Re: Red squirrels
[Re: chico]
#6478397
03/02/19 12:02 PM
03/02/19 12:02 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,242
rogers city mi.
jeff karsten
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,242
rogers city mi.
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I had great luck catching them in coon boxes this winter evidently beaver, fish or molasses mixed with dog food is excellant bait i'd keep the trap off the ground use a rat trap peanut butter on the pan and cover with evergreen boughs to keep birds out
olden tyred
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Re: Red squirrels
[Re: chico]
#6478403
03/02/19 12:09 PM
03/02/19 12:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,103
user conflictville, Alaska 99X...
martenpine
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,103
user conflictville, Alaska 99X...
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The ones I trap in yard I use weasel box. As far as poles I can’t even imagine how many I’ve caught through the years trapping marten. Both work I have noticed decrease if I dont use wings or feather attractors so I assume that would be good bait. I think they want feathers for nest. There are some threads about snare poles you may want to check out.
When there is shot in the air, there is hope.
When in doubt, throttle out!
ATA, NTA, NATCA, ITA
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Re: Red squirrels
[Re: Saskayote]
#6478413
03/02/19 12:18 PM
03/02/19 12:18 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,795
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,795
100 Mile House, BC Can
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Light 26 ga. brass wire on leaning poles or poles between trees where the feed. No bait needed. They hang themselves. Snares cost pennies. ^^^^^^^^^^ For squirrel snaring I prefer 16 lb test stainless steel fishing line as it’s a bit finer than the 24 gage brass wire and more flexible providing quicker loop closing IMO. Loop size of 1 ½ inches preferred but no larger than 1 ¾ inches with height off pole of 1 inch (length of a 22LR cartridge and bullet) being my preference. ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2019/03/full-12152-1853-2014_09_10_10.14.13.jpg) Snare tied and mounted on pole as shown in the photo: The 1 inch plus tag end above the loop discourages jumping over the loop. Snare tied on the side of the pole, and crossing over the pole below the snare loop discourages ducking under and/or around the loop. ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2019/03/full-12152-1857-002.jpg) Locate their middens and set up as shown in this picture.
Last edited by bctomcat; 03/02/19 12:24 PM.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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Re: Red squirrels
[Re: chico]
#6479374
03/03/19 09:08 AM
03/03/19 09:08 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 66,403
Minnesota
330-Trapper
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 66,403
Minnesota
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These traps work well on red/pine squirrels. Chunky Peanut butter in the bait cup. Attach them with a screw gun up off the ground on horizontal limbs or running pole. ![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2019/03/full-1790-1959-images.jpeg)
Last edited by 330-Trapper; 03/03/19 09:25 AM. Reason: Picture added
NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com
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Re: Red squirrels
[Re: chico]
#6480049
03/03/19 09:41 PM
03/03/19 09:41 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,737
se South Dakota
NonPCfed
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,737
se South Dakota
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What do you all do with them...? Do you sell the tails to a fishing lure place like Mepps, eat some, or actually put them as a fur? I've seen lots on the NAFA sales but they never seem to be worth much, especially the cost in collecting them is factored in. What was a "glory" year price in selling a pine squirrels...?
I used to shoot some red fox squirrels in shelterbelts in the eastern part of South Dakota. Sent a few batches of 50+ tails to Mepps but its been a long time. I used to eat some, probably one of the few guys in this state to do it more than a few times, but could never figure out how to skin them really fast without getting hair on all the meat. They are considered a game animal, with a limit of 5 a day. Never understood why we could shoot twice as many bunnies a day than squirrels. I haven't squirrel hunted in probably pushing a decade. Bunnies (cottontails) and tree squirrel season closes the end of Feb. The Black Hills has a red pine squirrel. Don't know if anyone out there hunts them or if so, does anything with the "fur".
"And God said, Let us make man in our image �and let them have dominion �and all the creatures that move along the ground".
Genesis 1:26
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Re: Red squirrels
[Re: joepennanti]
#6480072
03/03/19 10:09 PM
03/03/19 10:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
Taximan
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
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I got them too. They might be fine for ADC work, but what I found using them in the field is that they freeze up and don't fire. Have a look at the trigger/dog configuration as it connects to the pan. It's relatively intricate vs the simple, traditional rat traps. And there's a lot of plastic on plastic. I found that even without any precipitation, with just the moisture in daytime air alone, they would freeze up. Morning = bait gone, trap still set, and me slamming them pans down all the way without them ever firing.
Another thing, they are not as powerful as the traditional ones. I think it may have something to do with the fact that the kill bar travels only half the distance? Maybe the momentum is not there? I have gotten my hands caught in all sorts of traps, including these ones. These don't hurt nearly as much as the traditional rat traps. The funny thing is that the name of this model is the "Victor Power Kill Rat Trap" which, somehow implies that it's more powerful and more lethal than the traditional ones? No way.
Weasel you say? A LT weasel, if the trap fires, is just gonna laugh and say thanks for the free meal.
Anyways, you already got them so give them a try and report back. Thanks Joe.All that makes sense.I think you are right on the momentum theory.I wondered about that.I wil find a use for them. Regarding red squirrels,I use them for bait for weasels,spotted skunk and bobcats.Iam sure they would work for some other predators as well.
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Re: Red squirrels
[Re: NonPCfed]
#6480099
03/03/19 10:36 PM
03/03/19 10:36 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,795
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,795
100 Mile House, BC Can
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What do you all do with them...? I've seen lots on the NAFA sales but they never seem to be worth much, especially the cost in collecting them is factored in. What was a "glory" year price in selling a pine squirrels...? I skinned them and sold them through the NAFA auction. Most years in the past they averaged between 1.50 and 2$. The best year I had about 10 years ago they average $2.76. IMO the cost of collecting them is minimal. In that season I did just under a thousand dollars in squirrels. If you have lots of squirrels in your bush they are definitely worth trapping in a reasonably good market. Even at $1.25 to $1.50 average they add up. If you are walking past a squirrel midden to check another trap, set it up with a snare pole. It has been my experience every time you check the other trap and have nothing you will often have a squirrel or two. With practice it only takes 3 minutes to skin, flesh and board a squirrel. On a trap line with a good squirrel population the squirrel catch along with the incidental weasel catch will often cover most, if not all, of your fuel expense with little extra work.
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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Re: Red squirrels
[Re: chico]
#6480153
03/03/19 11:54 PM
03/03/19 11:54 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,737
se South Dakota
NonPCfed
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,737
se South Dakota
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That sounds reasonable there bctomcat, especially if a guy lived in heavily forested land. I think if I was trapping conifer woods, I have some squirrel sets out as well.
Different world here. There are strips of trees equivalent to linear patches of forest (most planted post 1870) on about every square mile of land around here but they are not continuous; a mile to the next one, 1 1/2 to the next one, a mile to the next one after that so yeah, squirrels would have to be extra to the regular sets for other critters. And tree squirrels here are considered game animals, at least the fox squirrels we have, I really don't know if the Black Hills pine squirrels fall under those bag limits or not. I'll have to inquire from our state game agency if 1) they ever heard of anyone trapping pine squirrels in the BH, and 2) would they still fall under a game animal with 5 a day or would they be a furbearer that generally don't have any daily numbers assigned to them? We just don't have a squirrel culture in this state...
"And God said, Let us make man in our image �and let them have dominion �and all the creatures that move along the ground".
Genesis 1:26
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Re: Red squirrels
[Re: NonPCfed]
#6480179
03/04/19 01:11 AM
03/04/19 01:11 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,997
Kelowna BC Canada
trapper ron
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,997
Kelowna BC Canada
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Back in the 70's I snared 100's of Western Red squirrels every year. Do not remember the exact year but my best year was over 1000 squirrels and averaged $3.35 CAN.
Member BCTA
Trapping Instructor
"It's what you learn after you know it all that really counts."
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![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2019/03/full-2531-2027-trapping_2018_2019_028.jpg)
