"Colony traps became a legal method to trap muskrat in Wisconsin on February 1,
2011."

Traps that allowed the capture of more than one animal were illegal. There would be little demand for a colony type trap that in theory could only catch one animal. We made ours and we had a use for them. Bulky, but easy to set.

Those 'single' ones, perhaps like Dirt is talking about: I guess I could see them working in certain situations. If people have them, I see no reason to toss them. Were they 12" long with 2 doors? I'm thinking of making one, just for that odd situation maybe in a tight shallow spot where a 2 footer might not fit.

Colony Traps illegal in New York. Another bad Reg.

The bite top is a good thing....I call it the upper deck.
The rats that lock in the wire are up there and the bottom door stil swings

I have 40 years experience using them, starting with designs we were testing for the standards.

They really shine in the spring rat run in a big marsh, 30 traps would produce 100 rats a day, with few bite marks with the submarines

Had 2 triples in 5x5s yesterday. I use a lot of 6x8x24s, they seem to fill the bill most of the time. I have funnel traps but they aren’t as productive in ditches as they are in the marsh.

Rats float under water
If you like bite guards use them
I have tested them and don't think it makes a difference
You need good populations to catch lots of rats
You need different size traps for different conditions
Rats will push into small subs till they are full
I will stick a round colony in first then go smaller depending on water depth
Culverts are the best locations
Use what works best for you


A few pictures of what I use and some catches

In the second and third pictures, what is the location? Looks like you made your own location by just scooping out the bottom.

Bigger is better.I will even stack them in the bigger runs.

I use them my self and make my own. When Iowa first came out with them I got the patterns from NAFA years ago.I also remember being in WI at Cabelas and game wardens from IA and WI was there and I was asking about IA to the Iowa game wardens and the WI game wardens was jump on me for it and the IA game wardens told them off and that they where behind the times.

Good thread. Great info and pics

You get a hotspot culvert between 2 ponds stacking the culvert is a sweet deal for a quick catch.

Natural den entrances.

Chris

Of course you did. Same as the occasional incidental rat I caught in a 330 set for beaver late in the beaver season that got turned in.

I make mine so they nest together to take up less room in the truck...

Colony traps aren't just for rats either. I have caught mink in them too. Once I had a rat with two mink, male and female in the trap. I guessed the mink were after the rat since the rat was the first one in the trap.