Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 29

BILL and JOHN as teenagers, showing off the rewards of their trapping efforts. grin, and then threw back his head and bellowed, “It’s Now or Nevvvver,” in one of the worst Elvis imitations I ever heard. I tried not to laugh, but the more I tried, the harder it was. I could feel my chest start to shake, and then my lips began to flutter, and before I knew it, I had a severe case of the giggles. Then we both burst out laughing so hard our bellies started to ache, which made the long walk to Neshaminy Creek go by twice as fast. We set six traps that day. But the following morning our traps were all empty, their jaws gaping back at us in mute testimony. We were disappointed, but John and I refused to give up. We continued to set our traps each weekend until one bright, sunny morning we finally caught our first muskrat. What a thrill. I will never forget those early days on the trapline with my brother. We shared a sense of adventure few our age could know. Being in the woods and streams, alone, away from human dwellings, scouting for fur, was an indescribable joy. We often imagined ourselves as pioneers — the first to set foot wherever we happened to be. Trapping transformed our lives in many ways, and we began to mature into men that winter so long ago. Through trapping, we learned about responsibility: When MAY 2009 traps are set, they must be checked every day. That was a moral and ethical obligation. Some mornings we would step outside, and the cold wind would take our breath away. The temptation to retreat back into the cozy warmth of our home was great, but the allure of the trapline with its curious mysteries and pleasant surprises was far greater, and we would stride into the early darkness with our handful of traps in search of muskrats and adventure. John and I learned not only about how to trap that winter, but also a lot about why. We discovered that trapping wasn’t about making money — it wasn’t even about catching fur, really. It was about learning to read sign, like animal tracks and scats; it was about matching wits with animals on their own turf; it was about animal behavior, lures and scents, proper skinning and care of pelts, grading fur; it was about ethics, responsibility, selfrespect, purposefulness and rugged individualism. Yes, my twin brother and I got quite an education that first season on the trapline, 49 years ago, and our love for trapping managed to keep us out of trouble while growing up. It also fostered a deep appreciation for our commonwealth’s natural resources, which eventually led both of us into careers as Pennsylvania wildlife conservation officers. John and I still find time to trap these days, and the trapline continues to teach us things about life. Even now. 29

Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009

Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009
Life & Times of the Whitetail
Contents
A Second Chance Gobbler
Miles of Habitat Improvement
The Rat Hole
What are the Odds?
Mackenzie’s First Gobbler
Tough Love
The Other Bear Season
When I Was Young
Right Place at the Right Time
Field Notes
Conservation News
Off the Wire
Another View
The Naturalist's Eye
Straight from the Bowstring
Fun Game
Lock, Stock & Barrel
Crossings
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Life & Times of the Whitetail
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Contents
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - A Second Chance Gobbler
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 4
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 5
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 6
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Miles of Habitat Improvement
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 8
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 9
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - The Rat Hole
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 11
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 12
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 13
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - What are the Odds?
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 15
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 16
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Mackenzie’s First Gobbler
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 18
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 19
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Tough Love
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 21
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 22
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - The Other Bear Season
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 24
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - When I Was Young
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 26
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 27
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 28
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 29
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Right Place at the Right Time
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 31
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 32
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 33
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Field Notes
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 35
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 36
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 37
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 38
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 39
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Conservation News
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 41
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 42
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 43
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 44
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 45
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Off the Wire
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Another View
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 48
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 49
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - The Naturalist's Eye
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 51
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 52
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 53
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Straight from the Bowstring
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 55
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 56
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 57
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 58
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Fun Game
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Lock, Stock & Barrel
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 61
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 62
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 63
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Crossings
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - N1
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - N2
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - Cover4
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