Re: Muskrat trap questions
[Re: Jakesdad]
#7665577
09/05/22 07:33 PM
09/05/22 07:33 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,123 Northern Wisconsin,Rhinelander
Hodagtrapper
Muskrat Master
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Muskrat Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,123
Northern Wisconsin,Rhinelander
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The #1 coils are not ideal but they will work with added weight attached. I cut up old 1/2" galvanized pipe into 6" lengths and attached that to chain mid length on #1 longsprings to insure a quick trip to the bottom and it works. I do like the larger target area, jaw spread and weight of a 1 1/2 though.
Chris
>>In God we trust<<
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Re: Muskrat trap questions
[Re: Jakesdad]
#7665621
09/05/22 08:25 PM
09/05/22 08:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,137 Wisconsin
8117 Steve R
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,137
Wisconsin
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I have used lead decoy anchors on the chain near the trap and they don’t take up much room on the float.
Steve WTA NRA
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Re: Muskrat trap questions
[Re: bblwi]
#7665749
09/06/22 05:50 AM
09/06/22 05:50 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,733 Maine
Mac
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,733
Maine
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Just my opinion but I would borrow a handful of those #2 Bridgers from the coyote line. and use those. If you are not trying to catch and hold raccoon, you would be hard pressed to find a better muskrat trap than a #2 coil spring. Set the tension very light and you basically have a trap that will act as a body grip.
Floats are fine in the spring but few serious muskrat trappers that I personally know use them. Spring? Hard to beat floats in the spring.. Locate sign the muskrats are leaving. Small pocket sets will take a lot of muskrats. Pinned baits against the bank with a bit of grass etc. covering the overhead view of baits, set a trap against the baits with about an 1 1/2 of water over the pan. Baits: apple slices, carrots etc. Not many critters respond to lure as well as muskrats so buy a couple different lures and use them. Set blind sets where they leave the water. Set heavy and clean them out fast. If he wants them all gone, it will or should not take long. Stake securely. To be brutally honest, if you are using #2 coils I would not get all caught up in drowning cables, tangle stakes etc. Those drowning methods work fine with smaller and lighter traps. If you set good sets with light pan tension, you will not be losing muskrats. If they can move at all they will make a move to deeper water, and that is the end. Easy peasy.
Mac
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Re: Muskrat trap questions
[Re: Mac]
#7665843
09/06/22 08:55 AM
09/06/22 08:55 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 18,418 Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 18,418
Rodney,Ohio
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Just my opinion but I would borrow a handful of those #2 Bridgers from the coyote line. and use those. If you are not trying to catch and hold raccoon, you would be hard pressed to find a better muskrat trap than a #2 coil spring. Set the tension very light and you basically have a trap that will act as a body grip.
Floats are fine in the spring but few serious muskrat trappers that I personally know use them. Spring? Hard to beat floats in the spring.. Locate sign the muskrats are leaving. Small pocket sets will take a lot of muskrats. Pinned baits against the bank with a bit of grass etc. covering the overhead view of baits, set a trap against the baits with about an 1 1/2 of water over the pan. Baits: apple slices, carrots etc. Not many critters respond to lure as well as muskrats so buy a couple different lures and use them. Set blind sets where they leave the water. Set heavy and clean them out fast. If he wants them all gone, it will or should not take long. Stake securely. To be brutally honest, if you are using #2 coils I would not get all caught up in drowning cables, tangle stakes etc. Those drowning methods work fine with smaller and lighter traps. If you set good sets with light pan tension, you will not be losing muskrats. If they can move at all they will make a move to deeper water, and that is the end. Easy peasy.
Mac Thats the way to go. Only problem would be if you're trying to do floats or feedbed sets because they are way to heavy, maybe the stock pre-MB versions would work, without using some sort of extra support unless its a massive feedbed/hut. That said, 1.5s are very versatile traps that can shine for raccoons when your DPs fail as the inevitably do for raccoons.
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Re: Muskrat trap questions
[Re: Jakesdad]
#7665914
09/06/22 10:54 AM
09/06/22 10:54 AM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,719 Idaho
bearcat2
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,719
Idaho
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I've never trapped very many muskrats. Mainly because I've never trapped where there were many, and haven't targeted them since I was a kid (except throwing an occasional trap or two out when I seen muskrat sign on a beaver pond I was trapping). But I remember back as a kid 1 1/2s were considered too big for muskrats and the #1 ls was the muskrat trap, or the #1 stoploss if you had the money to buy them. Adding weight certainly won't hurt, nor will a tangle stake, although using a float that won't be necessary. I wouldn't pass up any good feedbeds or toilets because you have floats, quick, easy to set, and you don't have to try and draw the rats there with bait, they are already coming there.
Next time you order something from MTP, select their 150 bodygrip as your free gift. Get three or four of those in your possession and use them in runs next time you see rat sign where you are trapping.
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Re: Muskrat trap questions
[Re: Bison88]
#7666925
09/07/22 11:16 PM
09/07/22 11:16 PM
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Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,421 South Dakota
TheYouthTrapper
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,421
South Dakota
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ADC: that is an awesome pic! What are the dimensions on that colony trap? Looks like a 6x6x24.
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Re: Muskrat trap questions
[Re: TheYouthTrapper]
#7666953
09/08/22 12:21 AM
09/08/22 12:21 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,913 Iowa
~ADC~
The Count
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The Count
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,913
Iowa
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ADC: that is an awesome pic! What are the dimensions on that colony trap? Looks like a 6x6x24. Actually 7x7x24 I built the cage, but a buddy of mine used it to make that catch.
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Re: Muskrat trap questions
[Re: Jakesdad]
#7667520
09/08/22 09:05 PM
09/08/22 09:05 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,627 Flint, Michigan
bhugo
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,627
Flint, Michigan
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Like others said, #1 coils will be fine. No extra weight needed.
Colony traps is the way to go if you can get to their dens, like ADC said.
Member MTPCA, FTA and NTA
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Re: Muskrat trap questions
[Re: Jakesdad]
#7667601
09/08/22 11:09 PM
09/08/22 11:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,529 Orergon
alaska viking
"Made it two years not being censored"
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"Made it two years not being censored"
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,529
Orergon
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Never saw a rat that could "swim around" with most any trap on it's foot for long enough to matter.
Just doing what I want now.
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