Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: MINK I LOVE]
#6931882
07/16/20 05:21 PM
07/16/20 05:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,759 Newark, Ohio 83 years
Actor
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,759
Newark, Ohio 83 years
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Buy the book I wrote on MUSKRATS ... it shows how and where to use them and even how to make folding colony traps.
Garry- Your book Sir, Makes it fun to Trap Muskrats Again. A 'SIMPLY' Outstanding Book! Thank you for those most kind and thoughtful words. I tried my best to make it interesting as well as educational. When I suggest it to some young buck or to someone older that just wants to trap rats, it isn't that I am being braggart, I firmly believe they can learn something that will be helpful to their education on the subject. Garry-
“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”
Have been trapping 77 years…
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Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: Gone Trappin.]
#6932535
07/17/20 09:01 AM
07/17/20 09:01 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,759 Newark, Ohio 83 years
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Newark, Ohio 83 years
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A run is usually identified as depression or bare trail on the bottom of a body of water, where a water animal travels. I have seen runs, with nothing more than vegetation removed to a depression a foot or more deep. I make all of my own folding colony traps and usually 6 x 6 or 7 x 7 and 30 inches long. No, I don't set colony specifically for mink... BUT... when I set a colony where I think I might catch a mink, I set a colony with a re-enforced doors, otherwise they can sometime push the gate out and escape.
Garry-
“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”
Have been trapping 77 years…
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Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: Gone Trappin.]
#6932573
07/17/20 09:55 AM
07/17/20 09:55 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,912 michigan,USA
seniortrap
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,912
michigan,USA
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Can you imagine the rule change this year for Michigan DNR. Stating its OK to trap mink in a colony trap this year and on!!! I would like to ask them, how was I supposed to avoid them in the past? More examples of MORONS that apparently never used one at all. Now they say its legal!?! I use 3 sizes. 5", 6" and 8"x36". The 5 & 6 are 24".
Last edited by seniortrap; 07/17/20 09:56 AM.
Vietnam--1967 46th. Const./Combat Engineers
"Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction." "After the first shot, all plans go out the window!"
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Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: Gone Trappin.]
#6932586
07/17/20 10:10 AM
07/17/20 10:10 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,912 michigan,USA
seniortrap
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trapper
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,912
michigan,USA
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I will say if rain is expected shortly after setting, use a 3/8" re-rod down through the side of the trap. Not to impeded the doors though.
Vietnam--1967 46th. Const./Combat Engineers
"Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction." "After the first shot, all plans go out the window!"
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Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: Gone Trappin.]
#6932616
07/17/20 10:39 AM
07/17/20 10:39 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,759 Newark, Ohio 83 years
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The only time I use an additional stake to stabilize is in a small choke point where the water is swift and I want it to stay in one position, or in a pond that has a drop off into deep water. I learned that the hard way. I had a set at a bank den... the run was only about 3 feet long, water about 8 inches deep. Then the run ended and water dropped in about 6 feet of water. Went the next morning and trap was gone. After studying the site for quite a while I decided the trap had been pushed out into deeper water. Next morning took a deep water fishing rig with very large treble hook. On the third cast was able to snag the trap and with some effort drag it back to within reach. It had 3 extra large rats in it.
I have never had to cover a trap for muskrats or mink. I consider all mink caught in them to be incidental or even call them blind sets if you will. By using the dive sticks when away from den or bank sets, if the mink are swimming, they will be on top of water like muskrats, but will dive where there is an obstruction in the water.
I think I have have size and shape trap imaginable. I think the largest I have is a 9 h x 12 w x 40 l. When I would find a place that I was trapping year after year, where I would have to set side by side or traps on top of another one, I started building a single trap to handle the situation. I prefer 1 x 1 inches mesh, but that is sometimes hard to find, so I use 1 x 2 mesh. I prefer #12 wire size, but last couple times couldn't find it, so had to use #14.
Garry-
“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”
Have been trapping 77 years…
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Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: Gone Trappin.]
#6932643
07/17/20 11:24 AM
07/17/20 11:24 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,912 michigan,USA
seniortrap
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,912
michigan,USA
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I found using an 8 foot fiberglass paint pole with a short roll hook can snag out most cage traps from the shore.
The one I finally purchased after cheap 5" ones was $20.00 w/extension of about 6'. Just untwist, slide it out and tighten.
I even set some of the colonies from shore with it. Like at a crossover into a field. Stand over the culvert and feed it down and in.
One on each end works well.
Last edited by seniortrap; 07/17/20 11:25 AM.
Vietnam--1967 46th. Const./Combat Engineers
"Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction." "After the first shot, all plans go out the window!"
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Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: Gone Trappin.]
#6932689
07/17/20 12:26 PM
07/17/20 12:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,302 Wisconsin
The Beav
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Posts: 24,302
Wisconsin
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Be careful when setting culverts with any current. Your traps can and will get washed back Into the culvert. You can either tie them off or just set the lower end of the culvert.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: seniortrap]
#6932717
07/17/20 12:55 PM
07/17/20 12:55 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,759 Newark, Ohio 83 years
Actor
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Newark, Ohio 83 years
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I will say if rain is expected shortly after setting, use a 3/8" re-rod down through the side of the trap. Not to impeded the doors though. Yes, I forgot to say what I do, which like you do... except I use small willow stakes the 1/2 or 3/4 inch dia. vertically placed halfway between to gates on one or both sides through the first row of mesh. Set in bottom good and at least 5 or 6inches above the trap, or more depending on location and situation. Garry-
“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”
Have been trapping 77 years…
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Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: Gone Trappin.]
#6932724
07/17/20 01:03 PM
07/17/20 01:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,302 Wisconsin
The Beav
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,302
Wisconsin
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Most of the culverts I set have a metal or concrete apron sticking out In front so getting a stake In is not going to happen. In these situations I either tie the trap off or at times I have used a piece of heavy steel that has been cut to size and Is placed In the bottom of the trap. Never had one get washed away when doing this.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: Gone Trappin.]
#6932742
07/17/20 01:19 PM
07/17/20 01:19 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,553 Kanabec Cty, MN
Drakej
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,553
Kanabec Cty, MN
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ALWAYS adequately secure your colonies! Larger creatures get in them only part way sometimes, otter, raccoons, even waterfowl and away they can go. Even if you stake thru them do so at an angle. Watched an eagle pull one up off a stake and I was lucky it was heavy enough with captured m'rats that I caught up to it and chased it off. Eagles here have learned quite well how to recover submerged m'rats, if they can see them, even a couple feet deep.
I've learned enough thru the years to now know that I don't know enough. KNOWLEDGE IS FREEDOM.
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Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: Gone Trappin.]
#6932995
07/17/20 05:02 PM
07/17/20 05:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,302 Wisconsin
The Beav
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Joined: Dec 2006
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Wisconsin
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Those culverts really shine In the spring.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: How to properly use colony traps
[Re: Gone Trappin.]
#6933514
07/18/20 01:18 AM
07/18/20 01:18 AM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,642 Muskrat Lake,Saskatchewan
saskbone
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Joined: Apr 2012
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Muskrat Lake,Saskatchewan
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A few pictures and comments Traps I use 5x5-6x6-12x6- round colony 12x30 These are my favorite. Dropped in front of a small rat hole. Contrary to some beliefs rats float under water 6x6 dropped in front of a hole. Works in a run the same way. Carry a spade and dig out a run and I fit any trap where I want it to go You can fit a lot of rats in a round colony. Make sure they have a gate at the end of the funnel Works in spring,fall and winter Small colony's will catch multiples as well they just fill up faster. Best place is in a culvert for round colony's You'll catch mink Fish Fish and muskrats I rigged up a drying system for my truck The rats drip dry and spin around while I'm checking traps. The bars are remove able. Once the back rack is full I move it to the front of the truck. Put a new bar up and start hanging more rats Bars are transferable and carried from the truck to the skinning room Finished rats are hung up higher in the skinning room where the heat is and with a fan blowing on them Stack up the rats Milk crates work good for storing rats Save your rat glands. Lots of people will buy them Fire is hard on colony traps Rats are easy to catch. Easy to flesh and dry,and fun to catch. You need big populations to catch lots of rats........but if you catch one or ten they are a fun animal to trap Oh yeah watch out for bears. Bears get mad when you run out of fresh muskrats for bait!
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