share-cropping mrats, what's a good cut...
#6650742
10/27/19 07:42 PM
10/27/19 07:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,341 se South Dakota
NonPCfed
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,341
se South Dakota
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...for the landowner this season?
As I said on some other threads, I haven't muskrat trapped since 2011 because there were hardly any around here. But the water returned last year and this year there's a lot of hut building. I sent out 2 letters to a couple of landowners a week ago, not really expecting any replies (the one wetland I tried before a nunber of years ago). In my letter, I said I'd be willing "rent" his slough either by a certain fixed price up front or a certain amount per rat. I was surprised in that the guy with the easiest access just called me and wants to talk. Sounds like he had someone else ask as well but that guy probably didn't offer a cut on the "operation". The landowner did tell me that there was a 2nd slough over the hill that I can't see from the road that also has a good number of huts so the rat potential just went up. Sure beats doing the sunrise race to the huts on public land this Saturday. I don't mind paying for sole access to choice habitat...
"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: share-cropping mrats, what's a good cut...
[Re: NonPCfed]
#6650754
10/27/19 07:54 PM
10/27/19 07:54 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,240 West Michigan
Getting There
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,240
West Michigan
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I think this will be the trend in years to come. JMO
To Old U.S. Army 60-63 SGT.
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Re: share-cropping mrats, what's a good cut...
[Re: NonPCfed]
#6650774
10/27/19 08:16 PM
10/27/19 08:16 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,485 MN
Steven 49er
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,485
MN
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A lot of money got paid to trap the Horicon Marsh this year.
"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon". Milton Friedman.
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Re: share-cropping mrats, what's a good cut...
[Re: NonPCfed]
#6650787
10/27/19 08:31 PM
10/27/19 08:31 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,485 MN
Steven 49er
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,485
MN
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Never said it did. In this market I wouldn't pay to trap a slough in SD. Maybe give the landowner an apple pie. There is a lot of water out there.
"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon". Milton Friedman.
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Re: share-cropping mrats, what's a good cut...
[Re: NonPCfed]
#6650816
10/27/19 08:51 PM
10/27/19 08:51 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,341 se South Dakota
NonPCfed
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,341
se South Dakota
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Yeah, different situations for different folks.
No irrigation here so no canals to wreck.
This guy lives off of a state highway, rats aren't going to wreck that one. About the easiest access for me to water trap I've had in years.
I agree with you Steve that there's a lot of water around but each place comes with variables. Not all of them pan out. I'd actually prefer hard water trap most of what I've seen the kast couple of weeks but I think we're going to get dumped on for snow this winter. Fiiled in snow pack sloughs pretty much suck...
"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: share-cropping mrats, what's a good cut...
[Re: Marty B]
#6650824
10/27/19 09:06 PM
10/27/19 09:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951 OH
Catch22
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 16,951
OH
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Wait a second, are they trophy Ratos de Aquas?
Would any of them go 6lbs? Brilliant!
I wonder if tap dancers walk into a room, look at the floor, and think, I'd tap that. I wonder about things.....
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Re: share-cropping mrats, what's a good cut...
[Re: NonPCfed]
#6650829
10/27/19 09:12 PM
10/27/19 09:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,868 MN
160user
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,868
MN
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People pay trespass fees to hunt, camp and fish. I have never heard of it for trapping before but that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to be that way in the future. Having exclusive rights to prime private land should be worth something.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: share-cropping mrats, what's a good cut...
[Re: NonPCfed]
#6650853
10/27/19 09:34 PM
10/27/19 09:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,341 se South Dakota
NonPCfed
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,341
se South Dakota
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May be easier to just offer a flat rate so there's no question at the end of season that you may have shorted him. That way it's more like you're paying for access rather than a cut of each rat. But as you can see, most here don't and/or won't pay for trapping access (big marsh bidding aside) so you probably won't get much first-hand experience from others. Just comes down to finding a number that makes you both happy. Yep. Agreed. Funny how I won't pay to hunt pheasants in this state whereas plenty of other people do but I'm willing to pay to catch some rats. Maybe its the magnitude difference between the two prices. Maybe I find trapping alone more fun then pushing a field with 18 other guys who turn into 3 when bird cleaning time starts. So it goes...
"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: share-cropping mrats, what's a good cut...
[Re: NonPCfed]
#6650857
10/27/19 09:36 PM
10/27/19 09:36 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,485 MN
Steven 49er
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,485
MN
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50 cents a rat in this market is likely the majority of the profit if there even is any.
If you're determined to pay for the sake of sewing up a piece of ground that is close and quality habitat, I'd offer $50 maybe a $100 if you think you can catch 500 rats out of it this winter.
"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon". Milton Friedman.
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