Any muskrat trapping pros around? Let’s see some year end pics. Also, what gauge of wire do you use for colony traps? How big do you make yours?

Use the heavier 14 guage instead of 16 guage. Make them 5 inches by 8 inches, or 6 by 10 inches on the end. They won't tip over that way, and you can stack the smaller ones inside the bigger ones to save space. 18 or 24 inches long. The doors will be 6 by 7 inches and 7 by 9 inches.

The maximum size has to do with state regs as well.

The maximum size has to do with state regs as well.

Here in Michigan the max is 8x8x36. You could stack more side by side if the culvert was larger.

These are some I built.






8x8x36 w/guard added on each end. Helps for rats keeping the door plugged.

I have had as many as 7 on a one day check. 2 more the next day.

Those two stage doors (thats what i call them?) are the game changer to a normal colony trap. especially if you do not have small size restrictions and you want a bigger one to hold more.

Wis.6x24

Actually 6 1/2”x36 1/2”

I've caught 1000s of rats In colony traps and I never saw the need for bite guards. I've caught up to 12 rats In a 8X8 X30 colony trap. Rats are very buoyant while In the water and another rat dosen't have any problem pushing the doors open.

If your going to build colony traps make some 5" ones. Lots of times you won't have enough water depth to submerge the bigger traps.

When trapping culverts just take your colony traps and build some wings for them. If you have 6X6 traps just cut 2 wings that measure 6X6 and zip tie them to the front edges of your trap. Now you can easily cover a 12" opening just by spreading the wings a bit. They also work good In those wider rat runs.

Funnel traps are better here than the little square ones.More efficient when set in the right places.
My favorite place for the big funnelers is in culverts connecting two big swamps.

If your long lining colony traps you would have to have a trailer to haul around funnel type traps. But they do have their place.

Thanks everyone! Thinking of buying quite a bit of material and building colony traps this summer. I’m quite interested in hitting them real hard this fall.

How many colony traps do yas use on your lines ?

When we trapped ND there were lots of culverts. I think we had something like 80 colony traps out at one time. Most of those traps were 7X7X30 or 8X8X30 and I can't use them In WI. So I got rid of them.
If you have lots of culverts or places where you can place several colony traps across small creek or have access to the actual dens or runs. Then I would build 50 or so.
14 gauge 1x2 wire is the way to go or 1X1 but that would be more expensive. And buy wire that's been galvanized after welding. It will hold up a lot better.

I use that same design with the bite guards - even held a kit beaver this season in one of the 8x8's. The rats will bite the guard at the hinge point quite often but it doesn't hinder the flop door operation. Not that it really matters, but I paint mine brown.

I agree with Beav. Rats just keep shoving their way in bit guards or not. 6 in the 6x6s and 7 in the 7x7s isn't uncommon without the guards but you can slip a 6x6 into a 7x7 for transport when they don't have the guards. I make mine 5x5, 6x6s, 7x7s and 8x8s. All slide into one.

That said, make a variety of sizes. One size doesn't fit every run...you will use them all.

I have some wider/squat sizes as well for the lower water, big run's,BE type sets. I have found that the giant colonies don't produce as well as a couple smaller ones stacked side by side for some reason. Even if I cut the doors for less push resistance.

beefing up the doors isn't a bad idea either. I get a door blown out on occasion. Probably a big mink is my guess.

I even twice caught a 20" Northern pike. The property owner told me, "If you catch it again, just leave it on the back porch"!

The bite guard has worked well for me over the years. Those rats will float up, but on the regular colony, will stop the door.

That is a downside if you have to haul them around.
Normally they are left on site on an RTL at the spots that produce every year.When I used some back in the day,I would hang them under a spruce,and give them a shot of black rustoleum when done with them in spring.Dont leave them on the ground.
Like minnow traps left out on the land,they will rust if not maintained.