Well, I bought a 50' roll of 1"X2"X24" roll of wire to make some colony traps. If anyone has any close-up pics, or any pics at all of these traps, I'd like to see them. I checked the archives and couldn't find anything. I would also like to know if a fella is better off using hog rings, wire, metal sleeves or what to hold them together. I'd like them to be folding style. Any dimensions you might have on the main frame and the doors so I cut my wire right would be helpful also. I had all the info at one time in my PM's, but I didn't save it to a Word Doc., so it disappeared.

I think Jonathon has a pretty good collection of cage trap pics.

I built several of these a different way last season, and this year i found plans on another trapping site so i figured i would give it a shot and this is how they turned out. Thought someone on here might want to give it a shot.

After looking at DH's plans for the muskrat colony trap I decided to give it a shot using the uprights instead of the clips. The box only took about 15 minutes to measure, flatten, cut, bend, and secure. The doors were another thing it probably took me close to a half hour to get these done. At first I just bent the uprights around the box cage but I couldn't get the door to swing freely up and down, so I ended up using a cleaning rod from my .22 to bend the upright around and it worked great. Just need to straighten the trap up a bit, would have had it done but I got called into the house by the wife to help with the kids so it will have to wait until later. Here are the pics step by step let me know what you guys think. This is an easy project that is fairly inexpensive and is great for the kids to help with, and I guarantee that these traps will increase your muskrat catch.

These are all the materials you need to complete the trap plus a rubber mallet to flatten the wire.


I made this jig with the line is 25 inches from the screws, so just hook the fencing material to the screws and cut along the line.


Fencing cut to 25 inches by 30 inches, use a rubber mallet to flatten the fence out it makes it easier to work with.


Measure out 6 inches and clamp the fencing down. I used a 3 foot property marker stake and some quick grips.


The fence clamped down - Overview


Bend along the break line, use the rubber mallet to square up the edge.


The final bend


Bend the uprights around the opposite end to secure the square. *Cardboard was just so you could see the uprights better*


The trap all secured and squared up minus the doors.


Used a cleaning rod from a .22 to leave some play in the upper part of the door so that it will open and close easily. Remove the rod with a pair of pliers or vice grips.


Finished trap - side view


Finished Trap end view


Let me know what you think or what i missed.

[url=Trahttp://www.gbso.net/actor/building_a_folding_colony_trap.htmp]Trahttp://www.gbso.net/actor/building_a_folding_colony_trap.htmp[/url] You will have to cut and past this addy. actor is a member here.

how much is a roll of that wire? And how many will it make?

I paid $30 for a 50' roll of 1"X2". I probably could have got it for a bit less, but I wanted to work on them today. Then again, these are the cheapest traps I have ever bought. I have enough to make about 20 traps.

To make folding traps, First thing is size of trap 5x5, 6x6. And cut your panels to length, yours will be 24". Assuming 5x5 trap cut four panels out 5" wide, don't measure just count wires, Then cut a 4" wide panel out, This is for the doors. The doors are 1.5 times the height of the trap, 5x1.5= 7.5" round up to 8".
I use the metal sleeves(cage clips) for the body and doors, Do not cinch them completely closed leave them a little loose so they will fold flat.
set your panel so the long wire are going to be inside the trap (this will help prevent the doors from binding). Connect the panels at every other space, connect all four pieces. The doors are centeres by placing a cage clip at each side. place the door panel between the clips and secure with 2-4 more clips.

I use 3/16" rod for the brace, 16" long bent equally. Using pig rings center it on top use three one on each side and one in the center. Again leave a little loosse for ease in folding.

Anyone ever use old tranny lines or brake lines for the metal sleeves" it would be a simple process to cut them with a dremel tool and crimp them on. Not to mention, free. I know Actor likes to use aluminum from TV antennas for his. Thanks for the help folks, I'll get a couple going and post some pics when I get time. pmwmtnmn, thanks for for the measurements, that's exactly what I cut them.

sjtrapper, I'll probably make some like yours too, for places where I have to run and gun (along hi-ways). I really appreciate the ideas.

thanks. sounds like a pretty good deal.

Are the round, funnel type colony traps better? Anyone ever use them?

Now have it pull double duty and wire one door shut and turn it over so the other door lays down. Cut wire so it will accept springs on a 155 like on your wooden cubbies and you have a great light fisher/marten box as well. 5x5 are the largest we can have on the ground in this part of maine.

the problem with building folding traps is on 20 traps you lose roughly 80 inches of wire cutting the parts , this does'nt happen when you bend the wire you only lose 1 inch of wire for every trap, if you do decide to build folding ones get a shear like i show in my vid or if you have to use side cutters get a compound set your hands will thank you

I agree for the instructions I gave above 2 feet of wire is used for 1 5x5 trap, but I trap out of a canoe and would rather have 20 folders than 20 rigid traps. It's all in what each trapper needs.

I built mine years ago but would do non stack style and have some of them 5 x5" openenings and some at 6x6" openings. Then I could fit one in the other.

They work well at round culverts/tiles they do not have to be exactly the same size and they will still work. with the round ones some guys put a flap of inner-tube over the end kina like a door with a small weight at the bottom of the door but then you have to put the trap right side up . I tried both ways without the doors is quicker to me. when folks around here remodel i watch the trash and look for quarter round I break it into about 2' pieces it makes nice stakes for my colony traps.

Hey SJ when I started building colonies I used j clips for just a little bit but then switched to the way you showed I have built my crab pots the same way not a j clip used at all

So is there a difference between these square traps and round ones? I bought a pair last week which were round and they used tin (pop riveted) with small wire flaps.

I'm new to this, so just trying to figure it all out.
Thanks!