Those Milwaukees look better then the furs.

I have caught a few muskrats by wrapping fluorescent orange tape around the triggers of a body grip. My bigger question is what's your favorite depth for putting the Trap under the ice.

I set right below the ice - 6” below at the max

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

Once there is ice rats tend to swim right up against it, the exception when feeding or coming or going from the house.Pool noodles in green will work and can be seen from the side.

Yes I prefer no more than a hand width from the bottom of the ice to the top of the trap. You give the rat 2-4 inches and it will swim right over the trap. As stated they swim right under the ice why you see after a week or two of ice those rats are losing the shine on the guard hair by rubbing along the ice.

Bryce

Well we pulled our rat line today. We were losing ice a bit each day and with the forecast for more rain and then heavy wet snow we did not know how long we would have unknown ice conditions even with the real cold coming next week. Went swimming a coupld times but did not get wet. Yesterday and today we caught 21 rats. My rough cold continues to hang on and the virus really saps one's strength! One aches a bit all over.Nice to have all the traps and stakes out and in the shed.

Bryce

Sounds like covid to me Bryce, I am thinking about trapping a couple of ditches next week just to help the farmers out, not much money in it.

I tested negative for COVID but yes this virus is really hanging on. Started a week ago Sunday. Worst day was last Thursday, never left the house. I am getting better but I get a good day and then a set back. Phlem is starting to clear up so I know I am moving past. Just every muscle in ones body aches and the strength is really low. Hope you can help some farmers. I have two sloughs (small) that I could scout. Both have springs and one several with snow on the top now and weak ice I am thinking about letting those few rats enjoy the winter.

Bryce

Is anybody out there? It sure has been quiet on this thread lately. I caught a couple of mink and eight more rats the past week in bottom Edge and blind set body grips but only had a few sets out. I picked up the sets yesterday leaving out two otter traps that are guarding a great spot and will pay off before the winter is over hopefully. I had some company for half a day observing and learning how I do things on the water line during the winter. Bill is a quick study and I'm sure his time with me will be put to good use. This is the first year I have not set a coyote trap in 10 or 12 seasons. I am going in for some needed surgery the second week of January so will have to lay off trapping for probably a month or so. Let's hear some good reports from everybody it looks like there is a January thaw coming up.

Been chasing deer this fall. Shot an otter sled full during the antlerless hunt and then this Sunday finally caught up to a buck with the bow. After this cold breaks, might be time to go catch a few critters.

I'm here waiting for the cold to break moving on to processing my fur and practicing more home tanning with kids, my "second" trapping season got away from me this year too much work and deer hunting with the kids. Got several deer hides I'm going to try to turn into leather hope it works out! Hoping there's enough ice for me to start fishing soon I don't play that game until there's mack trucks sitting on the lake

That's a unique looking Buck Marsh rat. Do you have any idea how old it was?

Wild Wisconsin we might need a Mack truck to get through the slush and snow on the Lakes pretty soon.

Likely 4.5 or 5.5

I imagine this weeks warmup (highs in the 30s, forecasted to be 39° at the peak (Thursday)) could bring out the coons, possums & skunks

I see Pat Durkin did an article about a local trapper in my neck of the woods. Glad to see he was able to get back in the marsh this past December.

https://www.patrickdurkinoutdoors.com/post/bowhunter-crawls-over-600-yards-after-treestand-fall

Possums and coons have been moving here for sure. The slight cool down got the yotes and Mink moving again.

Been looking for spots to fish but boy oh boy it's a mess

Coons and grinners smashed on the road here too stopped to inspect one of the coon hard to tell if it was from getting hit but it looked fairly rubbed