A Fools Monopoly
The Turning Feral Journal - Day 47
Day 47 - I had it all to myself. The hills, the rivers, and the backroads. Three years of solo winter trapping in an area others didn’t want to go. There were plenty of fur-bearing animals and frankly I began to believe that my monopoly would last forever. Besides, trapping is a dying art, right?
Well, I was wrong. For the first time I walked into one of ‘my spots’ only to be greeted by another man’s bootprints. Now I had heard of this before at fur sales… Stories about other guys creeping into a location, stealing and molesting traps, while being an unreasonable cutthroat. All fueled by competition for a limited resource where gloves come off and words get exchanged. But, after a few years of solitude and no sign of other trappers, I almost didn’t believe it was possible. So, when I did see that someone made it out I was shocked… and truthfully? A little impressed.
Yes, the snow held off a little longer this year to make the zone more accessible into the start of beaver season, but it was still a slog to haul traps in. After my initial wash of anger, I stopped for a second to laugh at myself. It took me nanoseconds to realize that the emotion I was having was anger toward myself, not my newfangled competition. I had been beat. Someone with more gusto and time got there, put sets out, and was prepared to come check them sooner than I was — my fools monopoly was over.
Like the railroad barons of the past I could see that encroachment wasn’t just coming, but it was already here. But, instead of doubling down and picking a fight I decided to let it go. Plus, I have seen the ending of “There will be Blood” enough to know that holding onto a monopoly with maniacal control can only end with having to bash someone’s head in with a bowling pin… So, in an effort to avoid that fate I pulled back.
Even though my autonomy over that part of the river was done, it turned out that I knew the guy who was out there trapping. In fact, after some over-the-phone discussion, we may even partner up to hit larger swaths of the hard to reach areas that are overrun with beaver. So even though it can seem devastating when something you hold dear is encroached on by other people, if you keep yourself open to change and competition, you may just find yourself with more opportunity on the other end… Plus, everything here on earth is fleeting and monopolies always crumble.
Daily Prompt: What is your fool’s monopoly? What will happen when your domination of that comes to an end?:
Motivational Passage:
“In 100 years, we will all be buried with our family and friends. Strangers will live in our homes that we worked so hard to build and someone else will own everything we have today.Our descendants will hardly know who we are nor will they remember us. How many of us know who our grandfather's father was?
After we die we will be remembered for a few more years and then we’re just a portrait on someone’s wall.
And a few decades later our history, photos, and deeds disappear into history’s oblivion. We won’t even be memories. So, enjoy your life now.”
- Unknown
Rewilding Action: Warm gloves are an essential part of any winter backcountry kit. Whether you are skiing, trapping, or hiking, keeping the littlest appendages warm can mean the difference between enjoying the moment or feeling miserable. I have plowed through several gloves to date, but the brand that has won my admiration for warmth and durability is Hestra.