pro98
Trap Builder
Posts: 172
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Post by pro98 on Mar 18, 2008 13:15:09 GMT -5
got 3 or more inches of water last night. won't quit raining until tomorrow so I'm going to be hard pressed to make since of anything anytime soon, I have plenty of den holes in the mud aslong side apond deep pond not one I can walk into water around and set what I need it's strictly what I can reach from very very steep bank, holes are some small some as big as a bolling ball, I actually stuffed the colony cage up into the one thats is as big as a bolling ball and nothing been thier 3 days so far. even put carrots and apples in cage to help entice them but nothing. I can make out in several spots where they have slicked up the bank along this heavily used bank. but now water will be a problem for a few days hope it clears up soon season ends 31st. I'll probably brake down and set a bunch of 1 1/2 coil springs. I feel I can catch them that way easy enough, but just don't want any coons. wish someone had a picture of a muskrat run in a creek that would help me a bunch. thanks for all the help I can't believe I'm having so much trouble with a rat. killing my ego. what little one I have anyways
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Post by trappnman on Mar 19, 2008 9:45:36 GMT -5
I trap 300-500 rats a year on small creeks. If I only set in runs, I wouldn't set many if any traps. Forget looking for the runs- if they are there, they will be obvious- if not obvious, don't worry about it.
back i nte day, we trapped te big marshes- and on creeks or in marshes, bait is a poor choice and in my experience, has zero ability to increase your catch over blind sets. Add lure to the "it doesn't hurt but doesn't help" bin.
Keep 2 things in mind with rats 1) they are poor swimmers 2) they MUST have something to eat on- they don't eat just swimming around.
Floats attract rats because of what they are, not whats on them.
Muskrats never become trap shy (footholds) or people shy- if they are there, they HAVE to go about their daily business.
an unbaited, unlured pocket in the right spot- at the end of fast water runs, under shelter, in quiet areas- will take every rat that comes along.
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pro98
Trap Builder
Posts: 172
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Post by pro98 on Mar 19, 2008 21:40:59 GMT -5
that sounds like what I'm experiencing this last week, before the floods came. the floating traps looked like it would work, but had no luck what so ever, even saw a muskrat swimming by my float without giving it a second look. I guess when the water gets back to normal I will put some mud up on the bank and scratch out a 2" deep spot for my trap and put them about every 10' apart thats my plan as of yesterday, still holds today I may put some beaver caster lure on one and not another and see if it helps. but after talking and reading for 2 days straight I think fresh mud is going to be as good an atractor as anything. thanks for the reply good to hear from people that have been their and done it.
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pro98
Trap Builder
Posts: 172
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Post by pro98 on Mar 22, 2008 18:29:09 GMT -5
okay we got 8" rain in 24 hours. lots of flooding and even the muskrat bank that was full of sign, dropping's, tracks, tunnels, ext, is gone, do you think they drowned or would they have just been washed down stream. I read they are not good swimmers, caught another beaver this morning very small one. I see no muskrat sign at all. creek is pretty much been back to normal level last 2 days. but still no sign of muskrats. so did they drown or what?
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pro98
Trap Builder
Posts: 172
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Post by pro98 on Apr 1, 2008 11:59:51 GMT -5
finally got a muskrat, should have it mounted, for all the time I spent on my quest of the muskrat, however as much as I was loosing all hope with the floating muskrat traps, thats what I caught him on, it was a small male. water level up and down on a dailey bases with all the floods. it also looked like it has caster sacks like a beaver, are they worth doing anything with or just leave it for fresh bait for next year. I was right about them being washed down stream and most of them have drowned from the floods we've gotten lately, now for the marmets or ground hogs not sure what the correct term is but they weren't fazed with floods at all.
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Post by doyleflory on Apr 1, 2008 19:24:41 GMT -5
The sacks are the glands they work as a lure for rats and mink.Try them on your bank sets. I doubt that the rats drowned,they will be back.
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pro98
Trap Builder
Posts: 172
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Post by pro98 on Apr 2, 2008 21:47:07 GMT -5
I will try them on banks sets, sounds good, thanks for info. everything helps seems lures and bait don't.
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Post by mattbredeweg on Apr 3, 2008 10:47:40 GMT -5
Those shallow "slides" work great for colony traps, I used one inbetween two marshes and caught several. ONE day i had 4 in one colony trap. It was a small one that Trey had made up, it worked very well. If you can see their holes in the bank, put a 110 in front of the hole and move on, you'll have him next day, put one in every hole and move on to next place. Also don't underestimate little pockets for rats very effn't.
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pro98
Trap Builder
Posts: 172
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Post by pro98 on Apr 3, 2008 15:58:40 GMT -5
I have since bought some colony cages and of yet to see where I could put one, I think when all this rain go's away I'll better see where to put them. but after the floods, can't hardley see a foot print anywhere. I really would like to be able to tell the difference of a den hole verses and exit hole of some sort. before the floods their where tracks on every muddy bank along the whole bank, hopeing that this golf course learns me to trap them before next season can't believe a rat is so hard to catch. thanks
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