respect for that to.
@@joshfrank1680 Very self righteous you are, do you pay $1500.00 plus every time you make a mistake, I also find that when it's a governor or cop that makes these mistakes they average less than a $100 fine and get to keep the meat, while the rest of us average close to 2 grand forfeit the meat and lose our hunting rights, no way i'm donating that much money to them.
@@robertboyd3863
I stand my ground with wht I said as hunters we carry responsibilities. Ppl get all hyped up shooting at whatever with high powered rifles is not only dangerous, but unethical. Then your part about wht ppl may, or may not be fined isn't right, and a bit odd, but knowing more than alittle smack on the wrist is at stake hopefully makes most ppl slow down, and think b4 they pull that trigger.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us Cole. I'm 70 and trapped many years in my younger days, by the way the beaver was acting at the 330 I wonder if you are boiling your traps and wearing gloves to negate scent transfer? Also you might want to try making your lead into trail a little longer or place sticks along side so it's not as easy for them to turn around. Just some thoughts, I'm new to your channel and have not noticed of my comments. Cheers and well wishes, Billy in B.C., Canada
Thanks for the tips! I appreciate it!
B.C. here as well. ✌️
Thank you for advocating for calling in the accidental catch / mistake. It's the only thing you can do, and if they catch you after the fact, my goodness it is so much worse. And if you call it in ahead of time and you're honest, things go SO MUCH better. Shame you couldn't keep it, they -- allegedly -- have wonderful fur.
Old comment, but yeah people would just pay the fines and kill whatever they want all the time if you could keep out of season things.
As a fellow conservationist/hunter/wannabe trapper, thanks and kudos for doing the right thing. You earned this subscriber.
Thanks!
Honesty is the best policy. You never have to start a trail of lies and excuses. Well done. Good luck.
Lies and excuses are what runs this country...just ask any politician.
Pennsylvania game commission. Glad to see a Pennsylvanian with a RUclips channel. Glad you owned up to the accidental catch
If you ever have another meeting with Fish and Wildlife, they will give you the benefit of the doubt. They know you are honest. This proves it.
It's amazing how the beaver sense that something is a miss, and they are hesitant. Good instincts
They are smarter than they look! Unlike this trapper!
They learn quick it seems like!
Just saw this in my recommended and subbed when I saw you doing the right thing and following the game laws couldn't be more happy to see this it gives me hope for the future of fish and game in this beautiful country!!
9:25 Poor little fella, came up to the trapped one like "Hey Billy... Billy! Billy come on stop foolin... Bill... Billy?! NOOOOOOO!!!"
Awesome video man!
That was probably the mate, trying to figure out wtf happened....
@@sese6227 No, that was a beaver in the trap and that was an otter that swam up looking at it.
Wow, didn't hide what he did wrong...
This guy restores hope in humanity
Awesome that you had the cameras on your sets! Great way to learn and improve. Keep the content coming!
Definitely learned alot from it!
Great work! Thankfully you have a Dept. Of Game and Fish that are regular people. You have definitely kept a reputation alive for those of us who do the right thing.
Its the worse feeling when you discover you did something wrong without intending too. When I was a kid my dad and I upland hunted this spot every year that we access from a friends place. One year we had the best hunt we ever had and we both hit our limits within three hours on both species but as we made it to the public trailhead we see a big sign "ALL HUNTING PROHIBITED NEW LAND LEASE AGREEMENT". My dad was crushed and just annoyed at himself for not checking. So he called it in to report it to the DNR. They sent an officer out, the officer was not even aware of the access change it was so recent. He verified where he entered from, called it an honest mistake, gave us a verbal warning and verified our birds were all legal and just shook my dads hand and thanked him for self reporting. He seemed more relieved that we self reported and more angry that his office was not made aware of the public land access change.
Just be honest folks.
You have positive interactions with Game Wardens because you are honest and nice. Respect goes a LONG way with all law enforcement officers.
Your not far from me apparently, that warden worked with us alot on a bear issue on our farm. great guy!!
He was very good to work with!
Just gotta love a youngster teaching ethics and integrity! 👏
I never understand why people can’t just watch and appreciate the beauty of wildlife without having a need to kill it.
Honesty is ALWAYS the best policy. Most times you won’t get in trouble at all if you come clean right out of the gate. Very respectable thing to do.
Unless it's predicated by 'Does ths make me look fat? ...' Then, honest is NEVER the best policy
Here's a good hint boil your traps and wax them that way your scent is off and when you handle the traps use gloves. I promise you'll catch more.
Thanks!
@@RipnStikOutdoors you're welcome
@@adde-j6q how so? It's taking the scent of everything else off the traps and the wax protects it from rust. I'm a hunter, trapper and fisherman.
@@adde-j6q 🤦♂️
Cool advice, they definitely looked like they smelled his scent on the traps.
I've only had one negative experience with a warden. Hunting public land, signed in at the office, put my marker where I was going to hunt. At 8 am, the warden comes walking to my stand to check my licenses....seemed strange, only had two mornings to hunt that place. You always remember the bad, I've had thousands of encounters with them over the years and that was the only negative.
Trapping makes me sick .. I’m an hunter & all I can think about is those poor things struggling until they take their last breath of air.
-hats off to you tho for owning up.
I got this as a recommendation from RUclips. I trapped all through my high school and college years in the 80s. Back then if you needed money you better find a way to get it because your parents also needed money. I always followed the rules and ran my trap lines every morning to minimize the trauma on any animal caught. I also was working on a dairy ranch so would milk cows at 4 am and then run trap lines at around 5 am. Then football practice at around 7 am. I was just glad to be in a place where someone who wanted to and was willing to work could support themselves. Not going to lie, most of my proceeds went to beer, fishing lures, and hunting ammo but I learned that if you wanted something then you better find a way to work for it to earn it. Nice to see honesty is still alive.
I've caught ducks, turtles, catfish, bass, otters, muskrat, nutria, snakes. Down here in the south you never know what you're gonna catch. A lot of those were under depredation permit on private property in summer time, though. Good on ya for telling the truth. Most guys don't think twice about chucking those in the bushes, like the warden said.
Dang, I believe it! Sounds like the only thing you have left to check is a gator! 🤣
Not surprising you killed a lot of non-target species. Trapping is lame.
@@kirkbrode yep lame as fuck.
@@RipnStikOutdoors reràs
Hate to just pile on, but, honesty and integrity are extremely uncommon in our present age. It’s a shame that what is now rarer than a raw unicorn steak, used to be the norm. Good job young man.
Funny every generation says the same thing
Pretty respectable video, it’s good to see. I agree with you on working with your GW’s. 95% of my interactions have been not just positive but really helpful.
That's good to hear!
Nice to see people do the right thing. People don’t realize how much we as hunters love wildlife and want to protect it, it’s the few Aholes that give us a bad name. Keep up the great work! ❤️
I'll try!
I volunteer at a private a hunting/conservation park and I really wish more people did the right thing like you did I’ve seen too many animals that are either out of season or what the trapper/Hunter was not looking for just left to rot
Predators gotta eat, too. They may as well eat something that's already dead rather than to kill one.
as apposed to what? the corpse is good for the land. this whole thing is just a giant scam to make feel good people like you think you are making a difference. total waste of tax dollars
“Well, we’ll go do what we have to do I guess, as much as it sucks.”
Me going to the grocery store when I first moved out haha
Excellent ethics and video. My first otter (1982) was an unexpected catch, but thankfully one that was lawful and welcome.
Couldn't agree with you more re your sentiments on wardens, I too have nothing but positive experiences to look back on, including being checked 5 times between sunrise & noon on the same day by five different pairs of DNR officers while sea duck hunting. Me & my gunning buddy just laughed and said "bingo" as the last boat pulled along side....
Your a good guy and a responsible adult. I just subscribed and gave you a thumbs up.
Thanks!
Cool content! Trail cam footage very Kool . Also very ethical of you !
The trail camera video was eye opening!
Hey, saw your channel through a recommendation while watching a Demo Ranch video. Fast forwarded because I wanted to see what you caught and then I realized when you were calling the game warden it was a 675 Dallas PA number. Subscribed because it's awesome to see another local RUclipsr!
That's awesome!
You say you arent a saint, but the fact is that it is pretty rare that someone will have the level of integrity that you showed. Thank you for representing your fellow outdoorsmen so well. Ive known too many losers who make us all look bad.
Integrity it goes a long way and you handle it well props to you and much respect
Thats a true outdoorsman and a care taker of the environment
Very respectable I’m glad outdoorsman like this still exist
Love the honesty I live like 10 mins away from where you caught them
Wardens arent so reasonable here in S.C. here, they remind me of Barney Phife. Over zealous, i think is the right word. Trying every trick in the book to write a ticket.
My son-in-laws dad had a SC Warden approach him at a private pond in the 60’s or early 70’s. He jumped up and began running around the the entire pond.
When he got back to where he was fishing the Warden finally caught up huffing and puffing out of breath and said I got you! And began writing him a ticket for no fishing licenses.
My son-in-laws father said hold up and pulled his fishing licenses out! The Warden was pissed! Why did you run? I just felt like a run all of the sudden! I wish I had seen it! True Story!
That awkward moment when you see the area code, then see that he’s calling from your county lol.
I had a run in with the wardens, they charged me with hunting after hours, I was walking from my girlfriends house to my mother's house about two hundred yards away. A cop pulled up and said what are you doing, I said I'm going home. She said I think you are trying to kill a bear. We had a call their was a bear in the area. No release on my arm and no broad heads. Two days later a warden shows up. Ask for my license. I showed him my license and bear tag. Conversation in sues and I was left standing in my doorway with a summons. I go to court and ask for a lawyer. They tell me the charge is not serious enough to give me a lawyer? I said shit, I plead guilty. Fined 150 dollars and a record of a poacher now. I feel I was railroaded. If I had not plead guilty I would have got a 500 dollar fine.
Dont let people lie to you the wardens and every form of government are out to get you , and even the state itself wants your money and to put you in jail so they can get paid by the government. Since they get paid for people in jail
Get the fine it's better than a stain on your record. You made a bad choice.
@@mass_exotic_reptiles2532 it's still on my record.
Those things used to scare the crap out of me when I'd go out night fishing. They're so quiet until they aren't.
SPLASH!!! Right next to you. 🤣
I have a reservoir I night fish here in Colorado. Those beavers slapping there tails will just about give u a heart attack lol
There was a Hunter in Texas that mistaked a Whooping Crane for a Sandhill Crane. He did the right thing too. They threw the book at him. Lost his gun, Truck, fined to the max and lost his license for 5 years I believe it was. I believe in honesty but I’m also not a masochist!
Wow someone who actually cares to follow the rules. Thanks for the dedication!
Pretty chill game warden. Props to him.
Honesty....Love it! VERY rare these days!
That heron was stalking some ducklings.
You need to use rubber gloves to keep your sent off the trap and stuff you put around your strap. Good stuff keep it up
And to think I had gloves inth basket, just didn't put them on...lol Will next time!
I never bothered with gloves for water sets or water animals like beaver, mink, muskets. Half the time I never even bothered with predator sets either tbh. Back in the fur boom days when everything still alive because it was cagey it was important. Around places where amateurs have trapped and pinched toes it still is. Most wildlife comes in contact with human scents multiple times a day though, and associate that scent with food more than danger. I've made dirt hole sets without gloves and caught fox the first night. Btw the fish will thank you for taking out that otter anyway 😏
I want to commend you for your responsible actions. Great teaching tool for hunters and trappers.
Appreciate it.
You got my subscription for taking proper steps and procedures. They can use that otter to collect health of the population, statistics of where they thrive based off catch locations, and determine if and when they can actually allow proper trapping again. Great job. The extra work goes a long way. Some people might think it is a waste, but for the reasons I stated it is not. Parks and wildlife may be able to mount it for a museum or in house display for children to view. So no it did not needlessly die. It's like gut hooking a fish you intended to release and you don't eat fish. Some animal will eat that fish, even if it is just bacteria.
Absolutely. Thanks for the insight!
Man. I’m in south East pa myself. I’ve been trying to run into a beaver trapper around here to help me get started. I’m planning on reading up and running my first set this year. Good to see someone in this state doing the right thing
Great video, love the trail came. Out West we would put that 330 underwater. I think you would get less refusals with that set up. Keep up the good work.
I'll have to try that next time. Thanks!
Proud of you for calling the otter in. WTG. Now that you have seen the beaver avoiding your traps, what will you do differently to catch them? Will you make a different type of set?
If I ran footholds there as opposed to conibear, I think I would have caught all the beaver. They worked the sets enough that a foothold would've nailed them!
Just found your channel and saw you dial the game commission In Dallas! I grew up in Wilkes Barre. I grew up hunting, fishing and trapping that whole area up there. I miss it. Thanks for the video man!
Thank You for Being an Ethical Hunter/Trapper ! Honesty is Every Thing !
Spring break in florida. Plenty of active beaver!
Yes there is a ton of beaver running wild down here right now. He would see a lot of action on video too.
Most down here must have mange or something, most have lost all thier fur.
Ahhh shnap! I knew someone would go there.. gotta love that beach beaver.
@@SoloHiker1 Wait, you're still talking about 2 legged beaver right? Cause that ain't mange, it's a razor. And if there's a rash it's herpes.
Ahhhh yes. The spring break castor smell.
Good on you for doing the right thing. I've trapped beaver myself on the river and I've seen otter swimming up and down the banks searching for food. I think that otters will hang around beaver lodges because they prey on the smaller ones for food. Just like a mink hunts for muskrats. Otters are powerful and viscous so I don't think anything is off their menu even snapping turtles.
I saw one while fishing once, it was cool to watch.
That's a great thing been there myself the fact you called and admitted your mistake was a good thing shows honesty if more people were like you world wouldn't be what it is. 3 years ago I hunted for moose out of the upper yukon around big lake. We hunted hard for 3 weeks after a moose now here's the kicker in that particular zone moose must be 50 inches from paddle to paddle on the last hour of the last day we found one we swore was right at 50 I ended up making a perfect 30 yard shot with a bow when we put tape to him he measured 49 and a half so we called in DWR now they took my bow my moose everything and stuck me with hefty fines but was the point of admitting my mistake. Was still a mistake
Wow!
I'm actually speechless. Good job young man, never change!
What a responsible man you are. Handsome, honest, integrity and a wild life conservationist. Your parents raised a great man and your parents got a great man to be proud of.
Be honest and a Game Warden can be your friend. I’ve had one bad interaction with one but once everyone heads were chilled out all was good.
Not many good honest people left in the world u have my 100%respect for calling it in man
Accidents happen. It's when you try to hide it that it becomes an issue. In these scenarios, honesty is usually the best policy. Good dude.
Wow this video was randomly recommended to me and when I saw the phone number you called realized you must be right near me. Very cool!
One of the things Mr. Green Jeans said is that it’ll go into next years limits bc trapping it the best way to tell population so if a bunch of people accidentally catch them then they know populations are up
I wish everyone would watch this video and understand doing the right things. Made a mistake, didn't seek confrontation, and everything worked out. Great video👍👍. Me personally, Im not much of a trapper but sniper days with a .308 on beaver is always lots of fun
I love that you called the game warden. Doing the right this is right and if you aren’t typically breaking the law you have nothing to worry about.
Sounds like me,calling the cops to tell them to pick me up McDonald's..
Kudos to your folks for raising such a responsible young man.
Because of your integrity in this video, I am subscribing! Way to show the good, the bad, the mistake, and how to handle the mistake!
You done right like the warden said most people would have hid it and went on about their days and nobody would have known the difference. None of us are perfect now we make mistakes
Holding youself accountable. The only way to be.
As much as I appreciate the life of today you know back in the day that pelt would be put around a woman's neck and the food would have been placed on the catcher's table
Honesty and keeping your word of mouth is the greatest trait a man could have. God bless homie
You did the right thing and your interaction with the game Warden was positive. You are the future of hunting and trapping. You represent all of us. Thank you.