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How to properly use colony traps #6923573
07/08/20 02:36 AM
07/08/20 02:36 AM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 862
Ohio
G
Gone Trappin. Offline OP
trapper
Gone Trappin.  Offline OP
trapper
G

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 862
Ohio
I was gonna try to use colony traps for muskrat this year but not much experience using them. Can anybody enlighten me? I was thinking of using them as like bottom edge traps.

Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6923575
07/08/20 02:53 AM
07/08/20 02:53 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,263
Lakeland,Minnesota
B
Bogmaster Offline
trapper
Bogmaster  Offline
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B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,263
Lakeland,Minnesota
Can also be set in runs or at den entrances.Just make sure the trap is totally submerged.
Tom


If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping.
Tom Olson
MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6923678
07/08/20 08:17 AM
07/08/20 08:17 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,336
SE MN
2cylinder Offline
trapper
2cylinder  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,336
SE MN
You could use them as bottom edge traps. But I normally use them as Bogmaster stated, in den entrances mainly.


Rebuilding john deere and international/farmall carburetors
Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6923713
07/08/20 08:52 AM
07/08/20 08:52 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,116
Manitoba
N
Northof50 Online mad
trapper
Northof50  Online Mad
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,116
Manitoba
If your water is low in the summer mark some of the tunnels/ trenches in case the water comes up, just a dead willow stick will due
pre-planning

Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Northof50] #6923750
07/08/20 09:47 AM
07/08/20 09:47 AM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 862
Ohio
G
Gone Trappin. Offline OP
trapper
Gone Trappin.  Offline OP
trapper
G

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 862
Ohio
But if it’s sticking out of a den entrance 2 feet, won’t the muskrat now want to go in.

Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6923755
07/08/20 09:53 AM
07/08/20 09:53 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by Mason Mayer
But if it’s sticking out of a den entrance 2 feet, won’t the muskrat now want to go in.

They will still go thru them.


Nevada bound
Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6923767
07/08/20 10:07 AM
07/08/20 10:07 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
The rats for the most part are already In the den when you place your traps.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6923779
07/08/20 10:20 AM
07/08/20 10:20 AM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
Actor Offline
trapper
Actor  Offline
trapper

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
Buy the book I wrote on MUSKRATS ... it shows how and where to use them and even how to make folding colony traps.

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…
Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6923881
07/08/20 11:38 AM
07/08/20 11:38 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,116
Manitoba
N
Northof50 Online mad
trapper
Northof50  Online Mad
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,116
Manitoba
Better yet just take out Actor and absorb some of his wisdom this fall. You might even get an autographed book on that trip, if you follow the rules.

Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6923888
07/08/20 11:45 AM
07/08/20 11:45 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
If you can legally trap culverts just fill that culvert with colony traps and get ready to skin some rats. The best culverts are those that are completely submerged. Ones not completely submerged aren't as good. In these the rats seem to swim on the surface.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6923910
07/08/20 11:59 AM
07/08/20 11:59 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,263
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Online content
trapper
Boco  Online Content
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B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,263
james bay frontierOnt.
Funnel traps are better for culverts.
I prefer funnel traps to colony traps if trapping out of a vehicle,or when trapping a multi species line.
If set in the right place a funnel trap will catch a lot of rats.They are a lot bigger and bulkier than the colony traps but you dont need as many of them.

Last edited by Boco; 07/08/20 12:00 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6923937
07/08/20 12:19 PM
07/08/20 12:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
But Boco who wants to carry around 100 funnel traps. You would need a trailer to haul them around. While you can build 3 different sizes of square colony traps and nest them together and be more efficient and take up a third of the space. How many funnel traps can you use for den trapping or rat runs. The answer Is NONE. And the there Is the cost of building funnel traps. Try using a funnel trap In 8" of water.

The trick In using regular colony traps Is to put cage wire wings on them. Lets say we are working with 7" traps. What you do Is put 2 7"x 7" wings on the traps. With a few zip ties you can attach the wings on to the leading edges of the trap. They fold up during transport.

Lets say your trapping a 18" culvert you place the trap In the center of the culvert and spread out the wings and the mouth of that culvert Is completely fenced off.
The same deal goes for den entrances and rat runs.
Boco you should come out to ND and I'll show you how to trap rats. LOL


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6930154
07/14/20 09:55 PM
07/14/20 09:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,116
Manitoba
N
Northof50 Online mad
trapper
Northof50  Online Mad
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,116
Manitoba
Beav your ND trapping is spring and not dealing with ice. Those nice square 3 in 1 would not go into each other after pulling out of frozen situations daily.
Old fridge grates work wonders as gates for fencing.
Boco does not have to travel out of his province to get into good rat populations along the great lakes marshes

Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6930174
07/14/20 10:10 PM
07/14/20 10:10 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,820
Frazee, MN
B
backroadsarcher Offline
trapper
backroadsarcher  Offline
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B

Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,820
Frazee, MN
I tried them last year for the first time. Had good luck with them in small runs coming over the beaver dams where the water was deep enough and really narrow.

Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: backroadsarcher] #6930181
07/14/20 10:15 PM
07/14/20 10:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,293
East-Central Wisconsin
B
bblwi Offline
trapper
bblwi  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,293
East-Central Wisconsin
I have been using mine in some streams with fairly hard bottoms with pretty good current so runs and dens are not easily found. I have been doing the bottom edge setting, looking for points, obstructions etc. Two years ago I did OK, but not great. This year my catch percentage was way, way lower. Don't know for sure if there were fewer rats or just not good placement. I put the traps mostly in the same places and I had a few more to set.

Bryce

Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6930306
07/15/20 01:41 AM
07/15/20 01:41 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Trap smarter not harder. Trap open water.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6931065
07/15/20 09:24 PM
07/15/20 09:24 PM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,971
WI
N
nimzy Offline
trapper
nimzy  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,971
WI
if you truly trap smart, it happens all season.

Most give up to easy.

Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: The Beav] #6931094
07/15/20 09:49 PM
07/15/20 09:49 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
S
Steven 49er Offline
trapper
Steven 49er  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
Originally Posted by The Beav
But Boco who wants to carry around 100 funnel traps. You would need a trailer to haul them around. While you can build 3 different sizes of square colony traps and nest them together and be more efficient and take up a third of the space. How many funnel traps can you use for den trapping or rat runs. The answer Is NONE. And the there Is the cost of building funnel traps. Try using a funnel trap In 8" of water.

The trick In using regular colony traps Is to put cage wire wings on them. Lets say we are working with 7" traps. What you do Is put 2 7"x 7" wings on the traps. With a few zip ties you can attach the wings on to the leading edges of the trap. They fold up during transport.

Lets say your trapping a 18" culvert you place the trap In the center of the culvert and spread out the wings and the mouth of that culvert Is completely fenced off.
The same deal goes for den entrances and rat runs.
Boco you should come out to ND and I'll show you how to trap rats. LOL


7 inch traps are for 7 inch runs or states who have a size limit.

Mason, any place a rat will swim and is legal to set is a good place for a colony trap


"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon". Milton Friedman.
Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: The Beav] #6931142
07/15/20 11:03 PM
07/15/20 11:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,116
Manitoba
N
Northof50 Online mad
trapper
Northof50  Online Mad
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,116
Manitoba
Originally Posted by The Beav
Trap smarter not harder. Trap for dummys in open water.


auto correct, just had to
Some of my best catches have been in hot water tin shells with doors on them.
Some of the east coasters call them otter traps and saving the Brook trout's of the streams

Re: How to properly use colony traps [Re: Actor] #6931146
07/15/20 11:08 PM
07/15/20 11:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 5,448
Colesburg, Iowa 52035
M
MINK I LOVE Offline
trapper
MINK I LOVE  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 5,448
Colesburg, Iowa 52035
Originally Posted by Actor
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!

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