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How often do move/rotate your muskrat traps #7377334
10/12/21 08:17 AM
10/12/21 08:17 AM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 759
new york
H
henpecked1 Offline OP
trapper
henpecked1  Offline OP
trapper
H

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 759
new york
I have run into a professional rat trapper a number of times over the years trapping the same swamps as I do, He poles the swamp in a flat bottomed skiff and sets only rat pads/feedbeds with a 1 1/2 long spring with 18 inches of chain attached to an 8 foot cane pole. He indicates he moves his traps every day as he moves thru the swamp. He is very seldom in a swamp more than 3 to 5 days. My memory says he runs about 70 traps.

I on the other hand have multiple walking lines in the swamps and beaver flows, crossing on beaver dams, low water locations, dry fingers and islands: use conibears160/220/330 in runs and 110 narrow pinch points, 1# jumps on feedbeds/pads, 1 1/2 coil set spring runs and a few 1 1/2 coil pocket sets, I target rats, mink, coon, fox and beaver. It usually takes two days to get fully operational. I leave the traps set 3 to 5 days before moving the lines.

I run 50 to 75 traps when fully up and running.

How often do you rotate your rat traps?

Re: How often do move/rotate your muskrat traps [Re: henpecked1] #7377348
10/12/21 08:41 AM
10/12/21 08:41 AM
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 52
Northern Wisconsin
A
Alfa Dog Offline
trapper
Alfa Dog  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 52
Northern Wisconsin
I've found on rats you will catch 75-80% the first night. After the 2nd day I rotate. By then you've caught the bulk of them. What's left is for seed.

Re: How often do move/rotate your muskrat traps [Re: henpecked1] #7377365
10/12/21 09:10 AM
10/12/21 09:10 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,482
PA
P
PAskinner Offline
trapper
PAskinner  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,482
PA
I've trapped beaver flows where you can keep catching rats for a month because you really don't have access to it all. But generally a few days. Setting huts and holes is very different than setting pinch points and runs...it might take longer but it's often less work just to set the runs. I guess this is an "it all depends" answer.


Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before.
Re: How often do move/rotate your muskrat traps [Re: henpecked1] #7377452
10/12/21 11:40 AM
10/12/21 11:40 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
Only 70 traps? The first day I set till I'm out of traps or time. Then the next day I finish setting the marsh If I still have places to set, Then I start to check. I check the next day. Then I leave them for 2 days without checking and pull after that 2 day soak and move on to the next location.

Last edited by The Beav; 10/12/21 11:41 AM.

The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: How often do move/rotate your muskrat traps [Re: henpecked1] #7377511
10/12/21 01:13 PM
10/12/21 01:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
If your setting huts and dens every other day seems to work out best. If you're running on creeks and rivers 3-5 depending on multi-species your sets are. Given rats, mink and coon are roughly the same price there days the all pay the same thoigithr coon keep you in the shed longer.

Re: How often do move/rotate your muskrat traps [Re: henpecked1] #7377548
10/12/21 02:25 PM
10/12/21 02:25 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
Every third checking.


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: How often do move/rotate your muskrat traps [Re: bctomcat] #7377574
10/12/21 03:13 PM
10/12/21 03:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,292
East-Central Wisconsin
B
bblwi Offline
trapper
bblwi  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,292
East-Central Wisconsin
Most places I set heavy and move quickly. On marshes I usually check twice and pull, sometimes I shuffle traps as I find new sign. On the wadable rivers I usually check for three days and move.

I have found a few ditches where I leave a body gripper or colony for several checks if they are on my route(s)
Typically U catch about 40% the 2nd check after the first and the 3rd many times is about 1/3rd the 2nd. This is more true on the marshes. The catches on the rivers are a bit more even for me, but fewer rats then on the marshes.

Bryce

Re: How often do move/rotate your muskrat traps [Re: henpecked1] #7378016
10/13/21 08:46 AM
10/13/21 08:46 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,403
USA-WI
K
Kre Offline
trapper
Kre  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,403
USA-WI
70 traps?! I guess I'm a professional too!

2 nights and I'm out. My circumstances are a little different, but I've kept track of what I take out of an area for many years. No point staying a 3rd night.

Of course, this was when rats were worth trapping...

Re: How often do move/rotate your muskrat traps [Re: henpecked1] #7378064
10/13/21 09:45 AM
10/13/21 09:45 AM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,276
Manitoba Canada
M
MB Coonguy Offline
trapper
MB Coonguy  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,276
Manitoba Canada
Depends like Bryce has mentioned-each water body is different. Marshes-if they have a good population I have let them soak for 2 weeks,but keep moving the traps that aren't producing each other check.Ditches or smaller areas-2-3 checks and you are ussually finished.

Re: How often do move/rotate your muskrat traps [Re: henpecked1] #7378238
10/13/21 01:09 PM
10/13/21 01:09 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,968
Peoria County Illinois
Larry Baer Offline
trapper
Larry Baer  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,968
Peoria County Illinois
I move them the first night they do not make a catch


Just passin through
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