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Question for the muskrat trappers #7223604
03/22/21 01:45 PM
03/22/21 01:45 PM
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,539
Saucier, Mississippi Harrison ...
T
turkn8rtrapper Offline OP
trapper
turkn8rtrapper  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,539
Saucier, Mississippi Harrison ...
I have never had the chance to trap muskrats. I am seriously considering traveling to specifically target them this fall or next spring. I need to put together my gear and have been doing much research. What do you folks use as far as body grips (brands mostly) long springs (is stop loss any good) and coils. Will duke do alright or should I be looking in different directions?


"Skin that smokewagon and see what happens"
Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: turkn8rtrapper] #7223644
03/22/21 02:42 PM
03/22/21 02:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 529
NE Mississippi
G
GRP Offline
trapper
GRP  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 529
NE Mississippi
I use duke 110 bodygrip. Never tried the magnum. Only instances I have ever used footholds was a property I trapped had muskrat problems. There were 6 lakes all at the same level all interconnected with culverts. Depth regulated to 6" of water in culvert. Put footholds in each end, wired off. Trap weight alone will drown em. I didnt have any muskrat sized traps but I used 1 3/4 and 2 coon traps and they did just fine. You can also drive 2 nails in a board, put a carrot slice on the top nail, hang a foothold on bottom nail. Set board in water at angle, waterline between the two nails. If you find some hot runs or bank holes, look into colony traps. Sorry for long post, hope you got some info.


For by grace are you saved by faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: turkn8rtrapper] #7223650
03/22/21 02:47 PM
03/22/21 02:47 PM
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 165
White House, TN
camlock Offline
trapper
camlock  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 165
White House, TN
For foot holds, get some #1 Blake and Lamb sure hold long spring traps. The one with the wide guard that pins the body of the rat down to the spring. They will drown in shallow water. Duke makes a similar trap today.

Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: turkn8rtrapper] #7223652
03/22/21 02:49 PM
03/22/21 02:49 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261
Iowa
~ADC~ Online content
The Count
~ADC~  Online Content
The Count

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261
Iowa
Duke 110 traps are fine for muskrats. Don't overlook colony traps. Just about any foothold will hold rats if you can get pan tension low enough. Drown rats don't twist out, and underwater rats rarely get eaten by other critters, so you may consider set types more important than the traps themselves.

#2 Victor, Herters, B&L old style square jawed traps are good. #2 DLS also gets a good high grip and drowns fast, <-- those traps can often be found used real cheap is why I mention them.

Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: turkn8rtrapper] #7223655
03/22/21 02:51 PM
03/22/21 02:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,239
SW WI
trapper20 Offline
trapper
trapper20  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,239
SW WI
i use whatever i can find, but if i was going on a trip id take mostly coilsprings, some 110s, and fold up colony traps. Dukes do just fine and they are cheaper. long springs work and stop losses are nice, but they are harder to pack and take up a lot more space. i also like the hagz brackets and have about 2 doz cs traps with them fastened to the chain, just need to add the fiberglass rod. colony traps are great and if you get the foldable ones they dont take up much room. i have 2' and 3' long colonies and in a good run they will pack in there like sardines. rats are simple to catch, just target feed beds toilets and runs! i have tried baited sets and they do work, but not as good as where they are already going! Good Luck'

Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: trapper20] #7223662
03/22/21 03:01 PM
03/22/21 03:01 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261
Iowa
~ADC~ Online content
The Count
~ADC~  Online Content
The Count

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,261
Iowa
Originally Posted by trapper20
i use whatever i can find, but if i was going on a trip id take mostly coilsprings, some 110s, and fold up colony traps. Dukes do just fine and they are cheaper. long springs work and stop losses are nice, but they are harder to pack and take up a lot more space. i also like the hagz brackets and have about 2 doz cs traps with them fastened to the chain, just need to add the fiberglass rod. colony traps are great and if you get the foldable ones they dont take up much room. i have 2' and 3' long colonies and in a good run they will pack in there like sardines. rats are simple to catch, just target feed beds toilets and runs! i have tried baited sets and they do work, but not as good as where they are already going! Good Luck'


You can also get nesting colony traps to save on space... the five traps, 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, 7x7, and 8x8 x 24" take up the same space as the single 8x8x24" one.

Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: trapper20] #7223667
03/22/21 03:07 PM
03/22/21 03:07 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
First what time frame and where? Are you going to trap rivers or moving water, flat water or come in the winter and trap through the ice if you go far enough north? I would not worry much about brands, new or old, but as to size, single spring 160s, 110s or other smaller body grips are good along with most 1.5 coil spring or 1.5 single long springs traps and 1 stoploss work well where there is thick vegetation and shallow water. Then think about staking systems and marking systems and also are you wading, boating or canoeing etc. If you do winter ice trapping you will need some items that allow you to spud, chop or cut ice. Colonies work well but a lot depends upon the sites that you trap.
Rats are not necessarily hard to catch but rat trapping can be a lot of hard work and there is a lot of gear involved in many cases, most of which is not traps in of themselves.

Bryce

Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: turkn8rtrapper] #7223707
03/22/21 04:07 PM
03/22/21 04:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,263
Lakeland,Minnesota
B
Bogmaster Offline
trapper
Bogmaster  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,263
Lakeland,Minnesota
My main muskrat traps are stoploss(guard traps).
I did the Duke redesign of their guard trap a few years ago.
Tom


If my feet aren't wet,I must not be trapping.
Tom Olson
MTA life member#100,also WTA life member
Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: turkn8rtrapper] #7223714
03/22/21 04:15 PM
03/22/21 04:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 493
Minnesota
MNEric Offline
trapper
MNEric  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 493
Minnesota
My main rat trap is a Bridger 330. Lol

Last edited by MNEric; 03/22/21 04:40 PM.
Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: turkn8rtrapper] #7223725
03/22/21 04:34 PM
03/22/21 04:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,165
Central NC
T
traprjohn Offline
trapper
traprjohn  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,165
Central NC
ive used 110's or 160's at bank entrances set to flop away, then a colony after bout 12" from bank grassed over in the run
Then, rat stools in deeper water.
some use floats but my attempts were only marginally successful


www.sevenoakstrappingsupplies.com for trap mods and gear
The 10 Commandments are not suggestions.
Buy a soldiers meal EVERY chance you can.

Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: turkn8rtrapper] #7223804
03/22/21 06:29 PM
03/22/21 06:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 436
Northern Wisconsin
N
NorthenTrapper Offline
trapper
NorthenTrapper  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 436
Northern Wisconsin
If your looking for some learning on them check the archives or read the Wisconsin trapping thread that's in the chat section.


“We will visit the Holy Land and see those places hallowed by the footsteps of the Savior,”
-Lincoln
Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: turkn8rtrapper] #7223827
03/22/21 07:04 PM
03/22/21 07:04 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
Originally Posted by turkn8rtrapper
I have never had the chance to trap muskrats. I am seriously considering traveling to specifically target them this fall or next spring. I need to put together my gear and have been doing much research. What do you folks use as far as body grips (brands mostly) long springs (is stop loss any good) and coils. Will duke do alright or should I be looking in different directions?


So where are you planning On going to trap rats?


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Question for the muskrat trappers [Re: turkn8rtrapper] #7223846
03/22/21 07:23 PM
03/22/21 07:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,514
Woodhull, Illinois 77
J
Jim Bethell Offline
trapper
Jim Bethell  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,514
Woodhull, Illinois 77
Everyone is talking about colony traps. Not legal in all states. Might decide where you are going before deciding on traps.

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