Re: What Size Long Spring for Weasel Box?
[Re: steveWNY]
#6343015
10/08/18 07:18 AM
10/08/18 07:18 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064 NY
rendezvous
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
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steveWNY, if you use #1 or #1-1/2, anchor it for the largest animal you might catch... coon, bobcat, fisher??? I prefer the rat traps, the large yellow pans too. You can get them coming or going. I have only caught one longtail(CNY), but that was in a #155 set for Fisher.
Last edited by rendezvous; 10/08/18 07:22 AM.
Let's go Brandon!
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Re: What Size Long Spring for Weasel Box?
[Re: steveWNY]
#6343071
10/08/18 08:48 AM
10/08/18 08:48 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666 Idaho, Lemhi County
Gulo
"On The Other Hand"
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"On The Other Hand"
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,666
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Taximan and others... For years, I read the threads and otherwise heard about the upper midwest guys hammering big numbers of weasels in the boxes, using either longsprings or rat traps. Periodically around where I live, we have good numbers of weasels (both long-tails and short-tails). Nearly half a century ago while marten trapping in Idaho, pretty much every time I'd see a weasel track, I could get it by nailing a rat trap to a tree about 2 feet above the snow level, pan down with a small chunk of meat wired to the pan. However, that method also resulted in quite a few bird catches, and is no longer legal (as it should be). I've taken many dozen weasels in Alaska and Idaho as incidentals in my mink and marten boxes. I wanted to take advantage of these high weasel numbers now that I'm back in Idaho, so I built 36 of the boxes with large-pan rat traps. Tried every conceivable bait, lure, bait/lure combination, etc. All were set on fresh sign. Had over 500 trapnights a couple winters ago. Often had fresh tracks actually bumping into the boxes, running all around, but virtually never going into the boxes. Finally caught one measly short-tail with over 500 trapnights. Was astounded that they wouldn't work. Talked to a few other trappers down here that pretty much had the same experience. Never did figure it out. Catching coyotes, wolves, grizzly bears, wolverine, even Siberian tigers and leopards? No problem. High numbers of the lowly weasel, even with tracks everywhere? Nope!
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Re: What Size Long Spring for Weasel Box?
[Re: steveWNY]
#6343468
10/08/18 07:46 PM
10/08/18 07:46 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,270 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,270
james bay frontierOnt.
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Try a juice can with one side squashed flat,bait in the back and a 1.5 ls in front with the loose jaw held up with a nail thru top of can. Been a long time since I used that killer set.
Last edited by Boco; 10/08/18 07:49 PM.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: What Size Long Spring for Weasel Box?
[Re: steveWNY]
#6353520
10/22/18 06:57 AM
10/22/18 06:57 AM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 225 PA
Charles2
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 225
PA
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In PA, would rat snap traps be considered a body grip and therefore be required set in a watercourse as other BG traps are?
Charles2Trap
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Re: What Size Long Spring for Weasel Box?
[Re: steveWNY]
#6353532
10/22/18 07:08 AM
10/22/18 07:08 AM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 225 PA
Charles2
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 225
PA
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Longsprings for the boxes set everywhere else. Put up fresh chicken and beef liver along with beaver for bait, but am going to wait a few weeks to set. This will be my 1st year seriously trapping them and I am not sure when they change to their white color phase.
Charles2Trap
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Re: What Size Long Spring for Weasel Box?
[Re: steveWNY]
#6353546
10/22/18 07:34 AM
10/22/18 07:34 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,835 Pa
Wright Brothers
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,835
Pa
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More than one trap per box is also a no-no in Pa. I miss Joe from here, he kept us straight without throwing the book at us. Ned was that way too.
I could never find a definite "time" when they changed color. Caught a couple that were brown and white. Caught quite a few around chickens.
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Re: What Size Long Spring for Weasel Box?
[Re: Charles2]
#6353563
10/22/18 07:57 AM
10/22/18 07:57 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064 NY
rendezvous
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
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Longsprings for the boxes set everywhere else. Put up fresh chicken and beef liver along with beaver for bait, but am going to wait a few weeks to set. This will be my 1st year seriously trapping them and I am not sure when they change to their white color phase. I caught this longtail October 29th in a Fisher set, I am quite north of the PA border. They are pretty interesting little critters, good luck to you!
Let's go Brandon!
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