Ok, I live in a state where real traps were outlawed about 15 years ago. About 7 or 8 years ago, I discovered colony traps and proceeded to trap hard and really try to get a thousand. Well, long story short, enred up with 815. All in colonies (27 incidental mink). Fast forward to 2019 and now I’m 63 and feeling the aches and pains we all feel. That coupled with low water in my area this year, I’ll be lucky to get 400. To me, its never been about the money. The morning after setting 30 or 40 colonies, its kinda like opening 30 or 40 Christmas presents. Any similiar stories?

Keep at it. You have a great attitude.
Good luck

I sure do like colony traps although the restrictions on placement and size are a little silly here in Wisconsin!

Chris

I capiche that story pretty good compadre. Isn't this low water something? I can't river trap until we get some water.

One of these years I will get motivated to kill 1,000 beaver in a fur season. Full time job and two young kids has about elininted that dream for the time being.

Trapping after dark, through the ice is not on the top of my list of things to do. With our foolish 10 pm close it makes it about impossible to do after the kids go to bed.

As your aches increase I wish you well, but during some of that down time would you consider doing a DVD, book or pamphlet on using colony traps. I have not yet mastered, no that is a lie as well, I am a real beginner and the learning curve looks huge to me. If you are willing and able your insights would be valuable for sure, and probably for many of us. I an trying to figure out where a colony trap may work for me, you on the other hand need to make a colony trap work where ever the rats are and that is a big, big difference.

Bryce

Buy a copy of the book I wrote a few back titled "MUSKRATS" by Garry L McLaughlin... I have quite a bit in there on the use of the colony traps, including photos and a chapter on how to build folding colony traps. I sold the printing rights so at this time I don't get any money for telling you about it. Dakota trapline, F & T and Minnesota Trapline sell them, as well as possibly other companies.

Garry-

A 1000 rats are easy If you trap In ND.

That is an awesome story! Keep at em!

I would love to live somewhere that catching a thousand muskrats in a season would be possible I do not for a second think it would be easy in any way .I think the great thing about trapping is we can all set a goal and than try to do it . A combination of say 50 animals might be a great year for one person but maybe just not what someone else could do .Big numbers takes a big effort .But for someone just getting started or someone with physical limitations a season's catch of 10 fur could be just as satisfying .

The first step to taking a 1000 is locating 2000.
2000/ 4000 and so on.....

Most times big numbers are more glamorous on paper.

When I did It I never walked on any ice and never got In a boat I never got more then 20 yards from the truck. Checked twice a day and was done checking by 3:00 In the after noon and done skinning by 8:00 and In bed by 10:00
If I could have found a 100 more viable culverts It would have been a lot easier.

Example.

I set 44 sets along this road running through this marsh It wasn't more then 1/2 mile in length. By time I had It set and was retracing my route I already had 11 rats. This was all spring trapping. It was what I call 2 step trapping step out of the truck and the next step you were In the water. The neat thing was I watched several rats get caught as I was resetting
All stools and colony traps.

Any one with 200 + traps and a pair of hip boots could catch a 1000 rats with no problem. A 100+ rats a day no problem.

But Like Chris said you need the rats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGcGUdGpco4

here's an example of marsh that still has some rats in this part of the world where a guy can pull off those kinda numbers. in the old days it was quite the productive marsh but the purple loosestrife took it over and limited the cattail production probably starting in the 90's. diminished its quality for quite awhile. that guys dad was quite the trapper. lots memories of him from state fur auctions when i was a kid

Yes, Mike it sure changes things doesn't it! I get the itch to hit southern states again for coyotes as well as here. But too much interest in the kiddo's... I believe that to be healthy! My oldest has been itching for coyote trapping trip again, I believe after next year I may think about it. The next time will be for 2 weeks though.

I remember a thread from years ago where someone pretty sure Canadian snagged an ungodly amount of rats in a fairly short period of time. My mind says it was over two thousand rats and the time frame was like a month or something but that may have skewed into folklore like numbers. The thread anyways detailed pretty tightly how they done it with scouting and trap type and what not. Really interesting all of the back side work you don't think about on these big quests.