Muskrat has a January rat thread up but I didn't want to hijack it (I'm not sure about internet/post etiquette) so I put this one up . Around my area January rats are the best because the fur is prime or very close to it , they are usually not bitten up much and their size is good . Not so this year for me . The fur has been excellent but I've never seen/caught so many smaller sized rats and many of my rats have lots of bite marks both old and fresh . I don't think its a population explosion . My catch rates are about the same . The sign and hut numbers are about the same . Anyway everybody likes "pitchers" so I'll put some up of rats from this past week . I'm not a big numbers guy but just keep plugging away .

very nice,pa closed 2 weeks ago.

pcr2 I know you've stated that your close to NY , not sure where but my section doesn't close until April 7th , come on over the water is fine ! LOL

Good job! Keep at em!

VH did you have a late summer ( Indian summer) ? Seems like them them rats will continue to breed as long as they have good weather .

just got back from a quick check . Got one smaller rat and this whopper .



And yes Golf Ball , the had unusually warm weather right through Christmas . And lots of water this year

I thought about that but I'm getting around the same number of rats as last year but they are smaller . Last year and years past I got very few smaller than 2xl . I usually start around Christmas . Maybe first litters were wiped out ? I can't remember if we were flooded out earlier in the year when those first litters would have come out .

Vh60, where are u located in ny...

That's a nice looking 'rat, VH60

Joe , down in Orange county . Muskrat thank you . I put him up on a 6 1/2 " board and he flops down past 3xl with no pulling . His belly/back has slack in it on the 6 1/2 "as well . I don't go like cable able or Nimzy or any of the other big numbers guys but I'm having a good time staying in it until i retire and can . There is nothing like being in a swamp frozen or open water chasing and trying to figure out rats . Ours seem to be a very good quality rat with good color / quality .

I caught some good ones last week, beautiful fur.. ny has some of the best rats... too bad there 4 bucks

better than fox and mink prices.some year i swear i always wanted to trap-just rats a whole season.

pcr2 I'm going to do just that when I retire . NY is a challenge . We can't use colony traps and can't set within 5 feet of a rat hut . That makes it much harder to put up big numbers but our rats are worth the effort . There are guys like Walleyed and others that catch quite a few by putting in the effort so under the right circumstances it could be worth it If you live close enough to a big accessible population and have the traps the knowledge and the time . I just got a $4.10 or so true average (included smaller rats and some damaged) and if you live close enough to some of the local sales you could do better . Plus IMO rat trapping gives you the most bang for the buck fun wise .

coulda been there in 40 min from my house yesterday.hope to be buying there next year.will see.