CAT CRAZY

The outdoor world garners attention from young and old.  Hunting, fishing, trapping, camping and other natural pursuits provide hours of endless fun for young and old.  But looking at the demographics of trapping in particular, most participants aren't youngsters.  Many have been at it for decades. 

But every once in a while the activity catches the attention of a young adult and they fall head-over-heels in love with it. Such was the case for 17-year-old South Haven High School senior Wacey Lathers.  Lathers started trapping when he was 11 years old with assistance from his dad and grandfather.  He caught his first coon and he's been hooked ever since. 

Over the last few years he's developed a love for chasing bobcats.  Many Kansans don't even realize thousands of bobcats roam the countryside and most have never seen one.  It's part of this mystique that draws Lathers to pursue them for weeks on end from Christmas to mid-February. 

He'll set anywhere from 30-45 traps and check them daily.  Most are walk-through flat sets with a #3 Montana buried under dry dirt.  He uses a variety of lures and visual stimuli to pique the curiosity of an inquisitive bobcat.  Traps remain in place for several weeks as bobcats have a wide home range and may only roll through an area every week or so. 

Last year Lathers caught a personal best 16 bobcats.  He sells their pelts for up to $100 each but averages about $50.  He also traps raccoons heavily during the first week of the furharvesting season in November.  He was up at 3 a.m. and back at the house, showered and changed for school every day by 7:30 a.m.  During nine days he caught 110 coons and averaged about $8 each selling each of those animals on the carcass. 

Lathers admits you have to love something a lot to spend that much time at it.  He reasons it's kept him out of some trouble some teenagers might find along the way.  Lathers realizes the tradition and history of trapping and relevance to our country making it even more appealing. 

Once again, the outdoors is truly a special place.